We've lost about 10% of our playoff probability, but still in the 7th position and have an adjusted expected record of 30-30 instead of 31-29.
So "should" have gone 2-3 and we're 1-4, a one game swing in the standings.
We're still without Mazara, Eloy Jimenez, and Lopez. Madrigal isn't up. No Kopech. Encarnacion can go on massive hot streaks that carry a team for 7-10 days, and he can also look like he's a week or two from walking away from the game. Most encouraging, James McCann looks really good again, and, worst-case scenario, he has tremendous trade value if he can keep this up.
We're having to rely on the likes of formerly released (June) Delmonico as a clean-up hitter, and giving significant playing time to the likes of Adam Engel and Leury Garcia, who are prototypical role or bench players, not starters.
The primary concern, of course, is the starting pitching. It's not like there is going to be a lot of trades made here in the first 2-3 weeks unless franchises are experiencing significant financial shortfalls already.
If we simply think of Rodon as a #5/swingman (future reliever), and Keuchel as a 2/3, that puts all the pressure in the world on Giolito and Cease. We'll find out soon enough if they're mentally strong enough. Let's just hope that if we do start to fall out of this, they begin to give more opportunities to guys like Lambert and Dunning instead of Gio Gonzalez and Ross Detwiler.
We're in a very similar situation to what the Braves are facing right now with their rotation. I'm going to hope that if we don't make the playoffs, we get some clarity on the roles of Rick Renteria and Don Cooper moving forward. We don't have to have the BEST manager in the game, but it would be nice if just for once we prioritized this position and really thought carefully about who was the right fit to take this franchise to the next level.
Also, with the news about Mikolas also being out for the season, we can't afford to sustain another season-ending injury in the pitching staff. That much is obvious, and probably not preventable at this point, either.