May 2, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (34) celebrates with center fielder Denard Span (2) and left fielder Roger Bernadina (33) after beating the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Nationals won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals played the final game of their four game series with the Atlanta Braves and salvaged a split in the series, beating the Braves 3-1.

Dan Haren pitched his best game yet wearing a Nats uniform, going eight innings and only giving up one run, a solo home run to Dan Uggla in the seventh inning. Haren’s pitches had great movement all night, darting up and down and over both sides of the plate. The Braves hitters only managed to eke out five hits over the eight innings Haren pitched.

Kris Medlin, Atlanta’s starter, had a hard time settling down in the first two innings and the Nats jumped on the opportunity, scoring all three of their runs before the start of the third inning. Denard Span had a great night at the plate, going three for four with a walk. Span hit two doubles, one of which scored two runs. Span scored a run after reaching base on his first double. Span also recorded the first hit against the Atlanta bullpen this year, singling off Jordan Walden in the ninth inning,

Span lead off the game with a double and took third base on a wild pitch. Steve Lombardozzi drove in Span with a single. After Bryce Harper flew out to center field, Jayson Werth got Lombardozzi to second on a groundout, but Lombardozzi was stranded at second when Ian Desmond struck out looking.

In the second inning, the Nats cashed in again. Adam LaRoche doubled and Anthony Rendon singled, putting runners on the corners. Wilson Ramos hit a ground ball that should have netted the Braves a double play, but LaRoche came far enough off third to tempt the Braves into getting him caught in a rundown. LaRoche was out, but it was only the first out of the inning and the Nats still had two on. Haren sacrificed the runners over with a bunt, and then Span hit his second double, scoring both Rendon and Ramos.

That was the end of the Nats scoring off Braves pitching, but it was enough as Haren dealt the rest of the way. Desmond doubled for another extra base hit, and Rendon went two for three with a walk in what was probably his last game with the team before the return of Ryan Zimmerman sends him back to the minors.

For all the feel good from the Nationals win, the team continued its disturbing tendency to be unable to hit with runners in scoring position. The Nats were only three for eleven in this game with RISP. The other issue that arose was with Werth’s continuing problems with his leg/ankle injury. He left the game in the top of the fifth inning, his place taken by Roger Bernadina.

Alfonso Soriano pitched the bottom of the ninth, garnering his ninth save of the year.

Next Game:  The Nationals start a series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Friday, May 3rd at 7:05 p.m.  Ross Detwiler (1-2, 2.03 ERA) starts for the Nationals, while A. J. Burnett (2-2, 2.83 ERA) goes for the Pirates.

April 13, 2012;Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals outfielder Roger Bernadina (2) gets in a run down with Cincinnati Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan (29) at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

The story right now is the Nationals pitching staff, but Great America Ballpark is known for being a hitters park, so the offense might have to pick up the slack, especially in the season opener.

Probable Pitchers
Friday, 7:10 p.m.
WSH – Dan Haren (season debut)
CIN – Homer Bailey (season debut)

Saturday, 1:10 p.m.
WSH – Ross Detwiler (season debut)
CIN – Mike Leake (season debut)

Sunday, 1:10 p.m.
WSH – Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.90 FIP)
CIN – Johnny Cueto (0-0, 1.29 ERA, 2.90 FIP)

I give the three matchups a 1-1 score with one draw. I’m skeptical of Haren until he proves me wrong, and am really excited for Detwiler this season. I think Bailey is primed for a breakout and Leake was moved to the rotation after Aroldis Chapman went back to the bullpen.  You can’t go wrong with Strasburg or Cueto. I’m sure at least 95 per cent of Washington fans would choose Strasburg and vice versa with Cincinnati fans and Cueto.

Matchups to Watch
The Captains
Ryan Zimmerman and Joey Votto are two opposites. One’s American, one Canadian. One plays third base, the other first.

However, both are undoubtedly the face of their teams and are relied on to provide leadership and offense. It has been tough sledding for Votto even going back to the World Baseball Classic. However, where he is struggling with the bat (1/10), he is getting on base (3 BB, .400 OBP). Votto won’t stay asleep for long, though and it will be interesting to see how Nationals pitching attacks him in a lineup of good hitters.

Zimmerman has rebounded from an 0/3 3 K opener. Since then, he is 5/7 with a 2B, 3B and three RBI. If he can continue providing extra base hits scoring the guys in front of him, it will be a nice rebound from an injury plagued 2012 season which really wasn’t bad offensively for the Nationals third baseman.

The Leadoff Men
Denard Span and Shin-Soo Choo are no strangers to facing off, having done it in the American League Central. Both have arrived to shore up their new teams biggest weakness from a year ago and are both off to good starts.

Choo is 4/12 with four runs scored a HR and RBI and one walk (.333/.467 AVG/OBP) while Span is 3/9 with two runs scored, an RBI and three walks (.333/.500). If the two of them can continue that success this will not be the only series preview I will be writing between the two teams. With Ryan Ludwick out for Cincinnati, it becomes even more important for Choo to hit the ball well because while Chris Heisey is good, he’s not Ludwick.

Injury Report
Washington only has Christian Garcia on the 15-day DL and is otherwise healthy. They have not used most of their bench – of their Opening Day starters only Wilson Ramos has sat so far this season. Most managers like to use their bench players in a start during the season’s opening week so we will see what will happen in that regard.

Cincinnati has Ludwick out along with Nick Masset on the disabled list. Reliever Sean Marshall has been diagnosed with shoulder fatigue, but is still on the Reds roster.

For more information on the Cincinnati Reds, be sure to check out our Reds counterpart at FanSided, Blog Red Machine.

March 05, 2013; Viera, FL, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Denard Span (2) at bat during spring training game against the Houston Astros at Space Coast Stadium. Washington defeated Houston 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

ZiPS: 525 AB, .273/.330/.380, 42 RBI, 68 RS, 17 SB, 4 HR

MLB.com: 570 AB, .282/.352/.384, 46 RBI, 84 RS, 21 SB, 5 HR

CBSSports: 600 AB, .275/.341/.382, 49 RBI, 85 RS, 21 SB, 6 HR

ESPN Fantasy: 532 AB, .271/.333/.382, 40 RBI, 71 RS, 18 SB, 4 HR

Averages: 557 AB, .275/.339/.382, 44 RBI, 77 RS, 19 SB, 5 HR

Looking at these numbers and Span’s career, we can confidently conclude that he will play the same way he has for his entire career: as a solid, if unspectacular, role player. With good speed, an ability to draw walks, and nice centerfield defense, he fits the need the Nationals have had every since they (mercifully) jettisoned Nyjer Morgan. Unfortunately, despite being exactly what the Nationals needed does not make him a particularly valuable fantasy asset. He will contribute runs, steals, walks, and not much else above average. However, he could outperform the above projections if he is somehow reinvigorated playing on a new team, and would merit more consideration if he can replicate or exceed his 2012 stats. Another consideration with Span is his health, as ESPN notes that he has only had over 600 plate appearances one in his career, and he has missed 126 games over the last two seasons combined, albeit all due to the same injury. Playing a full 2013 would mark a huge step in his return to consistency. But with the above forecast, Span will be a bench OF at best, and only a viable option in NL-only or exceptionally deep leagues. He as much more value to the Nats, as a long-missing cog in the machine Davey Johnson hopes to drive to a World Series championship.