Originally Posted by
smootness
The problem with this for me is that if you don't finish it off in 2, you're in serious trouble for Game 3. McQuary and Gordon both struggle to throw strikes and miss bats. I want Plumlee and Billingsley both starting, and you determine who comes in behind them based on what is happening in the game.
I don't really understand the hesitancy in starting Plumlee over McQuary. Here are their overall numbers:
McQuary - 54 IP, 4.67 ERA, 6.7 K/9, 7.8 BB/9, 1.61 WHIP
Plumlee - 72.1 IP, 3.61 ERA, 6.7 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, 1.37 WHIP
As a SP (both with 8 starts):
McQuary - 35 IP, 5.66 ERA, 27 K/35 BB
Plumlee - 35 IP, 2.57 ERA, 28 K/12 BB
Last 5 appearances:
McQuary - 23.2 IP, 5.70 ERA, 15 K/21 BB
Plumlee - 15 IP, 3.60 ERA, 12 K/5 BB
I want our best pitchers to maximize their innings. Plumlee is better than McQuary, he has been better as a starter, and he has been better recently. I just don't see why we would start McQuary. You're guaranteeing yourself that he will have to struggle to get through innings while minimizing the impact of baserunners. I would rather have him available if necessary but to go with Plumlee and let him try to get you through at least 5-6 IP.