Couple thoughts

It does look like there’s a little late Washington money showing up now, but at this point that’s probably more of the public following the earlier move.

The sharp money likely already hit this opener around -125

That’s a huge escape.

After 1 inning for Griffin

1.0 IP
21 pitches
1 hit
1 walk
1 strikeout
0 earned runs

That inning was not clean, but the important part is zero damage. He had traffic, KC got the righty-heavy pressure spot, and he made the pitch to get us the fk out 

That’s a strong settle the fk down inning.

Griffin through 2:
2.0 IP
1 hit
0 runs
0 ER
2 K
1 BB
0 HR

This is exactly what we wanted after the shaky first. He escaped the traffic, then came back and cleaned it up. Most important no home run, no damage

I’m not going to lie, I was looking hard at the Washington first five, but I’m glad we stayed full game. Wacha is dealing early and hanging in there.

Through two innings, he’s only thrown 21 pitches: 16 strikes and just 5 balls. Fastball at 94 mph is 38%, changeup at 81 mph is 33%, cutter at 89 mph is 10%, slider at 85 mph is 10%, and curveball at 75 mph is 10%.

Beautiful third. That’s a big-time response after the traffic in the 1st.

Griffin through 3:

3.0 IP
1 hit
0 runs
0 ER
3 K
1 BB
0 HR

And the pitch breakdown is solid:

40 pitches
27 strikes
13 balls
About 68% strikes
Cutter down to 32%
Fastball 25%
Slider 20%
Curve 12%
Splitter/change both 5%

He’s settled in and expanded the mix

Open the motherfucking gates

Yep  that was the inning we needed.

Washington bottom 3rd

Millas got on and scored.
Nunez with an RBI.
Wood drove in another run.
Luis García stayed hot and is now 2-for-2

The biggest thing the bottom of the order did its job. That was the concern with Ruiz out

Perfect. That was the shutdown inning we needed.

Griffin through 4:

4.0 IP
2 hits
0 runs
0 ER
3 K
1 BB
0 HR

Pitch count:

59 pitches
39 strikes
20 balls

He’s still around 66% strikes, and the mix is balanced now  cutter and fastball both 31%, slider 17%, curve 12%, change 7%, splitter 3%.

At 59 pitches through 4, I’d expect Griffin’s leash to be around 85–95 pitches

No popcorn tonight kidd 

HAHA

Wacha fade is starting to show.

Wacha right now

3.2 IP
5 hits
2 runs
2 ER
1 K
0 BB
0 HR

Pitch count:

51 pitches
39 strikes
12 balls

He still isn’t walking guys, but Washington is getting hits now. That’s the difference. Early he was dealing now the Nats are timing him and putting balls in play

open the motherfucking gates

We want:

Ground ball

No walk

No extra-base hit

Keep Witt/Caglianone from coming up with traffic if possible

Fk fk fk 

Kansas City is hanging around.

KC has 4 hits and 2 walks, Bobby Witt is the main problem  he’s 2-for-3 with the RB

This is the chance to break it open

Washington is up 3–1 and Wacha is officially working now.

Wacha:

4.2 IP
7 hits
3 runs
3 ER
2 K
1 BB
0 HR
77 pitches
56 strikes
21 balls

He went from cruising early to getting hit around. Washington has 7 hits, and the bottom of the order has been huge.

Key Washington bats:

Nunez: 2-for-2, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Wood: 1-for-2, 2 RBI
Garcia: 2-for-3
Millas: 1-for-2, 1 run

That’s big because the bottom third was the concern before the game, and now Millas and Nunez helped flip the whole game

He’s at 97 pitches, he gave them everything they needed, and now it’s time for a fresh arm. No reason to let one tired pitch undo a really good outing

Griffin gave them 6 innings, 100 pitches, 1 run. That’s more than enough. At this point, thank you sir….and go to a fresh arm

Nicely done 

Wacha is still out there in the bottom of the 6th at 86 pitches, and somehow he looks like he has a fresh arm.

I hate this game

Washington did the right thing Griffin gave them 6 strong, 100 

Ribalta is a power righty type

Throw strikes. No leadoff walk. Make KC earn it

One time for the good guys

Yep, quick hook. They didn’t like what they saw from Ribalta at all.

Now it’s Richard Lovelady, lefty coming in with traffic. This is a damage-control move