Everyone woke up today with the Washington National still in 1st place, and the Nats had the same lead today as they did yesterday morning over the 2nd place team known as the dysfunctional New York Mets. Frustrating losses will happen like yesterday, and you just need to turn the page. There never was an explanation for why Matt Grace went so deep in relief, but let us make this clear, Matt Grace alone did not lose this game. The blame game goes deep and a wide net in team games.
We are onward and forward as this short road trip continues for just two more games in Baltimore for the inter-league match-up between the Nationals and Orioles known as the Beltway Series where the winner claims the MASN Cup which is the TV network which joins these two teams financially and for much of the media coverage. The Orioles control an overwhelming majority of MASN near 80%, and the ownership groups have been involved in a protracted lawsuit over annual television rights fees.
This is also the first trip back to Baltimore for Matt Wieters who was drafted by Baltimore and played his entire career in their system until he signed with the Nationals as free agent in this past off-season.
Today’s starters are Gio Gonzalez and Kevin Gausman. You may recall that Gausman was ejected last week from a game in the second inning against the Red Sox when he hit a batter on a curveball. Gausman comes into this game with a 7.55 ERA and has been very inconsistent.
Tonight and tomorrow’s game will feature the designated hitter on offense since the game is being played in an American League stadium.
Here are the Nats stats against Gausman:
Screengrab from MLB.com
Washington Nationals at Baltimore Orioles
Stadium: Orioles Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
1st Pitch: 7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, MASN (Baltimore feed) , MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® (Internet 869)
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Wilmer Difo SS
- Jayson Werth
- Bryce Harper
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Adam Lind DH
- Matt Wieters C
- Michael Taylor CF
Gio Gonzalez LHP
