The Home for Washington Nationals Game Talk

Erick Fedde; Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

The season is almost at the point where it is a dash to the finish in a marathon season, and doubleheaders will test your stamina. The Nationals will get to call-up a 26th man today, but you also have to plan ahead that you might need to cover several innings in the bullpen with Erick Fedde starting the afternoon game and Patrick Corbin in the second game of the twin-bill. You hope that both of these starters can go at least 6.0 innings, but you have to pre-plan for 5.0 innings each. One reliever that should not be available is Michael Blazek who went 2.0 innings last night with a 40-pitch count. When pitching for Fresno, Blazek threw 44-pitches and then sat for 3-days which seemed prudent, but if you follow that protocol now, that would have him down until Saturday, and you need all hands on-deck. Will the 26th man today be a long-man like Kyle McGowin or will it be a position player? Last night, Blazek was nothing special giving up three hits and two walks and one run in those two innings of work. Do you send him back to get in a fresh arm? Continue reading →

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

You would think Washington, D.C. was Seattle, Washington with all of the rain that has disrupted outdoor activities in the region for two summers now. Last night’s game was a wash-out, and the Nationals will go with Stephen Strasburg in this game instead of Erick Fedde who was scheduled to pitch last night. While the Rockies will stick with their right-hander Peter Lambert, the rookie has never faced the Nats before because he just made his MLB debut last month. Tomorrow will be a day/night split doubleheader with the finale of the four-game series on Thursday. The Nationals have not announced who is starting the second game of the doubleheader tomorrow, and it could always be a surprise like Max Scherzer or it could be Fedde — but the team also has the option of calling up a 26th man to start which does not make a lot of sense. Expect manager Dave Martinez to announce the Wednesday evening starter before or after the game today. Continue reading →

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

The Nats are back home in Nationals Park which they have not seen since the Sunday before the All-Star break. This will be the start of a three series homestand beginning with a four game set with the Colorado Rockies. Continue reading →

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

The Nats faced the Atlanta Braves exactly 7 years ago today, and the desperate Nats called up John Lannan for a spot start in his debut game of the season with the Nats as they were perilously hanging on in the standings. On that day. Lannan won the game for the Nats a day after a crushing loss. Joe Ross finds himself in a similar situation today getting his first start of the season for the Nats. Both pitchers thought they were going to factor into the team’s Opening Day rotation,  and that was not reality in either case. The similarities and parallels are there for both of these pitchers who fell out of favor and now asked for a big performance as the underdog to help a season they might only be a role player in. Continue reading →

Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNats

This four-game series was going to be a fight, and tonight’s game certainly favors the Braves on paper. They are pitching their rookie ace, Mike Soroka, who boasts a 2.24 ERA. The right-hander from Calgary has proved to be the surprise of the year for the Braves. He had a blow-up game before the All-Star break against Philadelphia, and this is only his third start of the month. The way to beat an ace is for your own pitcher to put up zeros. You never lose if you give up zero runs, but Nats starter Anibal Sanchez is usually only going to give you on a good day 6.0 innings. The Nationals will need to also count on their bullpen, and that is always a gamble as it is with most teams. Continue reading →