The Washington Nationals split their day/night doubleheader yesterday, and now go for the series win tonight. After the game, Postgame Freedom Fireworks will be presented by Budweiser beginning approximately 10 minutes after the final out.
For the Nats, they have Jake Irvin on the mound, and Detroit has lefty Dietrich Enns going in his second start of the season, and the 14th of his career for the 34 year old pitcher. Nine of Enns’ games were as a reliever. For Irvin, he had arguably the best start of his career on July 4th last year.
Before the game, the Nationals reinstated LHP Andrew Chafin from the 15-day Injured List and optioned Ryan Loutos to Triple-A Rochester.
“I always say that the key is to come out and score first. I think that sets the tone.”
— manager Dave Martinez said after yesterday’s game
Kyle Finnegan pitched 3-innings on Sunday, and with a day-off and rain-out on Tuesday, he got some much-needed rest to allow him to pitch last night. Every reliever worked yesterday except for Zach Brzykcy and Ryan Loutos, although Brzykcy warmed up for the 9th inning alongside Finnegan. Of note, Andry Lara was the 27th man named for the doubleheader, and he saved the bullpen by taking on 3-innings that was one single shy off a perfect outing to go with four strikeouts. After the game, Lara was procedurally returned to Triple-A — but as good as Lara pitched, will general manager Mike Rizzo add Lara back for the bullpen or on short rest to make the start on Sunday?
Here are your Nats’ WAR leaders with James Wood at +3.6 and MacKenzie Gore at +2.8 followed by CJ Abrams at +2.8. Add those up, and you get a total of +9.2 WAR.
On defense, the stats are clear as to what his defense is all about. Jacob Young is the team’s OAA leader at +6.0 and Brady House is now on the list at +1.0. James Wood got to a +1.0 on his OAA, and that is a good sign from where he had been early in the season.
One of the newest Nats, Daylen Lile, is already at a -5.0 OAA and that is unsustainable as that is one of the worst marks in baseball if you extrapolated it for a full-season. Luis Garcia Jr. has slumped this season defensively to a -7.0 already — and with CJ Abrams, they combine for -13.0 OAA. That is the worst middle infield in baseball and entirely unacceptable.
Another defensive 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 66 percent which must improve. His OAA is at -0.1 now. With as little as Amed Rosario has played on defense, he is at -7.0 OAA this season and the worst on the team. Per Statcast, his defense has cost the Nationals 5-runs. Is his offense good enough to make up that deficit if he plays the field or should he only DH and PH? Keibert Ruiz, per Statcast, has a -8.0 OAA also. The Nationals were supposed to be better on defense. That clearly isn’t the case.
These are your stats leaders on BBRef. There are certainly some surprises on there — good and not so good.
“I want the young guys to appreciate what [the veteran players] do.”
— manager Dave Martinez said after the game
The Nats starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.59 and 25th best in MLB. You might be surprised at the team just ahead of the Nationals in the rankings. The reliever’s ERA sits at a 5.83 and now the worst in baseball in ERA.
Here is how the starters rank by ERA:
No. 5 Starter: Trevor Williams 6.21
No. 4 Starter: Michael Soroka 4.70
No. 3 Starter: Mitchell Parker 4.63
No. 2 Starter: Jake Irvin 4.73
No. 1 Starter: MacKenzie Gore 3.11
Detroit Tigers 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 177 for the home broadcast and the road team is online only.
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
