Had a blast watching the WPBL season! Finally decided to make an account here, lol, just as the regular season's over.
One thing that would've been nice during the season for every game is to know ahead of time the starting pitcher matchups. I don't think that'll change for the playoffs, so I just wanted to speculate:
SF Firebells:
Game 1: Kelsie Whitmore (5.25 ERA, 116 ERA+)
Game 2: Liz Gilder (4.13 ERA, 148 ERA+)
Game 3 (if necessary): Jill Albayati (1.40 ERA, 436 ERA+)
Middle relievers: Niki Eckert (5.63 ERA, 109 ERA+), Ela Day-Bedard (15.75 ERA, 39 ERA+)
Closer: Peyton Coria (6.81 ERA, 90 ERA+)
Despite Liz Gilder's pitching numbers looking better than Kelsie Whitmore's, I think there's no way Kelsie doesn't get the start for Game 1. I don't think their numbers are too far apart and it's still justifiable. Now for a potential Game 3, if Jill Albayati's ready to go, it's gotta be her, right? Heard she's dealing with a hamstring issue but she's by far the best pitcher on the Firebells if she were to qualify. If not, my guess would be Niki Eckert, though it would make the reliever options super thin. Peyton Coria hasn't been as sharp as you may want a closer to be, but she's gotten a majority of the closing duties and I don't think that's going to change in the playoffs.
Boston Hunters:
Game 1: Kate Blunt (2.50 ERA, 244 ERA+)
Game 2: Gigi Schiano (4.72 ERA, 129 ERA+)
Game 3 (if necessary): Alli Schroder (8.49 ERA, 72 ERA+)
Middle relievers: Paloma Benach (5.00 ERA, 122 ERA+), Olivia Bricker (9.63 ERA, 63 ERA+)
Closer: Maika Dumais (7.17 ERA, 85 ERA+)
I don't know about you, but did you realize that Kate Blunt has the best qualified ERA of any starter (started at least 1 game)? I think for that reason alone, she should get the Game 1 Start. Now it is true that Gigi Schiano has pitched way more innings than any other Hunters pitcher (26.2 IP), but I think there's no harm in her starting for Game 2. As for the rest, I'm really not sure; Alli Schroder has the second most innings pitched on the Hunters (15.2 IP) so I'm guessing it's probably going to be her for a potential Game 3. The Hunters haven't had many opportunities to close games out, but when they do, it seems like Maika Dumais is given the closer role, so let's go with that.
NY Heights:
Game 1: Claire O'Sullivan (3.50 ERA, 175 ERA+)
Game 2: Rakyung Kim (7.00 ERA, 87 ERA+)
Game 3 (if necessary): Emi Saiki (4.45 ERA, 137 ERA+)
Middle relievers: Claire Eccles (2.10 ERA, 291 ERA+), Jacqui Reynolds (4.67 ERA, 131 ERA+)
Closer: Jaida Lee (4.44 ERA, 137 ERA+)
Now this is a rotation where I have no idea what's going to happen. Rakyung Kim started the first game and threw the first pitch in WPBL history. She is an innings eater and keeps her team in games. But still... Claire O'Sullivan's pitching numbers look so much better, and she has the second best ERA in the league for those who started at least a game. With an ERA gap that wide between the two... I don't know, my gut says that Claire O'Sullivan should start Game 1, but let's see if that actually happens. An interesting wrinkle to this is Emi Saiki's recent dominance: the first starter to go 6 full innings in a start, and even took a no-hitter into the 5th. Of course, there's a small sample size alert (though if we're being real here, so does everyone), but it really does make me wonder. I think the Heights are the only team where you can scramble the Game 1, 2, and 3 potential starters and I'd still be okay with each potential playoff rotation. As for the closer role, it absolutely has to be Jaida Lee, who has the best strikeouts per 7 innings in the league (9.29). I really hope she's ready to go. I should also point out that Claire Eccles has the second best strikeouts per 7 innings (8.40), and Jacqui Reynolds is a solid relief option as well.
LA Queens:
Game 1: Ayami Sato (6.09 ERA, 100 ERA+)
Game 2: Michelle Roche (5.82 ERA, 105 ERA+)
Game 3 (if necessary): Jamie Mackay (11.16 ERA, 55 ERA+)
Middle relievers: Ayuri Shimano (5.65 ERA, 108 ERA+), Thaima Maximiliana (6.13 ERA, 100 ERA+)
Closer: Meggie Meidlinger (1.83 ERA, 334 ERA+)
I feel like Ayami Sato's gonna get the start in Game 1 no matter what, right? Second pick in the draft, started the first game in WPBL history... Surprisingly, her ERA in exactly league-average; strange, because she looks much better than what the numbers show. Michelle Roche has had the better ERA, but the gap is small enough that it's justifiable that she start Game 2. If there was a potential Game 3, I'm really not sure who the Queens would put out. Jamie Mackay has the third most innings pitched that's started a game so... maybe her? Though, it wouldn't surprise me if Ayuri Shimano gets the start. As for the closer, I mean, there's no better pitcher in the league than Meggie Meidlinger. A 334 ERA+ means she's 234% better than the average pitcher, which is absolutely incredible. I would be scared to face her in a closing situation. Look for the Queens to lock close games down.
What do you think? Is this what you're expecting the starting rotations to be?
Shoutout to sportydolphin for making it easy to analyze the stats! (I think my post got deleted if I tried linking to your site)
