The Telegraph Two of the surprise packages of this clay-court season have been British – initially Dan Evans, who made a deep run in Monte Carlo, and more lately Cameron Norrie, who played his second final in three weeks on Sunday. Unfortunately, Norrie wasn’t able to land a maiden ATP title in Lyon. But then he was up against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has been the dominant force of 2021 outside the slams, and now stands at No 1 in the table of most rankings points gained since January 1. Nevertheless, it had been a hugely creditable effort for Norrie to go this far, especially when you consider that he took out top seed Dominic Thiem on Thursday, and then trounced big-hitting Russian Karen Khachanov in Saturday’s semi-final, losing only two games in the process. Norrie has come to clay late in his career, but it feels like this is developing into his favourite surface. He has one of the heaviest left-handed forehands in the game, loaded with top-spin, and uses it like a miniature version of Rafael Nadal. The result has been a tally of 14 wins and only four losses since he began his European clay-court swing in Barcelona. So while the French Open, which starts next Sunday, has traditionally been a graveyard of British hopes, there are reasons to hope that this year’s event could deliver some more positive results. Norrie’s previous final in Estoril had been a nervewracking affair which he eventually lost on a deciding-set tie-break to the more experienced Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Sunday was more straightforward for Tsitsipas, who needed only 69 minutes to hammer home a 6-3, 6-3 victory. It was Tsitsipas’ second title of the clay-court sequence, after he won Monte Carlo in mid-April, taking out Evans in the semi-final along the way. He has become a serious contender to upset the establishment – specifically Nadal and Novak Djokovic – at Roland Garros over the next few weeks. “I felt in good shape from the beginning of the tournament,” said Tsitsipas afterwards. “I am proud of today’s match, I knew it would be a difficult one against Cameron, who has been showing great tennis this week. He has been winning against good players and showing what the left hand can do on clay. “It was not an easy match today. I had to handle the nerves and I am proud of my performance and the way I stayed focused towards my goal.” On this year’s results, meanwhile, both Evans and Norrie stand among the world’s 20 most successful men. Evans is at No 16 and Norrie No 14. The next challenge for them both is to convert that ATP Tour form into a deep run at a major.<doc-sep>In reading the tea leaves, it appears Washington ace and Cy Young candidate Max Scherzer will pitch against the Rockies on Sunday at Coors Field if the game has postseason implications. “I’ve had that conversation with (Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo), and if there’s an elimination game or something of that nature, he wants me to pitch,” Scherzer said from Coors Field Friday. “For me, the way I look at it is now would be an opportunity to have a playoff atmosphere here against the Rockies. Why not compete in that situation? If that situation arises, I want to be in there.” That competitive sentiment comes even as Scherzer (18-7, 2.53 ERA) acknowledged that he’d be okay if the Nationals decided to sit him. Washington manager Dave Martinez wouldn’t commit to whether or not the right-hander would take the hill in the season finale. “We’ll see how things play out,” Martinez said before Friday’s game. “Today, we’re concerned about winning today.” In addition to reaching 300 strikeouts this season, Scherzer cited the milestones of 33 starts and 220-plus innings pitched as potential reasons to not pitch. But he also understands “there’s an integrity-of-the-game component to this as well.” Related Articles Rockies’ Josh Fuentes now, officially, Joshua Fuentes, thanks to hot streak Rockies-Mets game postponed; doubleheader scheduled for Thursday Rockies Mailbag: Colorado has no plans to trade Trevor Story prior to All-Star Game Kyle Freeland’s Rockies season debut spoiled in 3-1 loss at New York Mets Rockies’ Elias Diaz aiming to build on first home run of season Washington announced Stephen Strasburg as its starter Saturday night, and even though the 30-year-old has scuffled since returning from the disabled list Aug. 22, that means Colorado could have to go through a pair of pitchers with ace stuff in order to clinch the NL West. Colorado wouldn’t expect the sledding to be easy in the final days of its pursuit of a first National League West crown. “That’s the way the road has gone for us this year — it’s been a tough road,” third baseman Nolan Arenado said. “To get to where we want and need to go, we’ll have to face the best, and we’re going to be ready. We’re going to relish the moment. We understand it’s not going to be easy.” The Rockies tagged Strasburg for four runs in his lone start against them this season, a Colorado win in D.C. on April 15. Meanwhile, Scherzer’s only outing against Colorado in 2018 came the day before, when he allowed two runs in seven innings while striking out 11 in a Nationals’ victory. “To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “That’s always been my mantra.” Footnotes. Pitcher Jon Gray said he’s not feeling any nerves heading into his showdown against Strasburg on Saturday night, noting the various difficulties he’s endured this season (a mid-summer demotion to Triple-A and having a recent start skipped). Those trials lead him to believe his karma will turn as it did in his seven-inning, one-run outing against the Phillies on Monday night. “This season was a tough one for me, but I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me,” Gray said… The right-hander also noted he’ll be slicking his long hair with water again, as he did prior to taking the mound against Philadelphia, in order to “go for the nasty look — like I’ve pitched 13 innings coming in.”… Left-hander Tyler Anderson threw a 30-pitch bullpen on Friday, and said he didn’t feel any of the shoulder tightness that caused him to miss his start on Monday. “I feel good to go,” Anderson said. “Now, we just have to see what Buddy wants to do.” Looking ahead Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (9-7, 3.77) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray (12-8, 4.91), 6:10 p.m. Saturday; ATTRM, 850 AM Gray gets another shot at another big moment. He hasn’t fared well in those scenarios, but he came up big in his last start, pitching seven strong innings in Colorado’s win over the Phillies on Monday at Coors Field. Gray allowed one run on four hits (including a solo home run), with seven strikeouts and three walks. Despite a recent three-game slump, Gray is 5-1 with a 3.91 ERA in 13 starts since his July 14 recall from Triple-A. The Rockies are 10-3 in those starts. In three starts vs. the Nationals, he’s 0-2 with a 6.48 ERA, 17 strikeouts and three walks. Strasburg’s season has been disappointing and there was some thought that he might not pitch Saturday, but he’ll be on the mound at Coors Field. He’s coming off a tough game against the Marlins on Monday night when he pitched just four innings, giving up five hits and one run. He walked four and whiffed five. It was his shortest start since he returned from back-to-back stints on the disabled list stints. Colorado center fielder Charlie Blackmon has feasted off Strasburg, batting 7-for-14 (.500) with four doubles, a home run and three RBIs. –– Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post Sunday: Nationals TBA at Rockies TBA End regular season –– Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post<doc-sep>The Colorado Rockies' hopes of winning the NL West just got a huge boost. Barely 24 hours after revealing plans to start ace Max Scherzer on Sunday if the game mattered to Colorado, the Washington Nationals and manager Dave Martinez reversed course and announced that their ace won't take the mound after all in the season finale. The first-year skipper cited workload concerns as the reason for skipping Scherzer. "Max did his job. He threw 220 innings (this year)," Martinez said, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN. "... I understand the integrity of the game, but both teams (the Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers) are in it. I've got to take care of my player." Right-hander Erick Fedde will make the start for Washington, opposite Tyler Anderson of the Rockies. Sunday's game is critical for Colorado, who need a win and a Dodgers loss to clinch their first division title in franchise history. The Rockies and Dodgers are tied atop the NL West after 161 games, and if both teams either win or lose, the clubs would play a tiebreaker for the division on Monday in Los Angeles. Despite the Nationals being eliminated from the playoff race, Scherzer had already expressed his excitement for getting to pitch in a playoff-like atmosphere at Coors Field on Sunday. On Saturday, after the change was announced, he took the move in stride. "I was mentally ready to pitch but I completely understand (the team's) call," Scherzer said Saturday night, per Zuckerman. With his 2018 season now officially over, the 34-year-old finishes his year with a 2.53 ERA alongside an NL-best 18 wins, 300 strikeouts, and 0.91 WHIP across an MLB-leading 220 2/3 innings. Scherzer earned his third consecutive strikeout title, and is considered a top candidate to win what would be his third consecutive NL Cy Young award, and fourth of his career.<doc-sep>
Friday night, with their win over the Nationals (COL 5, WAS 2), the Rockies officially clinched a spot in the 2018 postseason. They will be, at worst, the second wild card team. It's the first time in franchise history the Rockies are going to the postseason in back-to-back years. The Rockies do of course hold a one-game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West. They can clinch the first division title in franchise history as soon as Saturday. It'll take another win over the Nationals and a Dodgers loss to the Giants. If only one of the two happens (or neither of the two), the NL West title will have to wait another day. And, if it does have to wait until Sunday, Nationals ace Max Scherzer wants to pitch to make life miserable for the Rockies. He lines up to start Sunday but Washington currently has their starter listed as TBD. If the NL West title is up for grabs, Scherzer will pitch. Otherwise he'll be shut down for the season. From MLB.com's Jamal Collier: "If there's an elimination game on the line here against the Rockies, they want me to pitch," Scherzer said. "And for me the way I look at it, if there's a playoff atmosphere on the line where somebody can get knocked out, that's a heck of an environment to pitch in. "Even though we're playing for nothing, at least we can be able to toe the rubber knowing that the atmosphere here with the crowd and the other team would be playing at probably the highest level of any point I would face this year. Why wouldn't I want to compete in that?" The Nationals have already been eliminated from postseason contention, so Sunday's regular season finale is meaningless for them. Scherzer has already reached 300 strikeouts for the season and his Cy Young case is as strong as it's going to get. (He'd have to throw 107 2/3 scoreless innings to pass Jacob deGrom in ERA.) Besides, starting in Coors Field isn't the best way for a pitcher to improve his numbers. Sunday's game is potentially meaningful for the Rockies though, and when you've already been eliminated from postseason contention like the Nationals, one of the few things that keep a team motivated is playing spoiler. Scherzer and the Nationals could make like difficult for the Rockies on the final day of the season. Unless the Rockies clinch the division title Saturday, it sure looks like they'll have to beat the two-time reigning Cy Young winner on Sunday to win their first division title.