Photo by Sol Tucker/TalkNats
The Washington Nationals enter tonight’s game at one game over .500 with a 28-27 record. If the Nats win tonight to go two games over .500, the last time the Nationals have been at that level in the mid-season would have been June 30, 2021 — the high mark of that season.
Tonight, the Nats pin their hopes to pitcher Cade Cavalli, the Nats’ bullpen, and the hot Nats offense that hit six homers last night while scoring 10 runs.
With the Nats offense leading baseball in runs scored, the Nats Big-5, the L.A.W.Y.R.’s of Lile, Abrams, Wood, Young and Ruiz have a combined +7.3. And Young just passed Lile for the third most valuable Nats with Wood back at the top. Curtis Mead is just behind Ruiz.
Last night, only PJ Poulin pitched from the bullpen as starter Zack Littell was able to pitch 7.0 innings. Here is the usage chart for manager Blake Butera‘s bullpen:
The FanGraphs WAR chart is accumulating data. The numbers are getting very large as the season is headed towards the halfway point on June 24. The OAA defense stat is now giving us a picture of what the Nats have — and don’t have.
Washington Nationals vs. Cleveland Guardians
Stadium: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
1st Pitch: 6:10 PM EDT
TV: Nationals.TV
Radio: 106.7 The Fan radio and via the MLB app. On Sirius/XM, tune to Channel 175 for the home broadcast and the road team is online only.
