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<div style="padding-left:30px;padding-right:30px;">Surprise, surprise: Gutierrez to start Game Four
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</div>WASHINGTON, DC -- Maine Guides manager Andrew MacGilledon announced on the afternoon of the Brewmasters Series opener that Raulo Gutierrez will start Game Four back in Maine on Monday.
Gutierrez celebrated his 40th birthday two weeks after straining his pitching forearm back on August 12.
He has not pitched since.
"Raulo's been outstanding for us when he's been on the mound," said MacGilledon. "He did what he had to do with his rehab to come back in time for this series.
"Tom [Hau] has had a great year too, and if there were some way to start both these guys, I would. It was a difficult choice, but I guess it's a good problem to have.
"We played a lot of extra baseball against Syracuse. An extra arm in the pen has value the first couple games, and Tom is ready to go."
Despite his advanced age, Gutierrez's third stint in Maine has perhaps been his finest.
He posted a 2.99 ERA in 23 starts this season prior to his injury. In 18 starts last year, he kept a 2.09 ERA, along with 117 strikeouts and just ten walks in 129 innings.
Known for his outstanding control and deadly changeup, Gutierrez won the Pale Ale Pitcher award as a Guide in 1993 and has been honored with five All-Star selections.
"Raulo is a guy our younger players look to. With his smarts and savvy on the mound, his presence has meant a lot to guys like Tom and Ignacio [Alvarez]," MacGilledon said.
Gutierrez's contract expires at the conclusion of this season, and at age 40, he is the second-oldest active pitcher in Brewers League Baseball.
When asked for comment about Gutierrez's possible retirement plans, MacGilledon said only, "This whole team is focused on the series at hand. We worked hard to get here, and we're not about to lose focus now."
Whatever the case, Gutierrez has worked his way back for one postseason start on the biggest stage.
He made his Brewers League debut back in 1990 as a key piece on the last Guides championship club, going 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA that postseason.
All eyes will be on him Monday night, to see whether he can summon one more magical October start, in what could be a final outing to bookend his masterful career with a championship.
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<div style="float:right;padding:19px;">
</div>WASHINGTON, DC -- Maine Guides manager Andrew MacGilledon announced on the afternoon of the Brewmasters Series opener that Raulo Gutierrez will start Game Four back in Maine on Monday.Gutierrez celebrated his 40th birthday two weeks after straining his pitching forearm back on August 12.
He has not pitched since.
"Raulo's been outstanding for us when he's been on the mound," said MacGilledon. "He did what he had to do with his rehab to come back in time for this series.
"Tom [Hau] has had a great year too, and if there were some way to start both these guys, I would. It was a difficult choice, but I guess it's a good problem to have.
"We played a lot of extra baseball against Syracuse. An extra arm in the pen has value the first couple games, and Tom is ready to go."
Despite his advanced age, Gutierrez's third stint in Maine has perhaps been his finest.
He posted a 2.99 ERA in 23 starts this season prior to his injury. In 18 starts last year, he kept a 2.09 ERA, along with 117 strikeouts and just ten walks in 129 innings.
Known for his outstanding control and deadly changeup, Gutierrez won the Pale Ale Pitcher award as a Guide in 1993 and has been honored with five All-Star selections.
"Raulo is a guy our younger players look to. With his smarts and savvy on the mound, his presence has meant a lot to guys like Tom and Ignacio [Alvarez]," MacGilledon said.
Gutierrez's contract expires at the conclusion of this season, and at age 40, he is the second-oldest active pitcher in Brewers League Baseball.
When asked for comment about Gutierrez's possible retirement plans, MacGilledon said only, "This whole team is focused on the series at hand. We worked hard to get here, and we're not about to lose focus now."
Whatever the case, Gutierrez has worked his way back for one postseason start on the biggest stage.
He made his Brewers League debut back in 1990 as a key piece on the last Guides championship club, going 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA that postseason.
All eyes will be on him Monday night, to see whether he can summon one more magical October start, in what could be a final outing to bookend his masterful career with a championship.
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