Washington Nationals: 5 storylines for trip to San Diego

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A seven-game road trip awaits the Washington Nationals starting in San Diego. What should you watch fr this weekend at Petco Park?

The Washington Nationals start their last west coast trip of the regular season with a four-game set against the San Diego Padres.

The Nats leave for California after a 6-3 homestand taking three of four from the Miami Marlins, two from the San Francisco Giants and a split with the Los Angeles Angels. At 71-43, their lead over the Marlins is 14 games. With 11 players on the disabled list, this is a truly remarkable season.

The same cannot be said for the Padres.

At 53-66, and 31.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego is playing out the string. Not as bad as the Giants, the Padres have no realistic chance of catching the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Wild Card race.

With a tease like that, you have plenty of incentive to stay up late and watch, right? No? Well, you should anyway.

Washington is 19-11 since the All-Star break. Michael Taylor is the first injured starter to return to the lineup. Stephen Strasburg comes off the disabled list to pitch Saturday night. As we move closer to September, those 11 injured players work their way back into the lineup with a bullpen that locks down games.

When these teams met in DC on Memorial Day weekend, the Nats took two of three including Strasburg’s 15 strikeout gem on Saturday and Max Scherzer’s near-complete masterpiece the night before.

The Padres are young and hungry, but Washington makes their lone visit with Scherzer, Strasburg and the white-hot Gio Gonzalez expected to make starts.

Here are five storylines to watch as you grab some coffee for late-night baseball.

THE RETURN OF STRASBURG

Nearly a month after a nerve impingement in his right forearm shut him down, Stephen Strasburg returns to action Saturday night.

In a rehab start Monday for High-A Potomac, Strasburg used his entire arsenal of pitches, keeping the Salem Red Sox off balance over five innings. His curve had bite, the fastball hit 96 and a slider that froze young hitters. Except for a walk and double, he had the Sox swinging early and making contact. An efficient 66 pitches over five innings.

Now, he returns to his hometown of San Diego to begin his playoff preparations.

Before the heat and arm trouble zapped him, Strasburg rolled through the first half of 2017. A 9-3 record and 3.43 ERA earned him a trip to Miami.

His last full start before the injury, a 6-1 beauty in Cincinnati on July 17, Strasburg fanned 11 and walked one over seven innings and 105 pitches. In that total, he induced 20 swing-and-miss strikes. Not a season high, but the third time in 19 starts he topped 20.

You can argue whether Strasburg or Gonzalez deserves a potential Game 2 start in the playoffs, but the Nats will need everything Strasburg can give to have a successful playoff run. No one has said if there are any limitations upon his return, but do not expect him to top 100 pitches a start the rest of the regular season.

His health is vital.

REVISITING A HOT HAND

The Padres did not trade Brad Hand away at the trade deadline as many expected.

Although the chances of him moving before September starts is there, chances are San Diego will see what they can get for the talented left-handed reliever during the offseason. No doubt the Nats continue to carry an interest.

From the end of July, the Friars moved Hand to the closer role. He has 10 saves in 14 opportunities, but only one blown save since switching roles. Those three earned runs allowed to the Cincinnati Reds were the first runs surrendered by him in two months. He went 23 straight appearances without being charged a run.

In Hand’s last 7 games, he has tossed a strikeout. Heading into Wednesday night, he has tallied 81 in 61.2 innings.

Every chance Hand gets to close is an audition for another team. Whether it is this winter or something the Houston Astros cash in on now, his innings draw attention.

The Nats saw him once during the Padres visit back in May. He recorded a hold in a 15-pitch clean inning.

With a WHIP of 0.941, you can understand why teams want to hold this Hand. When you realize he has three years of team control after the season ends, you can see the feeding frenzy down the road.

YET ANOTHER INJURY

Brian Goodwin is the latest player to find the disabled list for the Nats. He tweaked a groin muscle Sunday near the end of the first game of a split doubleheader versus the Giants and will miss most, if not all, of the road trip. If healthy, he might return for the end of the Houston series.

Goodwin makes 11 players on the disabled list. For the Nats, none of the starting outfielders on Opening Day are active. Jayson Werth is doing better, but is not ready. Bryce Harper is doing what he can above the waist for exercise, but no timetable is in place. Adam Eaton has started baseball activities, but has yet to be cleared for any October baseball.

It is stunning how impressive the Nats are playing all things considered. Do they miss their outfield trio? Of course.

The addition of Howie Kendrick in July, and the decent play of Adam Lind and Andrew Stevenson helps, but Washington has mined all the ready outfield talent from the farm. Alejandro De Aza, signed as a free agent by Syracuse in June, earns the promotion to the big club. If he plays, he is the 23rd position player used by the Nats this season.

When you play a bottom-feeder on the road, especially in games that mean nothing, concentration wanes. The Nats cannot afford to lose another position player, let alone an outfielder. The depth chart is at the bottom.

OFFENSE? WHERE IS THE OFFENSE?

One of the key reasons the Padres have struggled in 2017 is their offense. As a team, their slash line of .235/.301/.404 is dead last in batting average and on-base percentage. With 150 homers, the slugging percentage is 12th in the National League.

Did we mention who starts for Washington this weekend? Throw in a decent Edwin Jackson and the Padres will have their hands full.

Before you get giddy and think easy sweep, the Nats offense has fallen a notch or two with all the injuries. Sure, all things are relative, but as a team this month before Wednesday’s loss to the Angels, Washington’s OBP was .325. The lowest since May.

San Diego’s pitching is not good. The Pads team ERA of 4.74 is third-worst in the NL despite allowing less hits than innings pitched. The difference is the long ball. Padres’ pitchers have allowed 165 home runs while their hitters have slammed 150.

With Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon hitting for power again, things look good this weekend.

Something to keep in mind when you snuggle to watch these games, Washington hits .223 as a team in losses. Not good numbers. In losses, they average 2.89 runs per game.

GIO’S AMAZING SUMMER

Did you ever think a Gio Gonzalez start would flirt with no-hitters regularly?

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He took one into the sixth on Monday, two starts after his one-hitter in Miami on July 31. The game marked the third time this year Gonzalez did not allow a run. In eight other starts, he has allowed a single earned run. Over his 24 times on the mound, he has 20 quality starts. You need to pitch six innings while allowing three earned runs or less to earn one of those.

Gonzalez is on fire.

Since the All-Star break, he is 4-1 with an ERA of 1.50. Opponents carry a slash line of .166/.238/.228 against him. The opponent OPS of 465 adjusts to an eye-popping 27 or 73 percent higher than average.

The key is Gonzalez is pitching to contact. His K/9 is 6.9 from 8.7 in the first half. Yet, his BAbip dropped from .265 to .196. The ability to take pressure off yourself in games is huge. Because the defense behind him makes plays, he is not pressing for strikeouts.

During his last start, Gonzalez had only one swing-and-miss strike and still took a no-hitter into the sixth.

Given his self-confidence and the ample size of Petco Park, Sunday afternoon’s start slants in Gonzalez’s favor. A bad offense against a pitcher who will get Cy Young votes.

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