Game #32 It’s like Groundhog Day if you’re the Nationals

Last night, the Nationals lost another game to open a series this season. They have now lost 10 of the first games in their 11 series this season, and it feels like Groundhog Day. Get a lead, blow a lead in the bullpen, debate what went wrong with the offense, name names, and then blame the manager. It’s getting real old watching the same thing on loop. That 45 rpm vinyl is scratched, and replaying the same sounds. Luckily in all other games past the first games in series, the Nationals are 12-8. If you can figure out what is wrong in the first game of series besides the final deficits on the scoreboard, let manager Dave Martinez know.

The Nationals send their lefty Patrick Corbin to the mound to face the outspoken Phillies right-hander Jake Arrieta on what could be a rainy night in Philadelphia. Corbin had a great season going before he was charged with 6 runs in the 5th inning in his last start. In that game, Corbin had two at-bats where he saw 9-pitches each. While the at-bats were “pro”, those long at-bats can tire you out. Today, Corbin enters with a 3.58 ERA and is almost identical to Arrieta’s 3.46.

Today is another day that the pre-game brings the usual intrigue of who will be playing due to an injury, tweak or other malady. Today’s question mark is Juan Soto who has now missed three games in a row with back spams. The week before it was Anthony Rendon‘s arm bruise, and the week before that was the issues with Trevor Rosenthal. It is Groundhog Day.