Paxton is the difference. He has arrived, Kuma is dealing again, and Felix is coming back in mid July (fingers crossed). Walker will need some rest. But right now, Paxton has kinda emerged as our #1 - and he looks like a true #1 - we're riding him deep into the battle - otherwise he sits in the eighth inning last night, doesn't he?
This is an amazing development, KPax #1, a dream a lot of us kinda gave up on. It wasn't that long ago someone here mentioned we should have traded him in the off season for Max Kepler in the off season - a nice get to be sure, but...we're talking Thor here.
Cruz could probably use some rest - you got Dae Lo and Guti on the bench, Scott, use them - you lose very little OPS in the process. Could Robby use a break now and again as well? These older guys want a pennant chase, and they will have it - but they need rest. Iannetta too. We could have lost these games just as easily without them as we did with them.
Oh yes, this is far from over.