Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
In Miami last week, Stephen Strasburg earned the win over the Marlins in the same match-up the team has today against the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara. The Nationals came from behind to win that game after Matt Adams crushed a 3-run home run off Alcantara followed by the game winning two-run home run from Victor Robles in the 5-run sixth inning. Adams is starting today even though manager Dave Martinez made it clear yesterday that Zimmerman is his starter despite his struggles with men on-base (.125) but also Zim’s lack of success against right-handed pitchers continues with a .164 batting average. We will see as the rest of the week goes if Martinez is backing off of his proclamation yesterday.
“I like the matchup with Zim,” Martinez said about Zimmerman’s start yesterday. “And let’s be clear: If Zim’s healthy, he’s our first baseman. With that being said, I know Howie’s doing well, Adams is doing well. They’re going to get plenty of playing time.”
With regards to the Nationals offense, from the start of the team’s hot streak through Thursday, the team has averaged exactly six runs per game since May 24th. Since Friday, the offense overall has only produced 3.25 runs per game and is in a bit of a funk. That is the lowest four game offensive production since the last game against the White Sox and the first three games of the Arizona series when the Nats averaged 3.75 runs per game.
The good news is that the Nationals found ways to win games by the scores of 3-1, 2-1 and 3-2 since Friday in Detroit. Good teams find ways to win the close ones, and these were games the Nationals were not winning last year and prior to May 24th of this season. The Nats are now 10-12 in one-run games this season, and while that record is not a positive for the Nationals, it is a far better percentage than the team’s 18-24 results from last year.
Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 6:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, FOX Sports South Florida, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
