Good afternoon DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily! Get caught up on all the latest Nats news with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below:
In today’s Daily, MLB.com’s Mike Bauman discusses the Nationals’ recent struggles and how the injury-riddled roster they are fielding in June doesn’t really resemble the team that was heavily favored to win the NL pennant.
As Bauman notes in his article, the Nationals have had an up-and-down season marred by injuries to key players such as Jayson Werth and, more recently, Ryan Zimmerman. Bauman also notes, however, that the Nationals have taken full responsibility for their play—from the manager to the players—and are not making any excuses.
The 2015 Nationals have been far from perfect and, at times, the ball club’s play has been flat out disappointing. But the team has been grinding all season long and has never used it’s vast amount of injuries as an excuse for its failures.
After a painfully slow April, the Nationals rebounded and overcame injuries to Anthony Rendon and Doug Fister to post an 18-9 record in May. This month, the Nationals are 3-7 and must once again grind through injuries and a slumping offense to return to the great form they showed in May and the sky-high expectations they carried into the season.
More from Max Scherzer
- Washington Nationals: Don’t Hold Your Breathe On A Max Scherzer Reunion
- Washington Nationals: Max Scherzer Scratched From Game 6 Reminiscent Of 2019
- Washington Nationals: Max Scherzer and Trea Turner bring wealth of Postseason experience to Dodgers ahead of Postseason run
- Nationals: Max Scherzer comments have me rethinking my fandom
- Washington Nationals: How Did The Nats Do In The All-Star Game?
Things aren’t looking great for the Nationals right now, but as they’ve already shown this season, the team definitely has what it takes to turn things around.
Also in today’s Daily, Bleacher Report’s Heath Clary discusses the importance of Max Scherzer to the Nationals and how the ace will continue to play a key role in the team’s 2015 success.
Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.
Nats playing the hand they are dealt
MILWAUKEE — The Washington Nationals who took the field at Miller Park Thursday night did not completely resemble the club that entered this season as overwhelming favorites to win the National League pennant.
And yet, they were trying to play the way the Washington Nationals are supposed to play, trying to be the club that had the best record in the NL two of the last three seasons.
They are banged up, nicked up, whatever you want to say. They officially became more so Thursday, when first baseman Ryan Zimmerman went on the disabled list with plantar fasciitis in his left foot and reliever Aaron Barrett was pulled in the eighth inning with an apparent injury the Nationals will reevaluate on Friday. Read full article here.
Washington Nationals: Shouldering Big Load, Max Scherzer Is a True Ace in NL
(Heath Clary, Bleacher Report)
Before the 2015 offseason began, the Washington Nationalshad arguably the best starting pitching rotation in the major leagues.
When they signed former Detroit Tiger and Cy Young winner Max Scherzer to a lucrative contract, there was no longer any argument. The Nationals had easily the best in all of baseball, and the plan was for Scherzer to come in and anchor what was being hailed as potentially the best five-man staff of all time.
He has done everything in his power to do just that—he currently sports a stifling 2.13 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP—but his team has not met the huge expectations that faced them after Scherzer signed. Read full article here.