Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg must shake off the rust quickly
The Washington Nationals fell behind the Braves early and never recovered. Stephen Strasburg allowed six earned runs in his return from the DL.
The Washington Nationals dropped the first game of a three-game series to the Atlanta Braves, 8-5. Atlanta jumped on Stephen Strasburg early and landed a knockout blow in the fifth inning. The offense eventually woke up, but it was too little too late.
Strasburg gave up eight hits, five doubles, two walks and six strikeouts on 98 pitches in his first outing since June 8.
In the fifth, the Braves opened with a double, single, double, and sacrifice fly. Strasburg struck out the next batter and gave up a single to the following hitter before exiting.
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Immediately following his departure, Strasburg and Max Scherzer appear to have a heated conversation in the dugout. You can see the incident here.
After the game, Washington Post reporter Chelsea Janes tweeted that Strasburg said: “You have to be in the family” to know what the conversation was about. It wasn’t on the Papelbon-Harper level, but it was noteworthy nonetheless.
Offense Doesn’t Play As A Team
After getting a run back in the first inning, the Nats had a chance to take the lead in the second. The team had a bases-loaded situation in place for Trea Turner and Bryce Harper. Turner struck out looking, and Harper grounded out.
The team continually performs well individually, as shown by the three home runs hit. Turner hit his homer in the third, Matt Adams in the fifth, and Juan Soto in the eight. Additionally, Matt Wieters hit a double, as well as Harper and Adam Eaton perfectly executing a double steal.
Incredibly, each of these events occurred in separate innings. The Nationals, once again, did not string together hits or big plays. Since the beginning of July, the Nationals rank 19thin OPS with RISP and 25thin isolated power with RISP. This must improve if they want to make a run, and fast.
Division Slipping Away
The Nationals were the only NL East team not to score six runs or win on Friday. They now sit six and a half games behind the Phillies and face longer odds than at any point this season.
According to oddsshark.com, the Nationals are +200 to win the N.L. East, or 33.3 percent. Fangraphs.com’s “Season-to-Date” projections give the Nationals less than an 18 percent chance.
In what ended up being a worst-case scenario day, it indeed is “now or never” for the Nationals. When or if the Nationals fall ten games back, the team can bid its’ postseason hopes adieu.
On Saturday, the Nationals and Braves will send southpaws to the mound. Gio Gonzalez will take on Sean Newcomb. With a left-handed pitcher opposing the Nats, Ryan Zimmerman is expected to start his first game since May 9 after pinch hitting on Friday night.