My First Round Minnesota Twins Postseason Active Roster

[stringer bell]

From the injury information received, the rehab performances and the way this organization does things, here are my predictions for the active roster when the Twins host a postseason series against the #6 seed:

Locks are bold, injured players returning are in italics, minor league call-up are underlined.

Catchers (2): Jeffers, Vázquez.

Infielders (7): Kirilloff, Polanco, Julien, Correa, Lewis, Solano, Farmer

Outfielders (6): Luplow, Wallner, Castro, Taylor, Buxton, Kepler

Pitchers (11)--Starters (3): López, Gray, Ryan. Bullpen (5): Funderburk, Maeda, Varland, Stewart, Pagán, Jax, Thielbar, Duran

Discussion and rationale--A lot can happen in two and a half weeks, when the postseason roster will be finalized, including injuries, slumps and ineffectiveness. The last player I included was Buxton. I remain skeptical that he can both be healthy and contribute, but I think the Front Office will give him the chance unless it is certain he isn't healthy. 

I left veterans Gallo, Floro and Keuchel off the first series roster because their performance wasn't good enough. If Buxton is too unhealthy, my assumption is that Stevenson will be added for pinch running and defense. 

The third starter seems to be Ryan, although his performance since returning from the IL has been only satisfactory, not lights out. Maeda goes to the bullpen, where he has experience and I left Bailey Ober off the first series roster despite his good performance for the year. He would certainly be a candidate as a fourth starter in the next round. 

Outside of a 3-0 cookie that cost the Twins a game, Funderburk has been very good and adding another left handed reliever makes good strategic sense. Varland also has looked good as a multi-inning bullpen piece. I think Paddack may well be under consideration as a bullpen arm if someone falters. Dylan Floro might be an addition if someone is injured or has a skid. 

[GusGus11]

Cant really disagree with much here

Except Wallner is definitely in the lock category.

[SwainZag]

I think this is a pretty solid estimate of what we will see.  It's pretty crazy the health wise of this roster compared to the roster this time last year.

[DJL44]

Are they really going to drop down to 11 pitchers? I keep thinking another pitcher would be more useful than Luplow.

[Muppet]

In the remining season, I'd try to play Gallo and Wallner, and Nick Gordon (if he comes back) as much as possible to see if any of them are struck by lightning and manage to figure it out. A Gallo that could reasonably be expected to hit would be great for a post season team. Wallner looks like he might be coming around.  If they continue to stink it up... nothing lost, just leave them off the lineup going forward.

[In My La Z boy]

Bremer said on the game last night that Ober was returning from a 2 week vacation in SF and going to prepare for the playoff bullpen. 

[FlyingFinn]

Good job. I've got Ober in place of Funderburk and Stevenson in place of Buxton. 

[IaBeanCounter]

I had Stevenson over Luplow because there will be times when a PR/stolen base is needed.  

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Are they really going to drop down to 11 pitchers? I keep thinking another pitcher would be more useful than Luplow.

If you need even 11 pitchers in a 3 game series you're going to lose that series. Duran is throwing in every game that's close. Have to expect at least 6 innings out of your starters. That leaves 2 innings a game that needs to be covered, and you shouldn't be using anyone but you top 2 non-Duran guys for those innings.

Luplow doesn't have much value to a playoff roster, but I don't know what pitcher would have any value as the 12th guy in a 3 game set. Shouldn't need more than 6 or 7 arms in the WC round, but carry a few extra in case someone goes down or a game gets out of control and you need/want to save your top arms.

[IaBeanCounter]

The problem with going to 11 pitchers is that the Twins now have a 6 man bench.  Just think of the all the moves Baldelli's spreadsheet/computer will tell him to make.

[GusGus11]

13 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

If you need even 11 pitchers in a 3 game series you're going to lose that series. Duran is throwing in every game that's close. Have to expect at least 6 innings out of your starters. That leaves 2 innings a game that needs to be covered, and you shouldn't be using anyone but you top 2 non-Duran guys for those innings.

Luplow doesn't have much value to a playoff roster, but I don't know what pitcher would have any value as the 12th guy in a 3 game set. Shouldn't need more than 6 or 7 arms in the WC round, but carry a few extra in case someone goes down or a game gets out of control and you need/want to save your top arms.

Thats a stetch.

Rocco combined with Grays ability to randomly lose control makes 6 far from a lock. Same for Ryan who still isnt fully back to form yet.

Lopez absolutely. Only way he doesnt go 6+ is if its a truly bad start.

[chpettit19]

14 minutes ago, GusGus11 said:

Thats a stetch.

Rocco combined with Grays ability to randomly lose control makes 6 far from a lock. Same for Ryan who still isnt fully back to form yet.

Lopez absolutely. Only way he doesnt go 6+ is if its a truly bad start.

I didn't say it was a lock, but it is absolutely the expectation. But even if Gray and Ryan only go 5 you still only need 7 arms to get through a 3 game series unless something goes wrong. You carry the extra few arms in case they're needed, but the comment I responded to was questioning only carrying 11 arms. The point is they shouldn't need anywhere near 11 arms to get through a 3 game, must win series.

And adding "Rocco combined with" to your argument doesn't help your argument. The Twins are in the top 3 in baseball in innings per start. The narrative that he's constantly pulling good starters early has never been right, and easily proven to be wrong.

[GusGus11]

15 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I didn't say it was a lock, but it is absolutely the expectation. But even if Gray and Ryan only go 5 you still only need 7 arms to get through a 3 game series unless something goes wrong. You carry the extra few arms in case they're needed, but the comment I responded to was questioning only carrying 11 arms. The point is they shouldn't need anywhere near 11 arms to get through a 3 game, must win series.

And adding "Rocco combined with" to your argument doesn't help your argument. The Twins are in the top 3 in baseball in innings per start. The narrative that he's constantly pulling good starters early has never been right, and easily proven to be wrong.

Wrong. There are many ways to be high up in innings. A key to our starters is our depth being so strong that we almost never have huge blow ups where a starter has a 3 inning or less start.

Take Ober for example. Guy basically never goes less than 5 but at the same time he doesnt go more than 6.

Weve seen Rocco in the playoffs before going to the bullpen over Berrios after 5. Overmanaging has always been his thing.

And to "expect" Gray a guy who doesnt even average 6 innings to go 6 innings with Rocco who has pulled him after 4 vs the damn Tigers. Is a wild stretch.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I like this roster a lot.  I would probably carry one less outfielder (Buxton - who is not that likely to be healthy anyway) and add Keuchel to the bullpen.  He’s an awfully nice “Break Glass in Case of Emergency” pitcher to have out there just in case something silly happens (injury, sudden wildness, etc.) and you need innings covered in a game without destroying your bullpen.  I do think that Bailey Ober is a better pitcher than he is, but I would also leave him off of the roster and in waiting for the second round, where he might be the fourth starter.  

[Rod Carews Birthday]

6 minutes ago, GusGus11 said:

Wrong. There are many ways to be high up in innings. A key to our starters is our depth being so strong that we almost never have huge blow ups where a starter has a 3 inning or less start.

Take Ober for example. Guy basically never goes less than 5 but at the same time he doesnt go more than 6.

Weve seen Rocco in the playoffs before going to the bullpen over Berrios after 5. Overmanaging has always been his thing.

And to "expect" Gray a guy who doesnt even average 6 innings to go 6 innings with Rocco who has pulled him after 4 vs the damn Tigers. Is a wild stretch.

You don’t get to average 5.6 innings per start (tied for the league lead, and a substantial increase over last year’s injury riddled mess) just because there are no blowups.  You have to have pitchers who are pitching deeper into games so that that number increases.  Since their innings per start are currently on par with the best pitching staffs in the league, I’m going to give them credit for doing something right rather than nitpick that on a nightly basis. 

[chpettit19]

7 minutes ago, GusGus11 said:

Wrong. There are many ways to be high up in innings. A key to our starters is our depth being so strong that we almost never have huge blow ups where a starter has a 3 inning or less start.

Take Ober for example. Guy basically never goes less than 5 but at the same time he doesnt go more than 6.

Weve seen Rocco in the playoffs before going to the bullpen over Berrios after 5. Overmanaging has always been his thing.

And to "expect" Gray a guy who doesnt even average 6 innings to go 6 innings with Rocco who has pulled him after 4 vs the damn Tigers. Is a wild stretch.

As @Rod Carews Birthday pointed out, that's not at all a good argument for how averages work. A few more blow up starts doesn't suddenly drop them to the middle of the pack, much less the bottom. They could drop 19 innings and still be one of 6 teams at 800 starter innings this year. They are 39 innings ahead of the 13th ranked Arizona starting staff. How many blowup, 3 inning or less, starts do you think teams have per year? You don't get to be tied for the lead league in innings per start if you're not actually letting your pitchers go deep into games.

Ober has doubled his innings from last year, but you want to argue he's getting pulled early? Not the best argument to make.

Yeah, I'm hoping they meant it when they said they needed to make adjustments with their postseason strategies after 2020.

Ah, yes, the old "Rocco is obviously going to treat game 1 or 2 of the wild card series the exact same way as he treated a mid-June game where his pitcher was needing 20 pitches an inning to struggle through 4 innings against a bad team" argument. Classic.

Sonny Gray is currently 10th in the AL, and 20th in baseball, in innings pitched this year (averaging 5.76 innings per start). Pablo Lopez is currently 5th in the AL, and 10th in baseball, in innings pitched this year (averaging 6.16 innings per start). Arguing that it's "a wild stretch" to suggest they're expecting 6 innings from either of those guys is simply refusing to give up a narrative. Since the start of July Sonny Gray has gone fewer than 6 innings 2 times in 13 starts, and one of those was 5.2 innings. The other was his last start where he needed 89 pitches to get through 4 innings. They are expecting Sonny Gray to get through 6 innings in his wild card start. There's nothing "wild" about that suggestion.

 

[GusGus11]

4 minutes ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

You don’t get to average 5.6 innings per start (tied for the league lead, and a substantial increase over last year’s injury riddled mess) just because there are no blowups.  You have to have pitchers who are pitching deeper into games so that that number increases.  Since their innings per start are currently on par with the best pitching staffs in the league, I’m going to give them credit for doing something right rather than nitpick that on a nightly basis. 

But his whole "expectation is 6 innings"

How can you "expect" Sonny to go 6 when he doesnt even average that all year? Sonny gets pulled routinely "early" per how hes doing. Like in Philly he went 6 innings but they hadnt had a hit off him in 4 innings. They literally couldnt make contact. He was pulled with 80 pitches. So that was a quick hook for how he was doing.

Playoffs are managed differently by all managers. Quicker hooks. If people are expecting anyone but Pablo(again barring bad production) to go 6 and definitely anything more(he threw in a +) are setting themselves up for disappointment.

Honestly I will flat out guarantee that if Ryan or Ober have a post season start that is anything less than shut down they are pulled between 4-5. 2 runs or more and there is no chance they end up seeing the 6th. 

Gray will depend on how much traffic and his strike %

Its not a nitpick to point out the Twins dont have short starts, its true. Gray/Lopez/Ryan/Ober/Maeda are basically a lock to go at least 4. But we also outside of Lopez havent had a lot of starts that hit 7 innings all summer.

Rays series is a perfect example. 3 starts. Everyone went 4. No one went 5. And yes, none of those were Rocco hooks all 3 needed to be pulled. Gray if the game mattered coulda went 1 more but no brainer on situation.

Its just nuts to expect 6 inning in high leverage playoff games from guys who dont typically average it with a manager notorious for "playing match ups" whether its hitting or pitching.

[GusGus11]

2 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

As @Rod Carews Birthday pointed out, that's not at all a good argument for how averages work. A few more blow up starts doesn't suddenly drop them to the middle of the pack, much less the bottom. They could drop 19 innings and still be one of 6 teams at 800 starter innings this year. They are 39 innings ahead of the 13th ranked Arizona starting staff. How many blowup, 3 inning or less, starts do you think teams have per year? You don't get to be tied for the lead league in innings per start if you're not actually letting your pitchers go deep into games.

Ober has doubled his innings from last year, but you want to argue he's getting pulled early? Not the best argument to make.

Yeah, I'm hoping they meant it when they said they needed to make adjustments with their postseason strategies after 2020.

Ah, yes, the old "Rocco is obviously going to treat game 1 or 2 of the wild card series the exact same way as he treated a mid-June game where his pitcher was needing 20 pitches an inning to struggle through 4 innings against a bad team" argument. Classic.

Sonny Gray is currently 10th in the AL, and 20th in baseball, in innings pitched this year (averaging 5.76 innings per start). Pablo Lopez is currently 5th in the AL, and 10th in baseball, in innings pitched this year (averaging 6.16 innings per start). Arguing that it's "a wild stretch" to suggest they're expecting 6 innings from either of those guys is simply refusing to give up a narrative. Since the start of July Sonny Gray has gone fewer than 6 innings 2 times in 13 starts, and one of those was 5.2 innings. The other was his last start where he needed 89 pitches to get through 4 innings. They are expecting Sonny Gray to get through 6 innings in his wild card start. There's nothing "wild" about that suggestion.

 

Huh. 

So you are saying you expect Ober in the playoffs to start throwing more innings per start?? Hahah what.

All I did was point out the reason why Ober has good innings is because hes consistent. **** fangraphs did a article on it. The guy doesnt have short starts and he doesnt go super deep. Its 5-6 you can basically bet the mortgage. I didnt say anything that it was Roccos fault

Its just a factual data point to show why we have innings(our starters dont have short starts) but also why its insane to "expect" 6 innings when we have 1 guy who can be counted on to go 6 innings in even low leverage games.

Ironic you mention "treat game 1 or 2 of WC like regular season" thats actually the whole point. Do you watch playoff baseball?? Guys get pulled even quicker in these games. 

Simplest thing I can say is just watch the games in a few weeks and see. Unless they unquestionably deal our guys will not be averaging 6 innings.

[chpettit19]

Just now, GusGus11 said:

Huh. 

So you are saying you expect Ober in the playoffs to start throwing more innings per start?? Hahah what.

All I did was point out the reason why Ober has good innings is because hes consistent. **** fangraphs did a article on it. The guy doesnt have short starts and he doesnt go super deep. Its 5-6 you can basically bet the mortgage. I didnt say anything that it was Roccos fault

Its just a factual data point to show why we have innings(our starters dont have short starts) but also why its insane to "expect" 6 innings when we have 1 guy who can be counted on to go 6 innings in even low leverage games.

Ironic you mention "treat game 1 or 2 of WC like regular season" thats actually the whole point. Do you watch playoff baseball?? Guys get pulled even quicker in these games. 

Simplest thing I can say is just watch the games in a few weeks and see. Unless they unquestionably deal our guys will not be averaging 6 innings.

No, I don't expect Ober to even start in the playoffs. But using him as an example is useless because he's never even touched this amount of innings in a season in his life. The discussion was about the narrative that Rocco has a quick hook. Bringing up Ober in a conversation about Rocco's quick hook naturally implies that you're blaming Rocco's quick hook.

Last year's wild card round starts:
Wheeler: 6.1 innings
Quintana: 5.1 innings
Nola: 6.2 innings
Mikolas: 4.1 innings
Darvish: 7 innings
Scherzer: 4.2 innings (gave up 7 runs, and I don't think he's someone you want to use as an example of being "pulled even quicker" in playoff games)
Snell: 3.1 innings (90 pitches, yikes)
deGrom: 6 innings
McClanahan: 7 innings
Bieber: 7.2 innings
Glasnow: 5 innings (made 2 regular season starts for a grand total of 6.2 innings on the season and still went 5)
McKenzie: 6 innings
Castillo: 7.1 innings
Manoah: 5.2 innings
Ray: 3 innings (gave up 4 earned)
Gausman: 5.2 innings (gave up 4 earned)

Average innings per start in WC round last year: 5.7 innings. Yes, I watch playoff baseball. And the teams were doing everything they could to get at least 6 innings out of their starters in the wild card round.

Their expectations are that they "deal" in the wild card round. Absolutely. 100%. That is their expectation. Gray has been going 6 innings a start for over 2 months now. They've built their team around the idea that their rotation will carry them. I'm not suggesting anything crazy. I didn't say they're expecting complete games. They're expecting exactly what they've been asking of them since July while they were fighting for the division. Your suggestion is that suddenly they're going to stop asking Gray and Lopez to go 6+ when they actually get to the playoffs. That's a far wilder suggestion for the wild card series.

The Twins are expecting 6 innings out of Gray and Lopez, and probably hoping for it out of Ryan. Suggesting this is a "wild stretch" doesn't follow the logic of what's actually been happening. They may not get the 6 innings, but that is the expectation. And it's not hard to see. "Hey, we need you to get 6 innings a start during the stretch run battle where every game matters so we can win the division, but once we actually reach the playoffs we're going to decide that isn't the best strategy to win must-win games" is the far wilder argument to make here.

[IaBeanCounter]

12 minutes ago, GusGus11 said:

 

Ironic you mention "treat game 1 or 2 of WC like regular season" thats actually the whole point. Do you watch playoff baseball?? Guys get pulled even quicker in these games. 

Simplest thing I can say is just watch the games in a few weeks and see. Unless they unquestionably deal our guys will not be averaging 6 innings.

I don't think Rocco has a lot of trust in the BP, other than Thielbar and Duran.  If he had 4 lockdown relievers, I agree with pulling the starter after 5.  If Lopez or Gray have 70-75 pitches through 5 who does Baldelli use for 6th, the starter or a choice of Pagan, Jax or any of the other 4 relievers on the postseason roster?  I'm hoping for the starter and if the starter is at 80-85 after 6, I would let him start the 7th.

If Stewart comes back in good form that would give you 3 trusted arms.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

1 hour ago, GusGus11 said:

But his whole "expectation is 6 innings"

How can you "expect" Sonny to go 6 when he doesnt even average that all year? Sonny gets pulled routinely "early" per how hes doing. Like in Philly he went 6 innings but they hadnt had a hit off him in 4 innings. They literally couldnt make contact. He was pulled with 80 pitches. So that was a quick hook for how he was doing.

Playoffs are managed differently by all managers. Quicker hooks. If people are expecting anyone but Pablo(again barring bad production) to go 6 and definitely anything more(he threw in a +) are setting themselves up for disappointment.

Honestly I will flat out guarantee that if Ryan or Ober have a post season start that is anything less than shut down they are pulled between 4-5. 2 runs or more and there is no chance they end up seeing the 6th. 

Gray will depend on how much traffic and his strike %

Its not a nitpick to point out the Twins dont have short starts, its true. Gray/Lopez/Ryan/Ober/Maeda are basically a lock to go at least 4. But we also outside of Lopez havent had a lot of starts that hit 7 innings all summer.

Rays series is a perfect example. 3 starts. Everyone went 4. No one went 5. And yes, none of those were Rocco hooks all 3 needed to be pulled. Gray if the game mattered coulda went 1 more but no brainer on situation.

Its just nuts to expect 6 inning in high leverage playoff games from guys who dont typically average it with a manager notorious for "playing match ups" whether its hitting or pitching.

So. . . you’re saying that managers shouldn’t have “quick hooks” in the playoffs?

And. . . if a Ryan or Ober start isn’t going well after 4 or 5 they should be left in?

And. . . Gray’s start shouldn’t depend on how much traffic he allows and his strike percentage?

If I’m reading this correctly, you seem to be saying that the way these pitchers have been handled is OK with you.  

With all of these so called faults by Rocco, the Twins manage to be tied for the lead in innings per start.  Well OK then.  Sign me up for that.  

I’m pretty certain that each of them will go out there with the attitude of going at least six innings.  Some of them may actually get there, and some may not.  Regardless, those pitchers are going up there to get people out and will need to do so to stay in the game.  This is a pointless argument.  The Twins don’t pull their pitchers any sooner than anyone else does.  To suggest otherwise is to ignore math.  

[GusGus11]

4 hours ago, IaBeanCounter said:

I don't think Rocco has a lot of trust in the BP, other than Thielbar and Duran.  If he had 4 lockdown relievers, I agree with pulling the starter after 5.  If Lopez or Gray have 70-75 pitches through 5 who does Baldelli use for 6th, the starter or a choice of Pagan, Jax or any of the other 4 relievers on the postseason roster?  I'm hoping for the starter and if the starter is at 80-85 after 6, I would let him start the 7th.

If Stewart comes back in good form that would give you 3 trusted arms.

Dont get me wrong, Im not advocating for pulling guys(unless they truly have no gas in the tank) im just saying the way weve handled guys and the way the post season is managed and the way Rocco plays match ups. I wouldnt expect 6 from anyone but Lopez

Gray will if hes dominating but thats a duhh

I do hope we get a good Stewart back though

[GusGus11]

3 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

So. . . you’re saying that managers shouldn’t have “quick hooks” in the playoffs?

And. . . if a Ryan or Ober start isn’t going well after 4 or 5 they should be left in?

And. . . Gray’s start shouldn’t depend on how much traffic he allows and his strike percentage?

If I’m reading this correctly, you seem to be saying that the way these pitchers have been handled is OK with you.  

With all of these so called faults by Rocco, the Twins manage to be tied for the lead in innings per start.  Well OK then.  Sign me up for that.  

I’m pretty certain that each of them will go out there with the attitude of going at least six innings.  Some of them may actually get there, and some may not.  Regardless, those pitchers are going up there to get people out and will need to do so to stay in the game.  This is a pointless argument.  The Twins don’t pull their pitchers any sooner than anyone else does.  To suggest otherwise is to ignore math.  

Huh?

 

I have quite literally said multiple times now that saying "6 innings is the expecation" for any of these guys except Lopez is in the post season is a stretch. That was my literal initial post

Whether its pulled cause they stink, pulled prematurely, cardiac arrest, pulled as an inside joke. That is irrelevent.

It is a stretch to say the expectation is 6 innings per starter and to staff the bullpen according to that. That is literally all.

[DocBauer]

Stringer, I can't argue with your 1st round roster. It's about what I would probably pick. But there's a couple questions yet to be answered. However, like you, I'm going to assume Stewart is going to be ready based on reports of health and velocity. Unfortunately, he only gets a couple ML appearances before the end of the season, but I'm going with him.

1] I'm of the opinion that Buxton WON'T be ready. I wish he would be, even as a RH PH who is dangerous for a LH pitcher, he could be valuable. He's also an amazing SB threat, BUT, would he be done after doing so? Or would he be healthy enough to do it next game as well? I see him as a PH and PR only, and not an OF option. 

2] I think Luplow has value as a RH bat vs a LH arm. He's not great. But it's how he's carved out his career. He's at least OK. And he's a solid OF defensively. But I sure would like to have Stevenson as a SECOND PR option to go along with Castro. And he's also a fine defensive OF. But there's no room for him AND Luplow if Buxton is on the roster. But if Buck isn't ready...or even if he is...there has to be a debate about Stevenson as an extra PH option. Just no room for all 3 unless they go 1 pitcher down.

3] I'm of the opinion Funderburk, late to the team, might earn a spot for the playoffs. First round at least. But depending on who we play, a 2nd LH arm might not be as important as another RH arm. I believe Toronto is so RH, for example, that maybe it doesn't make sense. But I really do like the option of another LH arm. And despite his experience,  Keuchel is NOT the LH arm you want. You want someone who can get some K's, IMO. Unfortunately, Funderburk is being, potentially, pushed a bit to prove he's deserving. 

But I think your roster, for the 1st round, is about right.

[DJL44]

On 9/15/2023 at 12:41 PM, chpettit19 said:

If you need even 11 pitchers in a 3 game series you're going to lose that series.

All it takes is one extra-inning game to blow up that strategy.

[Brandon]

Who is going to pitch the 15th inning of a 16 inning marathon game the day after the pen pitches 5 innings to close out a close win?????  We need contingency for these things.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

16 minutes ago, Brandon said:

Who is going to pitch the 15th inning of a 16 inning marathon game the day after the pen pitches 5 innings to close out a close win?????  We need contingency for these things.

No matter what pitchers are on the roster, by that point, probably Willi Castro!

[chpettit19]

4 hours ago, DJL44 said:

All it takes is one extra-inning game to blow up that strategy.

Last year's wild card round included a 15 inning game, and still had no team use 11 pitchers. Both of the teams in that series (Cleveland and Tampa) only used 9 pitchers each. 2 teams used 10 pitchers (Padres and Mets) because they both had things go very poorly with a couple of their pitchers so none of the 3 games were close. Toronto and Seattle both only used 9 pitchers even though they both had multiple guys do really poorly (Ray only made it 3 innings in his start). Phillies used 6 arms, and Cards used 7. If you're using your 11th or 12th arm you're in a terrible spot. If you're using more than 7 arms something likely went pretty poorly for one of your starters, or you're using an opposite handed reliever to end an inning before turning it over to your back end stoppers. There should be absolutely no need to carry a 12th pitcher for the wildcard round.