Washington Nationals: Five To Watch Versus St. Louis Cardinals

With the Washington Nationals returning home to face the St. Louis Cardinals, here are five players to watch. Can the Nats shake off the bad weekend?

If you are to have a lost weekend—as the Washington Nationals did—it is better to get it out of the way early.

The Nats stumbled around Philadelphia like a reveler after the Mummer’s Parade. The bullpen gave away a tremendous comeback Sunday, nearly did the same Friday while the whole team took one on the chin Saturday.

These things happen over the course of 162 games. Even the best of teams have series fans forget quickly. Most of the time, there is a day off and the next team arrives. Not this time.

The ride from Philly to Washington is short. Awaiting the Nats are the St. Louis Cardinals. If you fretted over the bullpen against the Phillies, may we suggest a trip to your local Giant for the family size bottle of Maalox.

The Cards are in town for their only regular season visit, a three-game affair Monday and Tuesday nights with a late afternoon clash Wednesday. Tickets are still available.

Because baseball is a daily sport, the bitter disappointment of one day turns potentially into excitement the next. The offense for Washington is in good shape; the pitching is another story.

Before the chance to exact revenge on the Philadelphia Phillies next weekend, the next three against the Cards comes into focus. The Nats need two out of three to regain the momentum they carried after the opening series with the Miami Marlins.

It seems cliché to say there are big games in April, but this series comes close. Here are five players to watch as the Nats battle the Cardinals.

TANNER ROARK

Although most two-game losing streaks are not reasons to be concerned, the way Washington was humiliated Saturday and lost Sunday puts pressure on Monday’s starter Tanner Roark. He has to go deep, 100 pitches and seven innings to stop the bleeding.

Last Wednesday against the Marlins, Roark was sharp in his first regular season start. He gave the Nats six innings and 97 pitches, fanning six. In his first win, he scattered three hits and two walks, allowing two earned runs and nabbing a quality start.

If there were any concerns over his lack of pitching in the World Baseball Classic and his last exhibition start washing out, they were put to bed after a spotty first inning. Since his start, the Nats dropped three of their next four.

Roark became the de facto second starter last year when Stephen Strasburg went down to injury. In a funny way, Roark comes into his start needing to fill that role again. A strong performance sets the table the rest of the series.

If we are to forget the past weekend, Roark can take a step in the right direction by handcuffing the Cardinals and give the pen some needed rest.

Whatever record Roark has against the Cardinals is old. His only start against St. Louis came on September 23, 2013, a 4-3 loss and his only loss of the year.

LANCE LYNN

After missing all of 2016 recovering from Tommy John surgery, Lance Lynn makes his second start of the year Tuesday night.

In his first, against the Chicago Cubs on April 6, Lynn was sharp in a no-decision. Hurling 5.1 innings and 98 pitches, he walked 1 and fanned four. He surrendered a walk and five hits, but kept the ball in the yard allowing two earned runs.

Aside from an Anthony Rizzo double, Lynn did not allow another extra-base hit. He tossed 61 strikes and 37 balls inducing five swings and misses. With the Cardinals thinking they have a legitimate shot hanging with the Cubs all year, the Cardinals want to see what Lynn can give them his second time out.

Knowing there will be a strict pitch or inning limit, it is important the Nats grind out at-bats and work that pitch count. It takes a few starts for anyone coming off Tommy John to feel comfortable. Washington wants to have his comfort level return some place beside Nationals Park.

Before the injury, Lynn posted a 3-1 record against the Nats in six games. With a 3.29 ERA over four starts and 27.1 innings, he struck out 31 while walking 10.

BRYCE HARPER

The heavy expectations for Bryce Harper are now on display. As a megastar in baseball, this is his chance to lift the Nats on his shoulders and carry the team through this rough spot.

Yes, that is hyperbole. Still, if he wants to earn the highest salary in the history of the game, these are the series when he can assert quiet leadership.

The opening week of the season was good for Harper. His swing looks good. He is taking pitches and clobbered two home runs on Opening Day. Drawing four walks and six hits, the refined approach taken this spring carried into the regular season.

With Turner not expected back until Wednesday at the earliest, Harper will not have as many chances to drive in runs. Instead, he must continue his good eye and get on base for Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman. A home run or two would not hurt the cause.

His steady presence is important because the offense now has a heavier eight to carry. In order to win, they simply must score enough to take the pressure off the bullpen.

Against the Cardinals, Harper has struggled over the years. In 30 career games, he is hitting .248 with four home runs and 13 RBI. Only the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers held him to a lower OPS than the .764 mark against St. Louis over a 20-game spread.

DEXTER FOWLER

It was a slow start for Dexter Fowler last week. The new centerfielder, fresh off his world championship with the Chicago Cubs, hit .174 and struck out seven times against his old mates and the Cincinnati Reds.

The first week of 2017 was not the ideal start for St. Louis. Starting at home, they went 2-4 and were pummeled Sunday by the Reds 8-0. It is an east coast trip for St. Loo with three against the Mets to follow their time in DC.

For Fowler, the mixed feelings of playing against his old team now turns to the grind of the long road ahead. He did not have the worst week at the plate, Jhonny Peralta and Randal Grichuk take those honors while Stephen Piscotty still is getting beaned by baseballs.

As the shiny new free agent, Fowler needs to produce at a level where the Cardinals expect him. An All-Star last year with the Cubs, he must return to his .276 batting average, double-digit power and stolen bases. The good news for the Nats is he strikes out often. Shut him down and good things happen.

Fowler has a good history against Washington. In 48 games, he has three homers with 16 RBI. The slash line of .287/.365/.474 is not shabby either.

ALEDMYS DIAZ

Aledmys Diaz started 2017 where he left off 2016. A force to be reckoned with.

As the rest of the offense stumbled around Busch Stadium, Diaz crushed two long balls off the Reds Saturday driving in 4 and scoring three himself. Add the two stolen bases Opening Night against the Cubs and you can see why he finished fifth last year in the Rookie of the Year vote.

Diaz makes contact, striking out 60 times last year in 460 plate appearances. He is working on his speed as last year, he was caught stealing four times, the same as he stole.

It is too bad we will not see Turner as Diaz is part of the next generation of powerful shortstops who play the game smart. In his rookie campaign, he slugged 17 home runs and 28 doubles. We will need to wait until they play in St. Louis to see the pair faceoff.

As a defender, Diaz is slightly below average. His range factor-per-nine of 3.93 was below last year’s 4.18. Advanced metrics do not show him saving any runs, but his Total Zone Reading of -7 is not terrible. Fourth in errors last year with 16, he has committed none this year.

Diaz struggled his rookie year against the Nats. In seven games, he hit .182 with a solo homer. Nats pitching fanned him five times.