The Washington Nationals got shutout last night with Jake Irvin struggling through 5.0 innings. This afternoon, they will count on Patrick Corbin to beat his old team, the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Yesterday was one step backwards, and the Nats really need a win today to even the series. So yes, this is a big game for the Nats. The Nationals go into this game as the betting underdogs.
With the day-off on Monday and a blow-out loss yesterday, manager Dave Martinez has a rested back of his bullpen. Jacob Barnes ate 2.0 innings yesterday with Jordan Weems and Tanner Rainey finishing out the game.
Good news on Jesse Winker as he returned to the lineup yesterday after he tweaked his knee on Saturday and came out of that game. After the game, he said he was good to go.
With Trevor Williams on the 15-day IL, he pitched last on May 30. When he was placed on the IL, Martinez told the media that he would be shutdown for a period of tw0-week. We are well beyond the two-week mark now. Do we get an update today? Has that shutdown been extended?
True to what we had in our schedule, Josiah Gray will indeed get another rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg and that will happen today. He is expected to throw 75-80 pitches, and was supposed to have one minor league start after that — but today Martinez was no longer willing to say that is still the case which could mean that Gray’s next start is back in Washington’s rotation. On top of that, Cade Cavalli will go back with Wilmington and make another rehab start on Friday.
Here’s what we think the starting rotation could look like going forward without Gray, Williams, and Cavalli:
- Wednesday: Patrick Corbin vs. Diamondbacks (Josiah Gray rehab start in Harrisburg)
- Thursday: MacKenzie Gore vs. Diamondbacks
- Friday: DJ Herz vs. Rockies (Cade Cavalli rehab start in Wilmington)
- Saturday: Mitchell Parker vs. Rockies
- Sunday: Jake Irvin vs. Rockies
- Monday: Corbin vs. Padres
- Tuesday: Gore vs. Padres
- Wednesday: Herz vs. Padres
- Thursday: Day-off June 27
- Friday: Parker vs. Rays
- Saturday: Irvin vs. Rays
- Sunday: Corbin vs. Rays
- Monday: Gore vs. Mets
- Tuesday: Herz vs. Mets
- Wednesday: Parker vs. Mets
- Thursday: Irvin vs. Mets
Your top Washington Nationals on the FanGraphs’ WAR leaderboard has MacKenzie Gore at +1.9, and Jake Irvin with a +1.7 WAR. Trevor Williams is at +1.7 WAR, and Jacob Young reclaims the top spot with +1.4 for position players with CJ Abrams right behind him at +1.3 WAR. Mitchell Parker is at the +1.3 mark. In total, 21 Nats’ players are in positive WAR and another six are at a neutral 0.0 WAR. Eddie Rosario drops to -0.9 WAR and Keibert Ruiz is at -1.1 WAR.
“For me, I’m going to try to go back and flush this one. We’re playing well. I’m not going to try to dwell on it. Just come back ready to play [Wednesday].”
— manager Dave Martinez said after yesterday’s game
The Nats starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 3.82 and 12th in MLB. The Nats are 10 points from being a Top-10 starting rotation by ERA. Look at those rankings of teams.
Here is how they rank, and if we insert DJ Herz, he would be ahead of Patrick Corbin at a 3.77 ERA:
No. 5 Starter: Patrick Corbin 5.84
No. 4 Starter: MacKenzie Gore 3.24
No. 3 Starter: Jake Irvin 3.24
No. 2 Starter: Mitchell Parker 3.06
No. 1 Starter: Trevor Williams 2.22
Washington Nationals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 4:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN2
Radio: 106.7 The Fan radio and via the MLB app; In Spanish on DC 87.7 FM and La Pantera 100.7 FM/1220 AM. On Sirius/XM, tune to Channel 179 for the home broadcast and the road team is online only.
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
TalkNats is Celebrating the 5 and 100 year anniversaries of World Series Wins by providing Game-by-Game Summaries.
Game 73:
The Nationals won on 06/19 at home against the Phillies resulting in a record of 35-38. But you knew this already. Box Score / Standings
The Senators won on 07/05 at home against the Yankees resulting in a record of 42-31. Box Score / Standings
