The good news is the end is near and today’s pitching match-up is a good one between Stephen Strasburg and the Phillies #1 pitcher Aaron Nola who the Nats just faced 12 days ago and knocked him around for 6 runs over 5 innings.
To give you an idea of how things are with the team, it’s been reported that Scherzer’s pet dog took a deuce in centerfield. Is it a coincidence that Michael A. Taylor is out of the lineup and not playing centerfield:
A reminder on Nola who was the 7th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2014 Draft. This will be Nola’s 13th career start and he has a 3.84 ERA but his starts are either very good or not so good. Nola has 2 shutouts and 3 starts giving up 1 run and 1 start giving up 2 runs. Of course his worst starts were against the Mets giving up 6 runs and against the Nats.
Nola throws almost an equal number of 4-seamers and sinkers with 90-91 velo but it’s movement and hitting his spots that will make him effective. He works in a slow curve and the occasional change-up at 82. He likes to come inside on batters and as a sinkerballer likes to live low in the zone often tempting hitters to swing at balls below the knees.
Rendon led off the game against Nola with a HR on the 1st pitch to welcome him properly back on September 14th. Bryce Harper also homered off of Nola. Several Nats got hits including Wilson Ramos, Clint Robinson, Escobar, and Jayson Werth finished Nola’s boxscore with a HR also.
Nats line-up:
- Rendon 2B
- Escobar 3B
- Harper CF
- Werth RF
- CRob 1B
- Desi SS
- Matt den Dekker LF
- Ramos C
- Strasburg P
Make up whatever caption you want to with this picture:
The scene at Nats Park right now. Scherzer and the pitchers play catch. Bo looks on: pic.twitter.com/rMKtLr85uj
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) September 26, 2015
Just wondering, do you have to get a permission slip from your boss to bring your dog to work?
A s/o to Joe Seamhead for his intro to Marmolejos earlier in the season and a post from Nats PR man Kyle Brostowitz:
The Washington Nationals named first baseman Jose Marmolejos their Minor League Player of the Year and right-handed pitcher Austin Voth their Minor League Pitcher of the Year. The club also named right-handed pitcher Austen Williams the recipient of the third-annual Bob Boone Award.
