Because TLR is the manager, ,although Stoney says they don’t want to take a chance with Kopech coming back from a leg injury with all that rain. So there may beapoint there.
Maybe better to analyze the pitch to Gordon instead. It was a breaking pitch in the middle of the zone. ESPN announcer said there was no need to throw a strike to Gordon who is a free swinger. Also maybe Cease was already gassed with 107 pitches.