Washington Nationals: 5 to watch at home versus Atlanta

The homestand continues for the Washington Nationals as they host the Atlanta Braves for three. Here are five players to keep an eye on.

This was a weekend the Washington Nationals hope to forget.

Beyond getting swept by the Texas Rangers at home, the bullpen let two games slip and the Nats suffered from a giant failure of baseball 101. Whether you blame the long road trip out west or Ryan Zimmerman’s gala that changed the normal weekend routine, this was simply terrible baseball from a great team.

The back half of the homestand sees Washington host the Atlanta Braves for the first time in 2017. With two trips to brand new SunTrust Park in the book, the Nats come into the series with a 4-2 record.

With Koda Glover hitting the disabled list after hurting his back in the shower who knows who will close games. Joe Blanton came off the disabled list. Chances are it is not him.

Congratulations to Max Scherzer on his 2000th career strikeout. He grabbed the milestone Sunday in the fourth inning to a standing ovation. Normally laser focused, he seemed moved by the moment.

After a rough weekend, the best thing Washington can do is move on and focus on the present. The daily nature of the game makes it easier to forget the hard losses with games every day. Perhaps learning to bunt and moving runners along the way will help.

Atlanta comes north with a 27-38 record. Now in third place, the Braves struggled over the weekend at home versus the New York Mets. Racked with injuries, this is a great chance for the Nats to take advantage.

Monday and Tuesday are your usual weeknight 7:00 Eastern games with Wednesday being a late afternoon start on Flag Day.

Here are five to watch as the Nats play host to the Braves.

JIM JOHNSON

Although it is unlikely there would be an in division trade between the Braves and Nats, is Jim Johnson available?

Another Koda Glover injury—one he did not share until after he was shelled Saturday—makes you wonder if durability is an issue. When healthy, he is tremendous, but this is his second disabled list stint of the year. We are still in June.

Johnson, on the other hand, has saved 12 of 16 for Atlanta. He is due $5 million this year and next and had back-to-back 50 save seasons for the Baltimore Orioles. In the most reason visit from Washington, he saved games on consecutive nights without allowing a base runner. Two innings, six batters retired on 20 pitches.

He averages 9.5 strikeouts-per-9 and has a 0.975 WHIP. Johnson’s 3.38 ERA is not lights out, but outside of Matt Albers, neither is the Nats bullpen.

At 34, Johnson is not a long-term solution anywhere he pitches. Atlanta may feel they need to hold him as they decide what to do at the trade deadline. If available, chances are he would cost a good prospect but not the multiple others will want.

With great control and a strong veteran presence, he adds to Atlanta every time he pitches. Chances are he will get the call at least once this week.

JOE ROSS

Which Joe Ross will we see? The one who left the mound in Oakland lost and confused or the one who owned the Baltimore Orioles five days later.

The fun of being the fifth starter.

In Ross’ masterpiece last Thursday, he tossed 11 more pitches than he did against the Athletics. Last Saturday, he retired nine on 82 pitches. Five days later, he pitched into the eighth on 93.

Against the Braves, six innings and in position to win is the wish. Durability and fastball velocity are real issues. What he did against the Orioles that worked was put biting movement on his stuff. Ross had 17 swinging strikes Thursday, a season high.

When he first came up from Triple-A Syracuse, Ross started in Atlanta and pitched well. Scattering six hits and three runs over seven innings, he fanned seven with one walk. More importantly, he threw 100 pitches.

With the bullpen teetering again, it is vital Ross go as deep as possible. After the Braves series finishes, Washington faces the Mets for the first time this year in Queens. The pen cannot get overtaxed beforehand.

Whatever approach Ross used for Baltimore, use it again. That was beautiful to watch.

MATT ADAMS

Imagine trying to replace Freddie Freeman.

Yet Matt Adams has tried since coming over from the St. Louis Cardinals in a trade. Ironically, it happened the last time Washington visited SunTrust Park, and he played the final game of the series.

In the 20 games he has played—not counting Sunday—Adams has done well. A slash line of .259/.310/.556 gives him an OPS of .866 and adjusts to 122. Not Freeman, but 22 percent above league average will land him a job somewhere after Freeman returns from his broken wrist.

He brings power and production to an Atlanta team in need. Since the trade, Adams smashed six homers, four doubles and a triple while driving home 15. Not bad for a straight trade for Juan Yepez.

If Atlanta does not move him after Freeman’s return, he has one more year of arbitration before free agency. The problem in keeping Adams is he only plays first base. The Cardinals threw him in left field for six games this year, but he had never played outfield in the majors before.

If they move him, they should get a decent prospect back.

Because he was with St. Louis when they visited Washington, he has three games against the Nats on his dance card. But, he is 0-for-8 in two starts.

DANIEL MURPHY

As Daniel Murphy matures, his devotion to learning the art of hitting makes him better all the time.

Some batters understand the science part, but Murphy melds both the art and science to his advantage. Before Sunday’s 5-1 loss to Texas, his June slash line of .429/.432/.543 gave him an OPS of .975 and adjusts to 158 or 58 percent above average.

Everything comes off the bat hard. As he ages, Murphy continues to refine his swing. He is a master of guessing correctly on what is coming and making solid contact. Would you believe he is hitting only .302 at home? It is true.

With Jayson Werth still hurt and Ryan Zimmerman banged up from a hard dive in the Los Angeles series, Murphy’s importance increases. As the Nationals struggle to put multiple hits together, Murphy must set the table for Anthony Rendon or drive home Trea Turner and Harper ahead of him.

Against the Dodgers, Washington won two, but scored seven in three games. At home versus Texas, they scored six and lost all three. They need Murphy.

In five games in Atlanta, the Braves held Murphy in check. Although two of his ten homers came down there, the Braves held hit to a .250 average in five games. He must hit better if the Nats are breaking their funk.