The Washington Nationals are now 20 percent through their 2023 schedule, and you usually know the team you have at game 45. The Nats are a surprisingly good 8-6 in their past two weeks in their schedule.
The Nats will have a battle of the lefties with MacKenzie Gore on the mound for the D.C. team and Tommy Henry for the home team. Manager Dave Martinez will only have two lefty bats in Luis Garcia and Dom Smith. Plus Stone Garrett for righty Alex Call. Most of Garrett’s limited success in his career came in this Chase Bank building. CJ Abrams and Jeimer Candelario will get rare days off, but Candelario is getting the night off because he is sick.
“Jeimer was sick. He was dehydrated and they took him to the hospital. We wanted to give him a day-off.”
— manager Dave Martinez
The Nats starters ERAs are a combined 4.55, and the bullpen’s ERA went below 4.00 with a 3.97 ERA after a 3-inning scoreless combined outings from Erasmo Ramirez and Hobie Harris.
Here is how they rank:
No. 6 Starter: Jake Irvin 2.08 ERA
No. 5 Starter: Chad Kuhl 9.41
No. 4 Starter: Patrick Corbin 5.17
No. 3 Starter: MacKenzie Gore 3.77
No. 2 Starter: Trevor Williams 3.41
No. 1 Starter: Josiah Gray 3.03
The pitching is still looking good, but the offense needs players to carry this team. Joey Meneses is exactly 300 points lower today on his OPS than what he put up in 2022 with a .930 OPS. His MLB career has to be at a point where it is in jeopardy. On his 31st birthday today, here’s hoping he gets some birthday knocks.
Here is your Baseball Savant Statcast link for the game.
Washington National vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
1st Pitch: 8:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan radio and via the MLB app
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
RF Lane Thomas
2B Luis Garcia
DH Joey Meneses
C Keibert Ruiz
LF Stone Garrett
1B Dominic Smith
CF Victor Robles
3B Michael Chavis
SS Ildemaro Vargas
