District On Deck
FanSided

Washington Nationals: 3 keys to winning 2019 World Series

By Jake Mastroianni

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 15: Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals leaves the field after fielding the third out in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during game four of the National League Championship Series at Nationals Park on October 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 15: Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals leaves the field after fielding the third out in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during game four of the National League Championship Series at Nationals Park on October 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 15: Adam  Eaton #2 of the Washington Nationals celebrates his double in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during game four of the National League Championship Series at Nationals Park on October 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 15: Adam  Eaton #2 of the Washington Nationals celebrates his double in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during game four of the National League Championship Series at Nationals Park on October 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Top of order has to get on base

More from District on Deck

A lot of the focus in this series will be put on the pitching, and rightfully so, but at somepoint one of these teams will need to score runs.

The Nationals actually lead all postseason teams with a batting average of .243 and are averaging 4.5 runs per game. And that’s with going up against one of the best rotations in baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In fact, the Dodgers had the best ERA in all of baseball in the regular season, while the Astros ranked third.

To be fair, the Astros had to go through the second-best regular season pitching staff in the Tampa Bay Rays.

But if the Washington Nationals are going to win this World Series, they’ll have to go through two of the best pitching staffs in the game.

This is the only thing that concerns me with the long layoff. The Nats offense has been on fire, and you hope a week without playing doesn’t cool them down.

As is always the case with this offense, it goes as the top of the lineup goes.

When Trea Turner and Adam Eaton are getting on base for Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto, good things happen.

Those two at the top of the order can put a lot of pressure on an opposing pitcher because of their speed.

And we know Rendon and Soto are good enough to come through against any pitcher in baseball.

If Turner and Eaton are consistently getting on base, then I believe the Nationals won’t have any problem scoring runs and winning the World Series.

But all of this is easier said than done. The Astros are the favorite for a reason; although, I think it’s a lot closer than the experts are saying.

Next. Game 1 Preview: First matchup of aces. dark

If the Washington Nationals can do these things successfully in four of the next seven games, then a World Series title is in reach.

Home/Nationals News