We say it all the time that the Washington Nationals just are not good enough at this point in the their rebuild to make unforced errors and survive it. On Sunday, it was a grounder through the wickets on Dom Smith, and last night was a grounder booted by CJ Abrams that led to six unearned runs. The Nats were actually leading 1-0 at the time. With two tough losses in a row, the road does not get easier tonight as the suddenly struggling Jake Irvin has to face the Dodgers’ best pitcher in Tony Gonsolin.
For those looking for some top prospect baseball, you can get a doubleheader if you head over to Bowie, Maryland to see the Harrisburg Senators for first pitch at 6:35 pm, and you can watch Robert Hassell III in center field and James Wood in right field. The game should easily be over by 9 pm and you can get home by 10:10 pm to watch the Nats in Los Angeles.
“My focus was on the double play ball that we didn’t turn. We turn that [play], the next guy pops up, [Trevor Williams] is out of the [fifth] inning at 60-plus pitches. It was unfortunate, and then things unraveled from there.”
— manager Dave Martinez said last night
The Nats starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.35 for 13th best in MLB, and the Nats leapfrogged over the Padres and Yankees.
Here is how they rank:
No. 5 Starter: Jake Irvin 5.32 ERA
No. 4 Starter: Patrick Corbin 4.88
No. 3 Starter: Trevor Williams 3.93
No. 2 Starter: MacKenzie Gore 3.57
No. 1 Starter: Josiah Gray 2.77
Here is your Baseball Savant Statcast link for the game.
Washington National vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
1st Pitch: 10:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN2
Radio: 106.7 The Fan radio and via the MLB app
Line-up subject to change (without notice):