The Home for Washington Nationals Game Talk

Strikeout by Anibal Sanchez; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

We have baseball tonight, even though the Nationals are closing in on being eliminated. Sure, the team is still mathematically alive and would need a miracle finish at 14-1 in the final fifteen games for a chance. Yes, there is still a chance Lloyd. Realistically some fans are watching to get a glimpse of the rookies, and while you will get to see Luis Garcia and Carter Kieboom — there is no telling if Jake Noll and Yadiel Hernandez will get into this game. In fact, Noll could be gone quickly as he was activated when Brock Holt went on paternity leave as that was how Noll was added to the roster yesterday. Paternity leave is a maximum of three games.  Continue reading →

Braves and Nats have played each other hard; The Braves have their starting 9 — the Nats, not so much.; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

The Nats are playing short-handed and really showed that they have fight in them, but once again fell short. For the 2020 Nats, they have zero come-from-behind wins after the 7th inning this year. Last night they mounted a charge in the 8th inning with Adam Eaton getting a pinch-hit single then driven in by Trea Turner with a 2-out double. In the 9th inning, the Nats loaded the bases with a chance to walk-off. It did not happen. That might be the story of the season that the team can’t find that key hit like they did so many times in 2019.  Continue reading →

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

After a nice finish for the Nationals in twelve innings last night for a win, the Nationals will hope for length from starter Patrick Corbin. The Braves have Ian Anderson on the mound for his third career start. Anderson is a hard thrower with an upper 90’s maximum fastball that averages 94.6 mph and a 10.8 K/9. Anderson’s arsenal is fastball, changeup, and curveball.  Continue reading →

A familiar scene of a starter departing before the 5th inning; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

It is time for Erick Fedde to show he is ready to be a starter on this team, and tonight is as good as any to show manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo that he is the person for that job. Between Fedde, Austin Voth, and Anibal Sanchez, they have been departing games before the fifth inning. That has to change. Continue reading →

Braves and Nats for a critical 4-game series; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

Earlier today the Washington Nationals made their four-game series rotation against the Braves “official” with Austin Voth scheduled for tonight, Erick Fedde for tomorrow, Patrick Corbin on Saturday, and Max Scherzer on Sunday. We will see if there are short leashes on Voth and Fedde because the previous strategy has not worked. The Nats had an option with the day-off yesterday to skip Voth, but manager Dave Martinez said they did not consider that.

Dave Martinez says there was no consideration to skip Austin Voth tonight after the off day, even though the Nationals could have kept the rest of the rotation on regular rest to face the Braves.

— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) September 10, 2020

Voth has lost all five of his decisions this year, and the Nats are 1-6 in games he has started. He has one good start on his record, but from a baseball perspective, his starts feel like he is the “opener” of doom as he has lasted an average of less than 4 1/3 innings with an ERA of 8.26. His postgame interviews tell us he has no idea what is wrong — just that it is not working. Sure, we can hope for the best or have a plan in place in case if it is not working. These have to be “must win” games if the Nats truly want to be in the postseason. Continue reading →