Milwaukee Brewers: Why is Wade Miley starting Game 5?
The Milwaukee Brewers are turning to Wade Miley in Game 5 of the NLCS. Should anyone else have been considered for the start?
The last time we saw Milwaukee Brewers starter Wade Miley, he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 2 of the NLCS. Now he’s scheduled to come back on short rest for Game 5 against Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. Is this the right move?
How did Miley throw in Game 2?
He worked almost six scoreless! How do you think he threw? Miley needed 74 pitches, 46 strikes, to record 17 outs. He struck out three and only allowed two hits. The cutter was cutting and he racked up seven ground ball outs.
Has he thrown on short rest before?
In 2018, Miley made three starts on four days rest. He tossed 18 innings, and posted a 2.00 ERA. For his career, he’s made exactly one start on three days rest. He threw six scoreless innings, struck out seven, walked one, and allowed two hits.
However, that Miley wasn’t the same as this Miley. This Miley only started experimenting with a cutter last year, and only really worked it into his repertoire this year.
Is this a ‘bullpen game’ in disguise?
Could be, but aren’t they all at this point? The way Craig Counsell has managed his pitching staff, none of the starters are required to work past the fourth of fifth inning.
If the Milwaukee Brewers don’t use Josh Hader or Brandon Woodruff in Game 4, Miley could only work three or four innings before turning this over to the bullpen. If the Brewers need Hader or Woodruff, or, worse, Hader AND Woodruff, they’ll have to piece together 27 outs. Also, they would possibly have to use Junior Guerra in a game that could swing the series. The current strategy may not work in a series that has games on three days in a row.
The Milwaukee Brewers were absolutely going to start Miley again in this series, but it’s odd that it’s coming on short rest. Counsell has pushed all the right buttons so far. Let’s assume that he has a plan. He’s had one so far.