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Washington Nationals: What To Watch For In Game 3 Of NLDS

By Ricky Keeler

June 21, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
June 21, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Nationals
Oct 9, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Trea Turner (7) hits a single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning during game two of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Which Top Of The Order Delivers?

When you look at the top of the order of these two lineups in the first two games, the one who does better has won the game. In Game 1, the top four in the lineup for the Dodgers went 4-for-15 with two home runs and four RBI’s. Meanwhile, the Nats top four went 3-for-15 with one RBI (Trea Turner sacrifice fly).

If you fast forward to Game 2 yesterday, the Dodgers top four hitters went 4-for-17 with one RBI (Corey Seager home run). Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals top four hitters were 6-for-15 with two RBI’s. Both of those RBI’s were by Daniel Murphy, who went 3-for-3 in the win.

On the Dodgers side, the two hitters I am watching in this game are Seager and Justin Turner. Seager has a home run in each of the first two games and has three home runs in eight games against the Washington Nationals this season (including postseason). As for Turner, the Dodgers third baseman is 4-for-6 in the series with a home run, but he is 2-for-19 against Gonzalez in his career.

In Game 2, Trea Turner looked more comfortable at the plate and went 2-for-4 with a stolen base. If gets on base, he can play a factor on the bases and give Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, or Murphy those run scoring opportunities.

Sometimes, in the postseason, those unsung heroes emerge like Jose Lobaton did yesterday with his three-run home run. That could happen today for either side, but I think the team that gets the most production from the top four hitters in the lineup is going to win this pivotal game 3.

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