Stephen Strasburg, at the End

The FanGraphs Newsletter, August 28, 2023 [READ IN BROWSER]( August 28, 2023 Throughout the 2019 postseason, the Washington Nationals made a habit of using their entire margin of error. They needed a three-run, last-ditch rally to get out of the Wild Card game, then another 11th-hour comeback to get past the Dodgers in Game 5 of the NLDS. Dave Martinez tried to shorten his pitching staff as much as possible, a desperation move that’s backfired on manager after manager as long as there have been playoffs. By the time Game 6 of the World Series rolled around, the Nationals were facing elimination once again. They’d lost three straight to the 107-win Astros and needed to beat Justin Verlander on the road to stay alive. Patrick Corbin had been run ragged. Max Scherzer’s body had locked up to the point where he couldn’t dress himself. Martinez had already gambled with the likes of Tanner Rainey and Wander Suero more than anyone was comfortable with. Then Stephen Strasburg stepped up and did something you don’t see pitchers do much anymore. He handled it. [Stephen Strasburg, at the End, by Michael Baumann]( [FanGraphs Power Rankings: August 14–27]( After a week hiatus, the FanGraphs Power Rankings are back. | by Jake Mailhot [Sunday Notes: Giants Prospect John Michael Bertrand Has Irish in Him]( Plus Max Scherzer on strikeouts, Brian Snitker on Kranny and French, Dave Roberts on rivalries, a 67-year-old pitchers ERA, facts and stats galore, and more. | by David Laurila [Michael Harris II Has an Ace up His Sleeve]( Well, technically it's not an ace. And technically it's up his glove. But Harris has got a secret safely tucked away when he's playing center. | by Davy Andrews [The White Sox Are Getting a Facelift. They Need a New Head]( The current vintage of Jerry Reinsdorf would never countenance bringing in the only kind of outsider who could fix his problems. | by Michael Baumann [Five Things I Liked (Or Didn't Like) This Week, August 25]( Fun lineup construction, baffling baserunning, elite young pitchers and enough bunt GIFs to make your head spin. We've got it all this week. | by Ben Clemens [In a Double Gut Punch, the Angels Lose Ohtani's Pitching and Trout's Hitting]( A torn ulnar collateral ligament has ended the two-way superstar's season as a pitcher, while the center fielder is dealing with further wrist problems. | by Jay Jaffe [Spencer Torkelson Is Breaking Out]( After a dismal rookie season, the first pick of the 2020 draft has shown significant improvement. | by Jay Jaffe 🎧 [Effectively Wild Episode 2051: Bunts and Balks and Passed Balls, Oh My]( [DOWNLOAD THE FANGRAPHS APP]( [FanGraphs & Effectively Wild Merch Is Now Available at BreakingT!]( [ORDER HERE]( [2024 ROY favorites who could immediately help an MLB team]( by Kiley McDaniel, ESPN ($) [Ohtani, Trout and Zone Contact: What Does It Tell Us?]( by Joe Gallina, Pitcher List [Why the home stretch is still meaningful for Braves]( by Mark Bowman, MLB [2023 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Top MLB Draft Prospects]( by Carlos Collazo, Baseball America ($) [@fangraphs]( [FanGraphs]( [FanGraphs]( [RSS]( [FORWARD]( [SUBSCRIBE]( Copyright © 2023 FanGraphs Inc, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the FanGraphs Newsletter. Our mailing address is: FanGraphs Inc 1200 N Hartford St. Apt 312Arlington, Va 22201 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](