The Washington Nationals won a series they needed to win, and took the series yesterday from the White Sox. Today, the Nats will begin a 4-game scheduled series (weather permitting) against the best team in MLB, the Atlanta Braves. Tonight is Commanders Night in the Capital Crossover event that is a great thing for sports in the D.C. area. Never have the teams done anything like the before. Hopefully it will be an annual event going forward. The Commanders will hold their crossover night in two weeks at FedEx Field when they take on the Bears in a Thursday night game. Special crossover tickets are available for both games.
Their are a lot of milestones to be broken by players before the end of the season and both Lane Thomas and CJ Abrams have a shot to reach the prestigious 20/20 Club in Nats’ history. Thomas has the easier route needing just one stolen base to join Alfonso Soriano, Ian Desmond and Bryce Harper while Abrams needs two more home runs to join them.
While we were doing research on Corbin Carroll‘s magnificent rookie season with the Diamondbacks, we found that Abrams is younger than Carroll and could be only one-of-six players to ever hit at least 18 home runs and steal at least 42 bases before an age 23 season. Technically, Carroll is 23 years old, but considered that this is still his age 22 season. Cesar Cedeno accomplished this feat twice, and of course there is Mike Trout who is the youngest to ever do it.
With the Capital Crossover, the Commanders’ team owner, Josh Harris, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Many players will also be on-hand from Redskins/Commanders team history.
For the real game, scheduled starters are rookie Jake Irvin for the Nats, and he has to face lefty Max Fried who has been excellent since his return from the IL.
“I always say this: We want to score first every day. It’s good to come out and jump out, score in bunches and let the guys relax and watch them play. Today was a perfect example. They relaxed a little bit, and we got some big hits.”
— manager Dave Martinez said
The Nats starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.93 for 25th best in MLB.
Here is how they rank by starter’s ERA:
No. 7 Starter: Jackson Rutledge 8.10
No. 6 Starter: Joan Adon 6.39
No. 5 Starter: Trevor Williams 5.55
No. 4 Starter: Patrick Corbin 5.00
No. 3 Starter: MacKenzie Gore 4.42
No. 2 Starter: Jake Irvin 4.34
No. 1 Starter: Josiah Gray 4.00
Here is your Baseball Savant link for the game.
Atlanta Braves 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
