After a 7-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants Tuesday night, it is clear the Washington Nationals need to shake up their lineup.
Coming into the season the Washington Nationals had faith that two players in their lineup could post bounce-back season, Ryan Zimmerman and Brian Dozier. To this point of the season, you could argue Dozier and Zimmerman have been the two least productive players in the Nationals lineup.
Dozier is hitting just .152 with a .220 OBP, only one extra-base hit, and 14 strikeouts. Zimmerman is also hitting below .200 at .188/.298, two extra-base hits and nine strikeouts.
If the Nationals were going to have a successful year and make a return to the postseason, they needed Zimmerman and Dozier to play an important role in their lineup.
To make matters worse, both players are hitting in vital spots in the lineup, Dozier in the two holes and Zimmerman in the five behind Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto Zimm’s lack of success has really affected the pitches Soto is seeing as many teams are opting to throw him junk and take their chances facing the veteran first basemen.
Lucky for the Nationals, despite the two players early season struggles there are still other options. Washington has two of the best reserve players in the game in Matt Adams and Howie Kendrick sitting on their bench, and both have had hot starts to 2019.
Adams has struck the ball well in almost every plate appearance he has had and could have three or four home runs on the season. He also has recorded three extra-base hits and five RBIs in just 19 at-bats.
Kendrick, after coming off the IL in the second week of the season, has gotten off to one of the best starts of his career hitting .471 in his first 17 at-bats with five extra-base hits and five RBIs as well.
So far Nationals manager Dave Martinez has gone with his regular lineup with Zimmerman and Dozier in their respective positions almost every game, but it is time for a change. Kendrick and Adams need to get at-bats, and with a strong division like the N.L. East Washington cannot let themselves fall into a hole they cannot climb out of.
Even if Martinez does not want to go as far as changing up the normal starters, he at least needs to be proactive and move Dozier out of the two holes for Victor Robles and spell Zimmerman with Adams more regularly.
All in all, things are still early and there is no need to panic. The Washington Nationals still have a long road ahead to figure out what their best lineup is on the field, but through 15 games it sure seems like the one they have put out there is not the best they can do.