Washington Nationals Series Preview: Nats Head to Boston for Interleague Clash With Red Sox

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Apr 8, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (27) throws during the first inning against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals entered their series with Philadelphia hoping to get back on track after a rough opening series against the Mets. Instead, they managed to drop two more games, including one in which the bullpen managed to cough up a late lead before losing in extra innings on Saturday. While they managed to avoid a similar fate on Sunday thanks to a wild pitch and a great defensive play by Ryan Zimmerman, the Nats will need better performances if they hope to string some wins together against a Boston team just one season removed from its latest World Series title.

The Red Sox have gotten off to a good start in 2015. They started by taking two of three from the Phillies in Philadelphia before heading to New York and taking two of three from the rival Yankees. So far, the pitching for Boston has been good, but the offense has been even better. The Red Sox have scored at least six runs in all of their wins. If Washington wants to take control of the series at Fenway, they’ll need every bit of their rotation to step up.

The series against the Sox will feature some fairly intriguing head-to-head match-ups. Monday, Jordan Zimmermann will take the mound against former Tiger Rick Porcello. Tuesday, Stephen Strasburg will face off against Justin Masterson, and on Wednesday, Gio Gonzalez will get the start against Wade Miley.

Here, we’ll take a look at each of the pitching match-ups and tell you which team holds the advantage for each game. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Jordan Zimmermann (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Rick Porcello (0-1, 4.50 ERA)

The first game of the series will see the Nationals matching up against one of Max Scherzer and Doug Fister’s former teammates in Rick Porcello. The 26-year-old right-hander spent the first six years of his career with the Tigers before coming over to Boston in the trade that netted the Tigers Yoenis Cespedes. For his career, Porcello sports a record of 76-64 with an ERA of 4.30. While he’s never been particularly great or overwhelming, Porcello has always been durable; he’s started at least 27 games every season since 2009.

Porcello enters the game looking to bounce back from an underwhelming performance against the Phillies in which he gave up three runs, all earned, on six hits over six innings of work with four strikeouts and two walks. He threw 101 pitches, but only 64 for strikes. Porcello throws mostly a two-seam fastball that hits the mid 90’s, while mixing in a four-seamer, a circle change, and a curveball.

Jordan Zimmermann, on the other hand, will be looking to build on the performance of his last start, a game in which he allowed just one earned run over six innings of work, with five hits and four strikeouts. Zimmermann, it’s worth mentioning, is currently the only Nationals starting pitcher who’s managed to earn a win.

Advantage: There’s no question the Nationals have the advantage in this first match-up. Porcello is a serviceable pitcher, and, as stated, he’s dependable. Jordan Zimmermann, though, is a legitimate Cy Young candidate. The Nats will need him to keep pitching the way he’s been pitching to keep the momentum they picked up on Sunday.

Apr 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws during the second inning against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Strasburg (0-1, 5.06) vs. Justin Masterson (1-0, 3.00 ERA)

Masterson enters his eighth season in the majors making his second stint with the Red Sox, having logged time in between with the Indians, where he spent the better part of six years, and St. Louis. For his career, Masterson sports a 61-72 record with a 4.23 ERA and seven complete games. He features a fastball, a sinker, and a slider, while occasionally mixing in a change-up.

Masterson will enter Tuesday’s game coming off a 6-2 win over the Phillies in which he went six innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. It was a good outing for Masterson, especially considering he’s never been too much of a strikeout machine.

Strasburg will be hoping to bounce back after a poor outing against the Mets last week. Over 5.1 innings, Strasburg struggled, as did the defense behind him, as he surrendered six runs, only three of which were earned. Strasburg also didn’t have his usual dominant strikeout stuff; over just more than five innings, Strasburg struck out five hitters, below his usual rate.

Advantage: In spite of the impressive outing by Masterson last time out, as well as the poor game by Strasburg, the Nationals still hold an advantage in this match-up. If he can return to the form that he showed in his last start of the spring rather than what he put on display against the Mets, the Nationals will be in good shape.

Apr 10, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Gio Gonzalez (0-1, 4.26 ERA) vs. Wade Miley (0.0, 3.38 ERA)

Miley will be making his second career start for the Red Sox. He spent the first four years of his career with Arizona before being traded to Boston during the offseason. While with the Diamondbacks, Miley compiled a 38-35 record while posting a FIP in the upper threes. He’s been durable, pitching close to 200 innings every full season that he’s spent in the majors, but he’s struggled with allowing baserunners.

In his first start with the Red Sox, Miley earned a no decision in what turned out to be a 19-inning game against the Yankees. Miley went 5.1 innings with two earned runs on four hits, with two walks and six strikeouts. He’ll feature both a four-seam and two-seam fastball, with average velocity in the low 90’s, as well as a slider and a change-up.

Gio, on the other hand, is coming off a loss to the Phillies in his first start, a game in which he gave up three earned runs over 6.1 innings. Gonzalez threw 95 pitches in the outing, allowing five hits and walking four. While he didn’t get much help from the offense, Gio didn’t do much to help his own case, either. He struggled with control, allowing five hits and walking four.

Advantage: Draw. Both pitchers can struggle with control at times, and neither is likely to be completely dominant. Of the three game series, this one looks the least likely to be a pitcher’s duel.

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