The Washington Nationals and the NY Mets have identical records on runs scored this season, and the Mets are winning with exceptional starting pitching that is ranked best in the league. The Nats starting pitching is not too far behind. To beat the Mets, the Nats pitching has to be better.
This game will also be a first for Juan Soto returning as a free agent. Think about what this Nationals team would be if they never traded Soto, and he left for the Mets. The Nats would not have their two best players in MacKenzie Gore and James Wood as well as the team’s starting shortstop, CJ Abrams. In addition, the two other minor leaguers acquired in the trade, Robert Hassell III and Jarlin Susana are both trying to become star players. Statistically speaking, Wood is having a better 2025 season than Soto — and Wood is doing it for $50.2 million less in pay for this season.
A small sample size platoon split reared its ugly head yesterday, the Nats are only hitting lefty pitchers at an horrific .606 OPS this season which 6th from the bottom in baseball, and contrast that to facing right-handers, and the Nats hit them at a .718 OPS which is league average. Overall, the Nats are 21st in baseball in OPS.
“We’re just not hitting left-handed starters, and that’s been the key.”
— said manager Dave Martinez
“I truly believe we’re guessing. We’ve got to stay on the fastball. I talk about this all the time that if you watch the catchers and if they call a breaking ball and the guy throws a fastball, they usually throw it right by them. That’s kind of what happens as a hitter — you’re just late. You can’t get ready for the fastball. Be ready for the fastball, and if he throws you a breaking ball, you can make adjustments.”
Isn’t that the basics of hitting Davey? That is not a good thing. You often see the Nats in hitter’s counts, swinging for a fastball, and getting a pitch out of the zone, and changing the count back to the pitcher’s favor. The other teams have their scouting reports. They know how to exploit poor hitters. Why can’t these batters make these basic adjustments?
You can see the recent bullpen usage here:
Here are your Nats’ WAR leaders with MacKenzie Gore followed by James Wood, Mitchell Parker, Keibert Ruiz, and Nathaniel Lowe. On defense, Paul DeJong and Nasim Nunez are your OAA leaders , and Luis Garcia Jr., Amed Rosario, and James Wood are all at -2.0 already. Unfortunately Garcia‘s defensive struggles are back after he put him good defense last year. Another issue that we have discussed is the positioning of Nathaniel Lowe at first base as he is too often out of position to make a play — and OAA has his chance at success at only 56 percent which must improve. These are your stats leaders on BBRef. There are certainly some surprises on there — good and not so good — but the gap is widening.
“I might think about it for a second, but if CJ can get on for James, it would be pretty nice. CJ, rightfully so, he deserves to get back here and get in the leadoff spot. When he gets going, which he will, those two guys at the top of the order will be pretty good.”
— Martinez said about his batting order despite Wood’s success at the leadoff
The Nats starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 3.53 and 8th best in MLB. The reliever’s ERA sits at a 6.69 and is the worst in MLB.
Here is how the starters rank by ERA:
No. 5 Starter: Trevor Williams 5.11
No. 4 Starter: Michael Soroka 7.20
No. 3 Starter: Mitchell Parker 1.39
No. 2 Starter: Jake Irvin 3.68
No. 1 Starter: MacKenzie Gore 3.34
New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 6:45 pm EDT
TV: MASN
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 176 for the home broadcast and the road team is online only.
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
