by Andrew Lang
by Andrew Lang
This will be a most interesting showdown of starters today with Stephen Strasburg facing off against childhood teammate Mike Leake in an 8:15pm start time in St. Louis. They faced each other last on May 19, 2014 but neither were pitcher’s of record in a marathon game that went 15 innings.
We once wrote about their relationship as teammates on a San Diego travel team and Leake in an interview had unflattering remarks about Strasburg as an 11 year old teammate. Continue reading
Ben Revere started his rehab assignment on Thursday with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, and Revere made an immediate impact in the game going 2-3 with a run scored and a RBI. Revere batted lead-off with Trea Turner in the 2-hole. Brian Goodwin in the game went 1-2 with 2 walks. A.J. Cole pitched 6 innings of shutout baseball yielding 3 hits against the Pawtucket Paw Sox.
Here is an add-on to this story from Kevin Brown of the Syracuse Chiefs who did a recap for us from what he saw last night and insight from pitching coach Bob Milacki:
“Ben Revere looked good. Swung the bat aggressively against a tough lefty Eduardo Rodriguez who is on his own rehab assignment form the Red Sox.
Revere put in 5 innings last night and got 3 at-bats.
A.J. Cole located much better last night. His changeup was good and he had better “angle” on his delivery and fastball according to pitching coach Bob Milacki.
Trea Turner made an error last night (3rd of the season), but it was on a bit of a tough play, and he recovered nicely. the range and the arm strength on that play (see video) to nab Chris Marrero were superlative. He’s looked steadier at shortstop this year for sure. I think he’ll continue to improve.”
There is nothing to add to what has been said the past 2 nights. It’s impossible to win a baseball game you don’t score in unless the other team forfeits. There was no surrender from these Phillies.
Great starting pitching from Tanner Roark with good defense behind him and in front of him as Pedro Severino did a fine job of catching.
The Nats head to St. Louis with an offense that is now scoreless in 22 straight innings.
So is Dusty reacting to limited offense? Or is this just his normal tinkering for a late afternoon game after a night game?
Dusty Baker only made a few personnel changes and shifted players in his line-up. Danny Espinosa gets the coveted 2 spot in his start today as Anthony Rendon gets an ‘observation’ day on the bench next to Michael Taylor, and Jose Lobaton who has had some defensive scuffles needed a day off as he hasn’t played 3 consecutive games since August 7, 2014.
Speaking of famous dates in Nats history, 4 years ago today on April 28, 2012 was BHDD. That’s right, Bryce Harper Debut Day. Bryce shared this #TBT with us:
When Bryce Harper departed DC after the 2015 season ended, he let Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo know exactly what he expected in the off-season.
“The one thing we definitely need is another lefthanded bat and hopefully a HUGE righthanded bat to hit behind me or in front of me,” Bryce Harper said. “If we can do that, that would definitely help us out and put us up to the top.”
The Nats were shut out for the first time in the season losing 3-0 to the Phillies. The Nats batting averages are plummeting and Gio could have pitched a gem and you won’t win a game scoring zero runs.
Dusty continues with this same sleepy batting order and the Nats had opportunities and could not capitalize.
There are 4 position starters in this line-up batting well under the Mendoza line. Taylor drops to .192, Werth to .180, Espinosa .182, and Lobaton .158. Espinosa did get 1 of the 2 hits tonight and that bunt single was the 500th hit of his career.
Matt Belisle will be placed on the 15 day DL with a calf strain, and the Nationals recall lefty Sammy Solis from Triple-A Syracuse.
Gio Gonzalez and righty Jeremy Hellickson face-off in the 2nd game of this 3 game series in tonight’s 7:05pm start.
Continue reading
The Nats had plenty of chances to score tonight, and Max Scherzer’s final stat line looked better than the actual pitching performance. Scherzer gave up 3 runs over 6 innings, and the bullpen gave up 1 run on a catchable ball at the wall that Michael Taylor could not get in his glove. Sometimes that is the way it goes.
Anthony Rendon left 4 men on base and Ryan Zimmerman left 5 men on base, and that defines the problem we have seen. Michael Taylor got on base 3 of his 5 plate appearances and did his job tonight which is getting on base.
The game ended on a Bryce Harper groundout with Anthony Rendon on 1st base.
Same, @Bharper3407. Same. https://t.co/5KkQ8tZHD3 pic.twitter.com/cnaa5bApeZ
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 27, 2016
Matt Belisle was pulled from the game with a calf injury. He will be evaluated further.
The Washington Nationals got a much needed day off yesterday, and we don’t know what walk-off hero Chris Heisey did with his day off. Bryce Harper on the other hand was visiting museums on the national mall as he was taking selfies in the Smithsonian. Today’s starting pitcher Max Scherzer was uploading video and photos from one of his diving expeditions and Dusty as we know was on the radio doing what Dusty likes to do: Talking Nats.
Tonight’s 7:05pm match-up features Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and 23 year old righty pitcher Vincent Velasquez who was a 2nd round pick of the Houston Astros and was traded in the Ken Giles deal in the off-season. This will be Velasquez’s 11th career start. He has upgraded his fastball to average 95mph and can dial that up to 98. That is his main pitch and will throw a slow curve at 80mph and will throw a few sliders and changeups.
Scherzer has to get back on track tonight and also remember that 10 days ago Scherzer pitched 5 hit baseball giving up 1 run to the Phillies in an 8-1 win. Continue reading
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