Paul Clemens
|
Matt Koch
|
Manuel Margot - CF | Jean Segura - 2B |
Wil Myers - 1B | Jake Lamb - 3B |
Yangervis Solarte - 3B | Paul Goldschmidt - 1B |
Alex Dickerson - LF | Brandon Drury - LF |
Hunter Renfroe - RF | Yasmany Tomas - RF |
Ryan Schimpf - 2B | Chris Owings - SS |
Austin Hedges - C | Mitch Haniger - CF |
Luis Sardinas - SS | Tuffy Gosewisch - C |
Paul Clemens - RHP | Matt Koch - RHP |
The final day of the season, and this is what we find. Whoever loses this contest at Chase Field will have sole possession of last place, as San Diego and Arizona come into this one with identical records of 68-93. Depending on how results also go elsewhere, Arizona could still pick anywhere from second to seventh, as one game covers all those teams in the Tankapalooza standings. Indeed, four sides go in at 68-93, the Reds and A's joining the teams who play in Phoenix. All the Tankapalooza contenders bar San Diego won yesterday, so there's a great deal still to be decided.
All the games today start at the same time, which is why this one is beginning at an unusually early hour for a Sunday game in Phoenix. There's not that much left to be decided. Toronto and Baltimore will face-off in the American League wild-card game, though home-field will be determined by today's results. The Mariners were eliminated last night, so will miss the playoffs for their MLB-leading 15th consecutive season. If San Francisco win, or St. Louis lose, the Giants will face the Mets in the National League wild-card game. If SF lose and STL win, there will be a one-game playoff necessary to decide who faces the NYM.
Here, we get another look at Matt Koch who took a no-hitter deeper into his first start than any Diamondbacks pitcher had ever done, but still didn't get the win, courtesy of Randall Delgado. I'm still not convinced by Koch, who has had his figures buffed and polished to a mirror-like sheen by an opponents' BABIP of .094, and I think his true talent, as shown thus far, is likely nearer his FIP of 4.56. Unless he starts striking out more batters, those balls in play are going to drop for hits eventually - and when it does, it's going to be ugly. Whether he'll continue to skate past for one more game, remains to be seen.