Washington Nationals at Giants Series Preview (7/28-7/31)

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Jul 27, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) hits the ball during the ninth inning as Cincinnati Reds catcher Ramon Cabrera (37) looks on at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kenny Karst-USA TODAY Sports /

After splitting with the Indians, the Washington Nationals begin a four game series tonight against the Giants

On the start of their nine game road trip, the Washington Nationals (59-42) picked up a split against the Cleveland Indians. Stephen Strasburg threw seven shutout innings while Trea Turner went 3-for-4 with three RBI’s in yesterday’s win. The Nats could’ve won both games if not for a bullpen meltdown, mainly by Jonathan Papelbon, in Tuesday night’s 7-6 loss.

Tonight, the Washington Nationals continue their road trip when they begin a four game series against a team that they will see seven times in the next ten games and what could be a playoff preview in October. That team would be the San Francisco Giants (59-42), who currently lead the Dodgers by 2.5 games in the NL West.

It’s been a rough beginning to the second half for Bruce Bochy’s squad. They have lost nine of their first 11 games and they’ve scored a total of 37 runs (two runs or fewer in six of those ten). The offense is currently without a couple key players in right fielder Hunter Pence (hamstring injury) and third baseman Matt Duffy (Achilles). Second baseman Joe Panik (concussion) was activated off the DL today.

Despite those injuries, catcher Buster Posey leads the team in batting average (.285) and home runs (12). This month, the players to watch have been shortstop Brandon Crawford (three home runs, 11 RBI’s) and right fielder Mac Williamson (.311, four home runs, 15 RBI’s). Plus, this will be the first time the Washington Nationals will face their former teammate, Denard Span (.256, four home runs, 31 RBI’s).

In terms of the starting pitching, the Washington Nationals catch a break in that Madison Bumgarner (10-6, 2.09 ERA) will not be pitching for San Francisco in this series. San Francisco’s starters have a 3.70 ERA this season (fourth in the National League) and have thrown the second most innings (Washington Nationals are first).

While the Giants will be looking for a bat to fill in at the trade deadline, their main weakness is in the bullpen. Their bullpen ERA of 3.91 is ninth in the NL and closer Santiago Casilla is 22-for-27 in saves with a 3.35 ERA.

Before this series starts tonight, check out my breakdown of the four pitching matchups in this series:

Next: Tonight's Matchup

Jul 23, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees in the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

Tanner Roark (9-6, 3.05 ERA) vs. Johnny Cueto (13-2, 2.53) – 10:15 p.m ET, broadcast on MASN2

For the first time in about a month, Roark picked up a loss in his last start against the Padres. He went five innings, gave up five runs on four hits, struck out four, and gave up two home runs to Matt Kemp.

Usually, Roark is a given for seven innings a night when you consider he is fifth in the National League in innings pitched. But, his streak of five straight starts going seven innings or more was snapped against San Diego. Plus, the two home runs were the most he’s given up in any start this season.

Against the Giants, Roark is 3-0 with a 4.30 ERA in four games, but only one of those was a start (2014). But, he had one win as a reliever last season. Buster Posey is 3-for-6 with a double and a RBI against Roark.

As for Cueto, he has put himself into the Cy Young conversation in his first year with the Giants. On July 23 against the Yankees, Cueto went six innings, gave up one unearned run on six hits, struck out nine, and walked one in a no-decision.

This month, the 30-year-old right-hander has a 3.00 ERA in four starts and has given up nine runs. However, most of those runs have come via the long ball (four home runs allowed). Cueto is second in the National League in wins (one behind Strasburg) and second in innings pitched.

Cueto is 7-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 11 starts against the Washington Nationals in his career. Last season, in his only start against the Nats with the Reds, he threw a complete game two-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts. Ryan Zimmerman is 4-for-14 against Cueto with a home run and two RBI’s in his career.

Prediction: I expect this to be a close pitcher’s duel and for Roark to bounce back from his start against the Padres. However, the one stat that puts this in Cueto’s favor is that he has yet to lose a game at night this season (10-0, 1.90 ERA in 12 starts). While all trends were meant to be broken, I’ll take the Giants to win the opener.

Next: Tomorrow's Matchup

Jul 17, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Max Scherzer (10-6, 2.92) vs. Jeff Samardzija (9-6, 4.22) – 10:15 p.m, MASN2

Scherzer did get the no-decision in his last start against the Padres on July 23, but he still put together a great outing. He went seven innings, gave up two runs on four hits, struck out ten, and walked two in a no-decision. The lone mistake Scherzer made was a two-run home run by Ryan Schimpf in the second.

Despite that home run, Scherzer bounced back and gave up two hits over the final five innings of his start. Scherzer now has struck out double digit batters in six of his last ten starts and has given up four runs in four starts this month (1.33 ERA).

In five starts against the Giants, Scherzer is 1-4 with a 6.85 ERA and hasn’t beaten San Francisco since 2009 (0-2, 7.88 ERA at AT&T Park). Denard Span is 5-for-19 against Scherzer with a double, triple, a home run, and four RBI’s in his career.

Like Cueto, Samardzija was a free agent signing by the Giants this winter. He had a strong start to his season, but he has had his struggles lately. Against the Yankees on July 24, he went 5.2 innings, gave up five runs on eight hits, struck out three, and walked one in a loss.

Samardzija was 7-3 in the first two months of the season. However, in the last nine starts, he has only won twice. In fact, he has given up four runs or more in five of his last six starts and has given up nine home runs over that six start period.

Against the Washington Nationals, Samardzija is 2-3 with a 3.12 ERA In 12 appearances (five starts). Wilson Ramos is 4-for-11 against him with a pair of solo home runs.

Prediction: Both pitchers have had their struggles at AT&T Park with Scherzer having never won there while Samardzija has just one win there since May 25. However, with the Giants struggle to score runs lately and the Washington Nationals having success with the long ball, I’ll take the Nats to win game two.

Next: Saturday's Matchup

Jul 19, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jake Peavy (22) follows through after delivering a pitch against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

TBA vs. Jake Peavy (5-9, 5.42) – 4:05 p,m, MASN2/FOX Sports 1

With Joe Ross only throwing 43 pitches in his first rehab start, it is unlikely he would get the opportunity to pitch in this game. Since Lucas Giolito was sent down to triple-A, the most likely starter for this game would be Reynaldo Lopez.

The 22-year-old right-hander made his Major League debut on July 19 against the Dodgers. He went 4.2 innings, gave up six runs on ten hits, struck out nine, and walked one in a loss. While he had his struggles early against a veteran lineup, he did show some flashes with his fastball and breaking ball.

Lopez’s last professional start was on July 24 for triple-A Syracuse against Rochester (Minnesota Twins). He threw a complete game four-hit shutout and struck out seven for his second win of the year. At triple-A, he is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA with both wins against Rochester.

The rookie will get to go up against a former Cy Young award winner in Peavy. Peavy gave up three home runs in his last start against the Reds on July 25. In that game, he went five innings, gave up six runs on four hits, struck out five, and walked two in a loss.

Over his last five starts, Peavy has only pitched past the fifth inning twice. Despite having a 5.32 ERA in four starts this month, opponents are hitting only .221 (lowest in any month). The 35-year-old right-hander doesn’t have the same velocity on his fastball as he used to. According to Fangraphs, the average velocity on his fastball is about 89 miles per hour.

Peavy is 5-6 with a 4.07 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) against the Washington Nationals in his career. Jayson Werth is 4-for-18 in his career against Peavy with a home run and three RBI’s.

Prediction: If Lopez makes that start, the one trend between his starts and Giolito’s is that none of them seem to finish five innings. With the way the bullpen has pitched lately, it’s tough to trust them if it becomes a battle of the bullpens. For this game, I will take Peavy and the Giants.

Next: Sunday's Matchup

Jul 26, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) delivers in the third inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Gio Gonzalez (6-8, 4.44) vs. Matt Cain (2-6, 5.95) – 4:05 p.m, MASN2

Even though the Washington Nationals lost that late lead Tuesday, that shouldn’t take away from the good start by Gonzalez. He went 6.1 innings, gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits, struck out four, and walked two in the no-decision.

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For the fifth straight start, the left-hander was able to pitch into the sixth inning and he has given up 12 earned runs over that span. Gonzalez had some command issues in the first inning, but he bounced back to put together a quality start. In four starts in July, Gonzalez is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA and opponents are hitting .221.

Against the Giants in his career, Gonzalez is 3-3 with a 3.33 ERA in nine starts (1-2, 4.40 ERA in five starts in San Francisco). Brandon Crawford is 3-for-11 against Gonzalez with a home run and three RBI’s in his career.

Cain has only made two starts since he came off the disabled list this month with a hamstring injury. Against the Reds on July 26, he went 5.1 innings, gave up four runs on six hits, struck out four, walked one, and even hit a home run in a win.

This season, Cain hasn’t been able to get many swings and misses. The 31-year-old right-hander has 46 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched and has just eight strikeouts in his last four starts combined. Plus, teams are hitting .314 against him this season.

In 15 career starts against the Washington Nationals, Cain is 5-5 with a 3.64 ERA, but he is winless against the Nats since 2011. Bryce Harper has just one hit in six at-bats against Cain, but he has a home run and four RBI’s.

Prediction: In the battle of the veterans, this could go either way. But, I like the consistency that Gonzalez has pitched with lately and due to Cain’s struggles since coming back form the injury, I will take the Washington Nationals to win this game and get a split of the four game series.

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