The Washington Nationals are 11-6 (.647) since May 14, and now the Nats have to get back into the W column. The Nats will send their ace, MacKenzie Gore, to the mound to find a way for the team to win.
You could really point to some bad defense on Tuesday as a large contributing factor in the loss. As usual, none of the costliest mistakes were ruled errors, just plays that were not made. Then you had four walks issued from the bullpen.
“It was a weird game. A couple of mistakes on defense, and then, really, the one inning it was the walks. The walks got us that inning, and then a base hit. So we just got to come back [Wednesday], and try to eliminate all that stuff. And today was just weird.”
“I mean, the play at third base, where Tena should just look him back and throw the ball to get the out at first, he didn’t do either. Cole Henry has been throwing the ball really well. Today he was yanking everything. Chafin has been really good against lefties. He walked two left-handed hitters. So that, to me, is weird.”
— manager Dave Martinez said after yesterday’s game
You can see the recent bullpen usage here:
Here are your Nats’ WAR leaders James Wood at +2.7 with MacKenzie Gore at +2.1 followed by CJ Abrams, and Mitchell Parker.
On defense, the stats are starting to give you an idea of what this defense is all about. Paul DeJong is your OAA leader and he hasn’t played in over a month dating back to April 15. Luis Garcia Jr. has slumped this season defensively to a -6.0 already — and with CJ Abrams, they combine for -10.0 OAA. Unfortunately, Daylen Lile has found himself on this list on the negative side of the fielders and already at a -2.0. Another issue that we have discussed is the positioning of Nathaniel Lowe at first base as he is too often out of position to make a play — and OAA has his chance at success at only 62 percent which must improve. With as little as Amed Rosario has played on defense, he is at -6.0 OAA this season and the worst on the team. Per Statcast, his defense has cost the Nationals 5-runs. Is his offense good enough to make up that deficit if he plays the field? Keibert Ruiz, per Statcast, has a -7.0 OAA also. The Nationals were supposed to be better on defense. What has happened?
These are your stats leaders on BBRef. There are certainly some surprises on there — good and not so good.
“We swung bats pretty good early. Just couldn’t get nothing going, and then all of a sudden, they have a big inning. I think we got just a little flat, a little down. So we got to come back [Wednesday] and get ready to do [better] again.”
— manager Dave Martinez said after yesterday’s game
The Nats starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.53and 6th worst in MLB. The reliever’s ERA sits at a 5.93 and now only the second worst in baseball in ERA.
Here is how the starters rank by ERA:
No. 5 Starter: Trevor Williams 5.69
No. 4 Starter: Michael Soroka 5.81
No. 3 Starter: Mitchell Parker 4.71
No. 2 Starter: Jake Irvin 3.93
No. 1 Starter: MacKenzie Gore 3.16
Chicago Cubs vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 6:45 pm EDT
TV: MASN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan radio and via the MLB app; In Spanish on DC 87.7 FM and La Pantera 100.7 FM/1220 AM. On Sirius/XM, tune to Channel 179 for the home broadcast and the road team is online only.
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
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