Today’s game sets Joe Ross in a spot to bounceback from his dismal start on Sunday. Ross must improve on his 6.18 ERA, and luckily for the Nationals they face right-hander Daniel Mengden who has an ERA that is more than twice what Ross’ ERA is at. Mengden has struggled to 13.50 for his ERA from his one start this season.
After today’s game, all statistics can be multiplied by 3 to project the full season’s totals like wins, RBIs, hits, strikeouts, and home runs. Like any projections, caution to the wind as there will always be situations that must be factored in. For a fun exercise in the math, if Ryan Zimmerman clubbed 2 home runs today, that would give him 17 on the season multiplied by 3 would equal 51 home runs for a full-season.
This is also the time of the season where All-Stars are solidifying their candidacy in the fan vote which ends on June 29, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. We also encourage you all to get out the vote for the well-deserving Nats like Ryan Zimmerman, Matt Wieters, Daniel Murphy, Anthony Rendon, and Bryce Harper. The Nationals have several players who lead in their positions per Fangraphs.com, and, yes, Anthony Rendon is ahead of Nolan Arenado at 3rd base. In fact, the Washington Nationals have 4 players in the top 30 in all of baseball in this order: Harper, Rendon, Zimmerman and Murphy. For catchers, Matt Wieters is 4th rated in the NL so he is on the outside looking in.
Another surprise could be Trea Turner who is the 5th ranked shortstop, but keep in mind that Trea missed about a dozen full games due to his hamstring injury and with his +0.7 WAR if you look at his per game WAR he would be the 3rd ranked shortstop behind Zack Cozart and Corey Seager.
The Nationals have never faced Mengden before except Adam Lind who is 1-for-1 against him. Expect a mix of fastballs, cutters, and curveballs. Mengden comes over the top in his delivery which can take some getting used to.
For Joe Ross, this is like a home game for him as he grew up in the Oakland area. While Ross had never pitched a pro game in this stadium before, he did pitch in the stadium in a high school game.
Washington Nationals at Oakland Athletics
Stadium: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
1st Pitch: 4:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN, NBC SCA, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® (Internet 869)
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Trea Turner SS
- Jayson Werth DH
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Adam Lind LF
- Michael Taylor CF
- Stephen Drew 3B
- Jose Lobaton
- Brian Goodwin RF
Joe Ross RHP
