After one of the worst three-start stretches of his career, Washington Nationals starter Patrick Corbin can make up for it all with a dominant outing tonight.
After surrendering seven runs to the Chicago White Sox last week, Washington Nationals starter Patrick Corbin is certainly not winning over many fans in the District of Colombia.
Corbin has strung together an odd compilation of starts recently. In his last five outings, he has allowed earned run marks of seven, three, six, zero, and four. That lone zero was a complete game shutout against Miami. It is also the start most responsible for keeping his season-long statistics steady.
If one glanced at Corbin’s stats, blind resume style, they would see a slightly above average pitcher. He has accumulated a 4.11 ERA, a 3.88 FIP, a healthy 9.91 K/9 and peripheral stats, such as batting average on balls in play (BABIP), left on base percentage (LOB%) and a home run to fly ball rate (HR/FB%) all around the league’s average.
The problem for the Nationals is that slightly above average is not enough anymore.
With the season potentially hinging on the next ten days, Corbin needs to pitch like the 140 million dollar man the Nats signed last winter.
Corbin will get two starts, one against Atlanta this weekend, and one tonight against Philadelphia. Corbin can make up for his inconsistent start to the season with a vintage outing tonight.
While the overall matchup against Philadelphia’s offense is tough, the Phillies are taking a park hit coming from Citizens Bank Park to Nats Park and might be without two of their best hitters.
On Saturday, both J.T. Realmuto and Jay Bruce sustained injuries. Manager Gabe Kapler said Realmuto suffered a groin injury and Bruce acquired a mild left hamstring strain and that both are day-to-day.
Corbin will need to be careful with Rhys Hoskins (and Realmuto if he is in the lineup), but Corbin is certainly skilled enough to handle the rest of the Phillies lineup.
Jean Segura, Scott Kingery, Cesar Hernandez, and Sean Rodriguez are all average hitters, and Corbin will hold the platoon advantage against Bryce Harper.
Both the Nationals and Corbin need to turn their seasons around, and both must start the journey toward that goal at seven o’clock eastern time tonight.