A mediocre opponent is no guarantee of victory. Not under any circumstances, and especially not when your starting pitcher has struggled to play up to his potential all season. At his best Nola throws like an ace, and while no pitcher always performs at their best, the dips and troughs in Nola’s performances this season have been particularly maddening. Tonight was no different.
Maikel Garcia made Nola work from the beginning, seeing 8 pitches before he flew out to center (manned not by Brandon Marsh, but by Johan Rojas). Bobby Witt Jr. also made Nola work, forcing a full count before striking out.