The Washington Nationals were dancing in the clubhouse late Tuesday night, celebrating the first wild card berth in franchise history.
“I think it is a little sweeter because of how the season started,” outfielder Adam Eaton said Wednesday of the 19-31 tailspin.
Now a different kind of dance begins. General manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez must figure out the postseason roster for the National League Wild Card Game Tuesday.
Pitching coach Paul Menhart and hitting coach Kevin Long will provide input along with other coaches and front office personnel.
“It will be a roundtable discussion,” Menhart said, “and ultimately Dave and Mike will make the decision.”
“We will sit down with some of our analytical guys as well,” Martinez said. “You want to cover all your bases.”
Martinez was part of those postseason discussions before, as a bench coach with Tampa Bay and the Chicago Cubs.
The starting pitcher will be the most important decision, with the debate most likely between Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. Any of the big three starters, including lefty Patrick Corbin, could be used out of the bullpen Tuesday if they do not start. Scherzer started on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, while Strasburg is slated to pitch Thursday’s game.
“In an elimination game, it is all hands on deck,” Menhart said. “If guys are available, we are going to use them. We have to go with our horses if we have to.”
Another factor in roster construction is how many and which relievers to use. Menhart said it depends on who they’ll play, which is most likely going to be the Milwaukee Brewers.
“That is how we run our show on a daily basis,” Menhart said. “We try to match up our best arms for the success they have had in the past. We make our decisions based on that.”
One encouraging development is catcher Kurt Suzuki, who made throws to second base before Wednesday’s game. Martinez hopes he can catch Friday or Saturday — something he has not done in nearly three weeks.
Reliever Daniel Hudson, who had saves in both doubleheader games Tuesday, made his postseason debut in 2011 as a starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Now, he returns to the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Hudson said the daily message from Martinez makes sense.
“You have to stay in the moment and go 1-0 today,” he said, echoing one of Martinez’s favorite phrases.
The bullpen takes on added importance in the playoffs, with managers pulling starters quickly at the first sign of trouble. One of the Nationals’ most reliable relievers now is Hudson, who was acquired at the trade deadline.
Hudson said who makes the postseason roster is out of the players’ control.
“It is not really in our hands, so you don’t think about it much,” Hudson said. “There are not going to be any egos hurt. We have to go out there with our best guys and get it done.”
The Nationals were 88-69 going into Wednesday’s home game with the Phillies. The Brewers were 87-70 and held the second wild card spot behind Washington. The Brewers still had an outside chance, though, to catch the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the NL Central.
The Brewers played the Reds on Wednesday night, and then end regular-season play this weekend at the Rockies. Washington begins a three-game set with Cleveland on Friday.
Predicted roster for NL Wild Card Game:
Pitchers (12) – Patrick Corbin, Sean Doolittle, Javy Guerra, Daniel Hudson, Tanner Rainey, Fernando Rodney, Anibal Sanchez, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Hunter Strickland, Wander Suero, Austin Voth
Catchers (2) – Yan Gomes, Kurt Suzuki
Infielders (7) – Matt Adams, Asdrubal Cabrera, Brian Dozier, Howie Kendrick, Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner, Ryan Zimmerman
Outfielders (4) – Adam Eaton, Gerardo Parra, Victor Robles, Juan Soto
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