Washington Nationals: Predictions For Dodgers-Nats NLDS

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Sep 11, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) reacts after giving up a solo home run to Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph (not shown) during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

While Stephen Strasburg’s injury certainly puts a damper on the club’s World Series hopes, the team will not lose much ground because of it through the first two games. Max Scherzer and Tanner Roark have been as good as it gets on the mound this season, and should be able to match up with Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill. If the Nats are going to win this series, however, they’re going to need a strong performance out of Gio Gonzalez.

The sole lefty on the staff, Gonzalez has been streaky all season. On the year Los Angeles posted a .213/.290/.332 slash line against left handed pitching, all of which ranked dead last in the majors. Gio is the Nats’ only hope to take advantage of such slanted splits. Pitted against impressive rookie Kenta Maeda, the margin for error will be very thin. If Kershaw gets the best of Scherzer or Hill beats out Roark, then it will be up to Gonzalez to go into enemy territory and keep the Dodgers’ bats quiet.

Prediction: The Nats and Dodgers can go toe-to-toe on the pitching mound, but with a healthy Daniel Murphy and strong series from Trea Turner, Washington will hold the edge at the plate. They will win the series 3-1

In the cleanup spot, we have co-editor Ron Juckett, who talks about the importance of Tanner Roark in a best-of-5

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