The Nats enter the Sunday 1:35pm game with a 61-61 record. Wisconsin native Jordan Zimmermann will toe the rubber vs. the team from Wisconsin and their starter Matt Garza and his 4.98 ERA. The Brewers W/L record dropped yesterday to 53-71 and the Nats will try to push the Brewers deeper into despair on their way out of Washington.
If you’re outside of the MASN and FSWI region, you can watch the game on MLB TV today for Free.
Today’s game against the Brewers is @MLBTV’s Free Game of the Day presented by @jerseymikes http://t.co/Yq52tTNt67 pic.twitter.com/ufQzJiYZDE
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 23, 2015
It might be a good game to sit Yunel Escobar if you believe in small sample sizes as he is a career 1-10 vs Garza, however none of the Nats infield has hit Garza well except for Ryan Zimmerman. Jayson Werth has some good numbers vs Garza over multiple showdowns as JDub is 7-16 with a .500 OBP and a 1.188 OPS.
Clint Robinson faced Garza in June and is 2-3 with a HR. You might remember it was the 1st HR of Clint’s career.
Not sure how you get Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Clint Robinson all into the starting lineup. We should see shortly as the lineup is due out.
UPDATE: No Escobar in the starting line-up.
- Jayson Werth LF
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Bryce Harper RF
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Ian Desmond SS
- Danny Espinosa 2B
- Wilson Ramos C
- Michael A. Taylor CF
- Jordan Zimmermann P
Garza throws mostly a 4-seam fastball at about 93 mph and his slow curve in the low 70’s as his primary pitches. When he needs it he will work in a few sinkers, sliders, and changeups. When Garza pitched earlier for the Rays and Cubs he was always considered a top of the rotation pitcher. These days Garza has struggled with command and has been pulled before he could complete the 6th inning in 8 of his 23 starts.
