Nationals versus Giants Game 3 lineups and predictions
By Ryan Ritchey
Washington Nationals:
1. Denard Span CF
2. Anthony Rendon 3B
3. Jayson Werth RF
4. Adam LaRoche 1B
5. Ian Desmond SS
6. Bryce Harper LF
7. Wilson Ramos C
8. Asdrubal Cabrera 2B
9. Doug Fister P
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San Francisco Giants:
1. Gregor Blanco CF
2. Joe Panik 2B
3. Buster Posey C
4. Pablo Sandoval 3B
5. Hunter Pence RF
6. Brandon Belt 1B
7. Brandon Crawford SS
8. Travis Ishikawa LF
9. Madison Bumgarner P
If you missed my post this morning you can go and read the preview of this game here. The lineups are set and the Nationals are facing elimination in October. It is not exactly the place they want to be after having the best record in the National League all season, but it is what it is.
The main thing for the Nationals is going to be offense. It is going to be hard to score multiple runs off of Madison Bumgarner but when the chance presents itself, they have to execute. That all starts with Denard Span. He has to be the catalyst of the offense. As Pablo Roa wrote yesterday, Span is the key to the Nationals postseason success. He tied for the lead in hits in the NL, but has yet to get one in the two games, but 27 innings played this postseason.
Doug Fister also has to be on top of his game. The Nationals front office traded for him this offseason and the biggest start of his tenure is in about three hours or so.
Ryan Zimmerman will once again come off Matt Williams‘ bench. He has yet to start a game this postseason, but has contributed off the bench. Not sure why he hasn’t been fit into the lineup in some capacity, but that is why I am writing this post and Williams is in the dugout making the decisions.
Predictions: I don’t see the Nats going down easy, and I expect them to have better at-bats, even against the tough lefty Bumgarner. It should be a low scoring game, with the Nationals coming out on top 3-1 scoring a late insurance run off the Giants bullpen.
Anthony Rendon is coming off a historic night at the plate, and he will have to be good again. I expect him to have another good game as he is seeing the ball well. He and Denard Span will lead the offense into scoring situations that will propel the Nats to victory and “at least” one more game in the NLDS.