Washington Nationals: 5 reasons they will win their NLDS
By Ron Juckett
KABOOM CITY
Ten Nats hitters hit double-digit homers. Four slammed over 20. Ryan Zimmerman mashed 36 taters.
Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy slashed 30-plus doubles. A healthy Bryce Harper would top 30 on both counts if he did not miss a quarter of the season. As good as the Cubs offense is, the Nats can produce right with them.
Washington set a franchise record with 819 runs and 215 home runs in 2017. Their 5.06 runs-per-game trails the vaunted 1994 Montreal Expos, but not by much as that team scored 5.13 every night.
Since Harper’s MVP season in 2015, the total offense produces nearly a run more per game. That year, the Nats scored 4.34. If he has his swing timing back, he can carry the Nats through on his back.
When Michael Taylor pops 19 that is an advantage. Even Matt Wieters gave you 10 and he hit .225.
Four hitters ended the regular season with an OPS over .900. Taylor’s was .806. There are no easy outs outside of the pitcher’s spot. Oh, Adam Lind had four pinch-hit homers too.
As a team, Washington will force Chicago pitchers into mistakes. If the Nats match those five-plus runs a night, they win.