Games 163 Gamethread

DeadlySplitter

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Both the NL Central and NL West have end up tied at the top after 162 games - Cubs & Brewers at 95-67, Dodgers & Rockies at 91-71.

All four have made the playoffs. In years past, head-to-head would have decided the divisions. Now with the WC game, a game 163 will occur instead, with head-to-head deciding the home field for this one game.

The losers will have to play the WC game on Tuesday, with the Central loser hosting. The winner of the Central game will be the #1 seed in the NL and face the eventual WC winner in the NLDS, the winner of the West will be the #2 seed and have HFA against Atlanta in the NLDS.

With all those logistics out of the way, here are the games:

MIL @ CHC, 1:05pm: TBA vs Quintana
COL @ LAD, 4:09pm: Marquez vs Buehler

all games are on ESPN
 
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McBride11

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I hope I can stream ESPN at the hospital tomorrow. I guess this is an advantage of the silly WC game?

How are pitchers lined up? Eg is the eventual playoff winner rolling their #3 to start the NLDS with a possibly tired bullpen??
 

DeadlySplitter

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Simulated odds:

538: Dodgers 59%, Cubs 54%
Fangraphs: Dodgers 59%, Cubs 53%
Baseball Prospectus: Dodgers 55%, Brewers 51%
 

santadevil

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I'm pretty excited about having two of these games tomorrow. Obviously each team wants to win the game, but I'm wondering how hard they go after it if it appears like their team may not win. Do you do everything possible, or hold back a bit and save it for the WC game?

My thoughts are win at all costs because you get a tiny break to recoup and stay out of a one and done WC game. The DS is already tough enough, but you need to get there first
 

Al Zarilla

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10 am and 1 pm starts for me. Oh well, I had nothing else planned for tomorrow. ESPN have ESPN 2 ready to carry the Dodgers game if the first game overruns?
 

mauidano

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10 am and 1 pm starts for me. Oh well, I had nothing else planned for tomorrow. ESPN have ESPN 2 ready to carry the Dodgers game if the first game overruns?
I guess that's 7 am and 10 am for me. Go Dodgers and Cubs.
 

uncannymanny

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The winner of the Central game will be the #1 seed in the NL and face the eventual WC winner in the NLDS
Has there ever been a game 163 that gave the winner the #1 seed and the loser the #4 seed? That's a huge swing from having HFA throughout to every one of your opponents having HFA.
 

LynnRice75

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If Christian Yelich hits a 3-run HR to win the Triple Crown tomorrow(or any way to get 1 Hr and 3 RBI's) is it considered a fraudlent TC since he gets the extra game?
Isn’t he already tied for the lead on homers? He just needs two runs batted in to tie for the lead in all three categories thus winning the triple crown. (Though his rbi rival is playing in the same game.) I don’t think it’d be considered anything less than a triple crown. All players end up with a different total number of games played anyway. I hope he gets it.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Isn’t he already tied for the lead on homers? He just needs two runs batted in to tie for the lead in all three categories thus winning the triple crown. (Though his rbi rival is playing in the same game.) I don’t think it’d be considered anything less than a triple crown. All players end up with a different total number of games played anyway. I hope he gets it.
Yelich is tied for 2nd in HRs with Trevor Story and Matt Carpenter, one behind Nolan Arenado. Obviously Arenado and Story are playing today as well, so they're getting the extra opportunity to take or extend their lead. Not to mention Arenado is tied with Yelich in RBI behind Baez, so there's more opportunity for movement.
 

JimD

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Why in the world would you root for the Dodgers and Cubs?

Go Rockies and Brewers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Will always love him for this. Today, though, he can kiss the fatest part of my ass.

He's dead to me.
Yeah, this is where I am as a Sox fan - any outcome that could dump the Dodgers and Cubs into the wild-card game and possibly get one of them dismissed from the playoffs early would be desirable.
 

sibpin

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If you ignore HFA and strength of opponent, Game 163 to decide division/WC makes the same contribution (3.125%) to winning the World Series as the least consequential playoff game - Game 3 of a tied Division Series. It's half the contribution as the Wild Card Game and 1/16 as important as Game 7 of the World Series.

When HFA and different opponents are factored in, that definitely raises the stakes a bit although it's still less important than almost any other game in the postseason.
 

Al Zarilla

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Some Brewers fan in the stands had a big sign that said Miller Park South. Give me a break. This is nowhere near a Fenway - Camden Yards situation. In fact, would Miller Park be like a Camden Yards north WRT the Cubs?
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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If you ignore HFA and strength of opponent, Game 163 to decide division/WC makes the same contribution (3.125%) to winning the World Series as the least consequential playoff game - Game 3 of a tied Division Series. It's half the contribution as the Wild Card Game and 1/16 as important as Game 7 of the World Series.

When HFA and different opponents are factored in, that definitely raises the stakes a bit although it's still less important than almost any other game in the postseason.
That both of today's losers are already in the playoffs makes it definitely a bit less interesting than it might have been. Still cool to watch though.
 

timlinin8th

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Red(s)HawksFan

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I think this is my first exposure to Eduardo Perez as a color analyst, but I can't get over how much it sounds like Bob Kraft is calling this game.
 

E5 Yaz

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Some Brewers fan in the stands had a big sign that said Miller Park South. Give me a break. This is nowhere near a Fenway - Camden Yards situation.
And you know this .... how? Through your vast knowledge of attending such games?
 

RIrooter09

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That’s right. Also, the Cubs have one of the strongest fan bases of any major league team and I doubt if any team from up the road is going to take over in Sox/Camden fashion.
I'm pretty sure that sign was meant to be tongue in cheek.
 

DeadlySplitter

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the correct move may have been to PH for Chacin the 5th, get hopefully a better scoring opportunity, and go to that bullpen already.
 

mauidano

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Chavez has got nasty stuff. Don’t think I have ever seen a pitcher wearing sunglasses while pitching before this.