Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
Games like last night take a lot of convenient memory loss to forget. It was painful for Nationals fans to watch their team take a 2-0 deficit and tie it up and then to see the Phillies score 10 unanswered runs. Fan-favorite pitcher Tanner Roark once again self-destructed while another Nationals manager failed to see the obvious. It brings back memories of seasons that have unraveled in 2013 and 2015 when the finer details were missed.
The Nationals offense has sputtered but can win games when their starting pitching is great. Last night, one team won a 1-0 game (Royals over Astros), and four teams won 2-1 games. It can be done. Unless you are the Boston Red Sox, there are not many teams that will win a game giving up 10-runs like they did last night. Eight teams yesterday were held to 1-run or 0-runs. Tampa Bay beat the Yankees 2-1.
Scoring and home runs are down this year. Maybe the baseballs were un-juiced coupled with cooler early season temperatures, better pitching, and greater effectiveness of defensive analytics.
Today the Nationals pitch rookie Erick Fedde while the Phillies counter with their ace Aaron Nola who the Nats have somehow hit well in the past. Nola has a 2.55 ERA and looks like he will be back in Nationals Park in 3-weeks for the All-Star game.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 4:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN; MLB App out-of-market
Nats Radio: 106.7 The Fan and via the MLB app
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
- Adam Eaton RF
- Bryce Harper CF
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Juan Soto LF
- Daniel Murphy 1B
- Trea Turner SS
- Wilmer Difo 2B
- Spencer Kieboom C
- Erick Fedde RHP
