The Washington Nationals had a day-off yesterday as the team got to celebrate back-to-back walk-off wins. They got the most air time they have received in a long time on the national sports shows due to Sunday’s walk-off win after a comeback from 5-runs down in the 9th inning. Maybe the strategy for the Nats should be get an early lead and keep the lead. Today is a new series as the Nats face the Red Sox in what should be a well attended mid-week game. The Red Sox are competing for a Wild Card berth while the Nats are competing for respectability. Preseason expectations were different for both of these teams — but winning matters to both teams.
The Nats have their top starter on the mound with Josiah Gray, and the Bosox will have a familiar name to some Nats fans: Nick Pivetta. In Jeopardy you would answer: Who is Jonathan Papelbon when they asked for the name of the player Pivetta was traded for to the Nationals in 2015. The Nats drafted Pivetta in the fourth round of 2013. That trade of Pivetta was actually when Papelbon was with the Phillies and not the Red Sox.
“This team has been relentless. They play hard. They don’t give up. We talk about playing hard for 27 outs, and it shows. You can see it. We’re never out of it.”
— manager Dave Martinez said
The Nats starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.79 for 24th best in MLB.
Here is how they rank:
No. 6 Starter: Trevor Williams 5.20
No. 5 Starter: Joan Adon 5.00 (starter’s ERA only)
No. 4 Starter: Patrick Corbin 4.85
No. 3 Starter: Jake Irvin 4.76
No. 2 Starter: MacKenzie Gore 4.62
No. 1 Starter: Josiah Gray 3.69
Here is your Baseball Savant Statcast Link for the game.
Boston Red Sox vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan radio and via the MLB app
