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Washington Nationals: Gio Gonzalez quietly having another strong season

By Thelton Hughes

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 20: Gio Gonzalez #47 of the Washington Nationals pitches in third inning during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park on June 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 20: Gio Gonzalez #47 of the Washington Nationals pitches in third inning during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park on June 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Despite Gio Gonzalez’s recent struggles in the month of June, the Washington Nationals left-handed pitcher is on track for a solid season in 2018.

In December of 2011, the Washington Nationals acquired Gio Gonzalez in a trade with Oakland. At the time, it represented the most exciting acquisition of a starting pitcher in the young team’s history.

Gonzalez was coming off of an All-Star season with Oakland, where he finished the year tied for fourth in the AL in wins with 16.

While Gonzalez’s 2012 season exceeded expectations, the next four campaigns with the club were nothing to write home about.

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However, he turned things back around in 2017, pitching to a 2.96 ERA. He led the team with 201 innings pitched and finishing sixth in the Cy Young award voting.

Coming into 2018, expectations for Gonzalez were mixed. While some felt that his 2017 performance was an anomaly, others felt that with a little luck, he could repeat his success from last season.

This season, after 11 starts, Gonzalez sports a 6-2 record and a 2.10 ERA. It appeared he was poised to make his first All-Star team since 2012.

Recently, Gonzalez has not enjoyed the success he had early in the season. However, upon closer look, his last 4 starts have not been catastrophic. Let’s take a look at them.

On June 2nd in Atlanta, he went seven innings, allowing three runs, and striking out nine. This in many ways is your typical Gio Gonzalez start. He ground it out and gave the team a chance to win. The Nats would go on to win the game in extras.

Then in a no-decision on June 9th against the San Francisco Giants, he struck out three, in just 3.1 innings and allowed four runs. The Nats once again would win this one after he got the short hook.

Things fell apart for Gonzalez in the seventh inning in Toronto, giving up five runs in six frames. This was in large part to a fly ball that Adam Eaton lost in the lights resulting in a ground rule double. Afterward, Dave Martinez’s decision to keep him in after 94 pitches was questioned.

Gonzalez’s most recent loss was in a shutout to the Orioles where his lone earned runs came on a two-run homer from Mark Trumbo. His outing was cut short by the rain, but he didn’t look overly promising in this one.

Due to his minor June swoon, Gonzalez’s ERA has increased by a run to 3.08, but this still is good for eighth in the league among starters.

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It’s often tempting to criticize a pitcher based on his most recent starts. However, digging deeper into his June numbers along with his early season success shows that Gio Gonzalez is having another strong season for the Washington Nationals.

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