The Washington Nationals need a sparkplug at the top of the order and Wilmer Difo could fill that role with Trea Turner on the disabled list
Since Trea Turner has been on the disabled list, the Washington Nationals have been looking for a hitter to take that spot in the lineup. The Nats have tried Brian Goodwin and he has shown power out of the leadoff spot, but the offense has relied mainly on the long ball since the All-Star break.
Lately, the Nats have not tried to steal as many bases without Turner in the lineup. Since the second half of the season, they are 4-for-6 in stolen bases and have the fourth least steals in all of baseball (third fewest in the National League). No one can replace Turner, but maybe Wilmer Difo should get a chance.
As the leadoff hitter on Tuesday night, Difo saw 25 pitches in five at-bats, which was the most on the team during their 7-6 loss. That is over a pitch and a half more than what he has seen on average in the second half of the year (3.53). He is known for being aggressive and he swings often at the first pitch (.306, one home run, five RBI’s).
Without Turner, the Nats could utilize Difo at the top of the order and bring more speed to the offense. Take Tuesday night for example. In the sixth inning, after a Brian Goodwin double, Difo got a bunt down and moved the runner over to set up the lone run of the game.
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Yes, Difo has shown some home run power. His three home runs over the last 15 games have been just as many as second baseman Daniel Murphy. But, despite the power, he does have a .328 on-base percentage, which seems low for a potential leadoff hitter.
Due to the trade for Howie Kendrick, the Washington Nationals seem to have their answer for the number two spot in the order. Kendrick can move runners over by hitting the ball to the right side and he is a good candidate to use in hit-and-run situations.
With the Nats having the large lead in the NL East, it will allow Dusty Baker to experiment with different lineup combinations. It’s been clear that since Difo has gotten regular playing time, he has taken advantage of his opportunities at shortstop.
Over the last week, the offense really has only had two big innings. Those were last Thursday against the Brewers (five home runs) and the six-run inning Tuesday night. Otherwise, they have had a tough time establishing a rhythm against opposing pitchers.
Every team is going to have that kind of slump at some point in the season. However, if Goodwin moves down to the bottom of the order, that part of the lineup becomes more formidable until players such as Jayson Werth and Michael Taylor come back.
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As for Difo, his speed at the top of the order could bother opposing pitchers and give Kendrick, Bryce Harper, and others more mistakes pitches to hit. With the way the offense has struggled at times lately, it’s worth a shot.