Nats and Mets Clash in Pivotal Series

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Marc Goldstein

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

As the Washington Nationals have begun to make a recent ascent to reaching their full potential, there are many teams still standing in their way. One of them is the New York Mets who are in first place in the NL East. Those Mets have won eight of their past ten ball games against some of the elite teams in the National League. After series wins against the Padres and Cubs, they venture south to face one of their chief rivals in D.C.

The Nationals have been winning recently and have a modest four game winning streak going. That being said, they still need a lot of help in the standings in order to be considered true contenders, but for the next four games, the Nats can help their own cause even more by beating that team in first place. Continue reading →

Posted in Analysis, Bullpen, Bullpen, Corbin, DaveMartinez, Fedde, Games, JBell, JRoss, NewsAndNotes, Roster, RyanZimmerman, Schedule, Scherzer, Soto, Starters, Stevenson, Strasburg, Turner, VictorRobles | Leave a comment

Just when you were ready to sell-off, the #Nats are making it interesting!

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

This photo from the 2019 Spring Training became an image of positivity

As you wake up, the Washington Nationals are still 7 ½ games out of first place, and while that is a long way off the pace, the Nats are now tied for third place after being in last place just four days ago. The current four-game winning streak has propelled the Nats up the standings and just 2-games from second place. The Nats fate is in their own hands if they can take care of business because they have four games this weekend against that first place team followed by two games against the Phillies.  Continue reading →

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Josh Bell rung up the 1st career win for Paolo Espino at age 34!

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by LGF for TalkNats

With this Washington Nationals win today, not only did the 34 year old Paolo Espino earn his first career win; it also was another series sweep for the Nats as they  improved to 30-35 with this 4-game winning streak. With a Braves loss tonight, the Nats would move into a tie with them for 3rd place in the NL East. Continue reading →

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Game #65 for today, Paolo Espino takes Max Scherzer’s spot in the rotation

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Nationals Park, Washington, D.C. | Paolo Espino records a strikeout for the final out of the 2020 season; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

Today was supposed to be Max Scherzer‘s turn in the rotation, but he was scratched and placed on the 10-day IL yesterday with groin inflammation. In his place, RHP Paolo Espino will pitch as deep as he can in this game and then turn it over to the Washington Nationals bullpen. With Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Austin Voth, Will Harris and Daniel Hudson on the IL, the team essentially has six replacement players up that include Espino, Kyle McGowin, Sam Clay, Ryne Harper, Justin Miller, and Jefry Rodriguez. Some of these players have a chance to solidify themselves to stay in the mix.  Continue reading →

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A Corbin gem, great defense, Yan Gomes grand slam = a Nats win!

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Andrew Lang for TalkNats

The Washington Nationals got into the dreaded bases loaded spot where they have struggled to a .143 batting average entering this game, and this time put together back-to-back hits from Josh Harrison and a grand slam by Yan Gomes to seal this win in the first inning as Patrick Corbin cruised through the first 6 innings before he retired a run in the 7th inning. The defense behind Corbin was spectacular with highlight reel web gems from Victor Robles and Jordy Mercer, and a nifty doubleplay turned by Josh Harrison and Trea Turner. Continue reading →

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Game #64 The #Nats lose another legend as Max Scherzer heads to the IL, and after 2 yrs, Justin Miller returns!

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Washington, D.C. | Max Scherzer was animated in the dugout last night. Today he lands on the 10-day IL; Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

The IL claimed another Washington Nationals victim as RHP Max Scherzer joins a long list that includes star RHP Stephen Strasburg, top reliever Daniel Hudson, and even some on the star prospects on the minor league side like RHP Jackson Rutledge and RHP Cole Henry who are the team’s No. 2 and No. 3 prospects respectively. Both Rutledge and Henry are rehabbing in West Palm Beach according to a source. Continue reading →

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The Nats take care of business behind Kyle Schwarber’s bat!

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

As we celebrated the 246th birthday of the US Army, there were more than helicopters flying over Nationals Park after the quartet of helo’s were a pre-game warmup for the crescendo as Kyle Schwarber smashed the game-winning home run in the 7th inning to send the Nats to victory formation with a 3-2 win over the Pirates.  Continue reading →

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Game #63 as the Nats must get the bats going with great pitching!

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

After winning 2 of the last 3 games against the team with the best record in baseball, the Nats must go on a run here against possibly the worst team in baseball as they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 3-game set. Continue reading →

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Nats look to add to the Pirates misery in three game set

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Marc Goldstein

Photo by Andrew Lang for TalkNats

The Washington Nationals, for all the bad things that have occurred over the course of the 2021 season, had a strange, but uplifting weekend. Against the team with the best record in the MLB, the Nats not only split the four games, but had a realistic chance at winning each of the games. The split might not be the desired outcome, although the Nats really demonstrated the fact that they can hang in there with any team. Even going back to the series against the Rays earlier in the week as the best team in the A.L., the Nats really have traded punches with the league’s elite.

The Pittsburgh Pirates come to town starting tonight, and while they might seem like a comedy of errors on the field, it is important for the Nats — to not overlook them — and fall into a trap series against a team with nothing to lose.  Continue reading →

Posted in Analysis, Bullpen, Bullpen, Corbin, DaveMartinez, Games, JBell, JRoss, NewsAndNotes, Roster, RyanZimmerman, Schedule, Scherzer, Soto, Starters, Stevenson, Strasburg, Turner, VictorRobles | Leave a comment

The state of the Washington Nationals

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Photo by Laura Peebles for TalkNats

The Washington Nationals did what you are supposed to do against the best teams in baseball … this past week. They faced the best team in baseball, the San Francisco Giants, and the best team in the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays, for a combined six games this past week and went 3-3 against them. They say if you can play .500 or better against the best teams in baseball and dominate the bad teams you will make the playoffs. The issue is that the Nats entered that Tampa series with a 24-32 record. Continue reading →

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