Game #10 Scherzer and Nola in Philly: Game Thread

In tonight’s game, the Nationals send Max Scherzer to the mound versus right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola of the Phillies.

Scherzer is coming off of a sub-par performance earlier in the week against the Braves when he gave up 4 runs over 6 innings and walked 3 batters to go with 6 hits. Scherzer was pitching in that start on 2 extra days rest and might have been too strong.

The Phillies are a  team that Scherzer pitches well against, and you might be thinking that Scherzer is due for an early season gem to follow-up on the great performance that Joe Ross had last night. Continue reading

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Turner-ing the corner. Struggling #Nats players have big nights in Philly

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#Nats now 8-1 – best record in MLB: Post-game recap

And the best start in franchise history.

The Nationals literally destroy the Phillies 9-1. The game was basically over after the top half of the first inning.

It was simultaneously a laugher and a brilliantly managed game by Dusty. Continue reading

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Game #9 #Nats face the Phillies for 3 games for Jackie Robinson Day: Game Thread

The Nationals take on the Phillies and Jeremy Hellickson who is sporting a 1.54 ERA and a 1-0 record in 2 starts. The Nats will pitch Joe Ross who is coming off a very nice start himself.

All players and coaches today will be sporting the #42 jerseys in honor of Jackie Robinson with no names on the back of the jerseys. MLB has many celebrations for the Robinson legacy which includes multiple video tributes.

With Stephen Strasburg able to pitch yesterday, the Nats have now set the rotation for the weekend with Ross/Hellickson tonight, Scherzer/Nola on Saturday, and Gio/Morton on Sunday.

Line-ups (subject to change without notice):

  1. Michael Taylor CF
  2. Anthony Rendon 3B
  3. Bryce Harper RF
  4. Ryan Zimmerman 1B
  5. Daniel Murphy 2B
  6. Jayson Werth LF
  7. Wilson Ramos C
  8. Danny Espinosa SS
  9. Joe Ross RHP

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Observations from 8 games and a 7-1 record for the #Nats

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UPDATED: Bryce Harper 100th HR: History Made in Grand Style!!

It’s official, Bryce Harper has joined the 100 Home Run Club becoming the 8th youngest to reach 100 HRs in MLB history in GRAND style. Bryce had never had a Grand Slam as part of his career 100 HRs which made this 4 times as special plus he did this on him mom’s birthday, and the first MLB HR that Bryce has hit on April 14th. Harper’s manager Dusty Baker told him right after the Home Run, “You got a flair for the dramatic.” Bryce sure does, and he is making baseball fun for himself.

Here’s the list of the youngest to 100 home runs:

  1. Mel Ott:                    22 years, 132 days
  2. Tony Conigliaro:    22 years, 197 days
  3. Eddie Mathews:     22 years, 292 days
  4. Alex Rodriguez:      23 years, 16 days
  5. Andruw Jones:       23 years, 62 days
  6. Miguel Cabrera:     23 years, 127 days
  7. Johnny Bench:       23 years, 161 days
  8. Bryce Harper:         23 year, 181 days

Bryce accomplished this feat with fewer at-bats to reach 100 HRs than Mel Ott, Andruw Jones, Miguel Cabrera and Johnny Bench. Bryce also pushed Ken Griffey Jr. out of the Top 10 list of youngest players to reach 100 home runs.

We spoke after the game with  a VP of the Marucci Bat company who made the bat that Bryce hit his 100th HR with and possibly as poetic as the baseball universe aligns, Bryce hit this HR with the exact same CU7 Marucci model that Bryce smashed his 1st HR with. The VP of Sports Marketing for Marucci is Kyle Ourso and he has dealt with Bryce since he was swinging wood bats at the College of Southern Nevada so they have quite the history together. Even back then in 2010, Bryce was swinging the  CU7 Marucci model that Ourso hooked him up with which was that classic all black bat with BRYCE HARPER etched in block letters and filled in with white paint and measuring 34/32.

bryce harper HR 100 A

Screengrab from the Kirk Cousin’s twitter feed.

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Game #8 Series finale with Braves: Game Thread

The Washington Nationals wrap up their 4 game series at Nationals Park with the Atlanta Braves. Dusty Baker is waiting to see how Stephen Strasburg is feeling this morning as players arrive in order to fill in his line-up card.

Jayson Werth is also scheduled for a day off; however, we know Jayson has talked himself back into the line-up before and he did hit a booming 2-run HR last night to push the margin of victory to 3 runs in that 3-0 win.

Ryan Zimmerman is due back in the line-up today as well as Anthony Rendon who pinch-hit late for Dusty last night.

For now we have prepared the Stephen Strasburg  vs. Braves batters box as well as the Yusmeiro Petit box.

Stay tuned for changes and updates and expect sunny skies and 63°F warm air for 1st pitch at 4:05pm.

After the game, the Nats will most likely bus it up to Philadelphia to start their road trip.
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“I think this has been an amazing day for sports fans” —Kobe Bryant

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#Nats win with a Roark shutout & Drew/Werth HRs & Papelbon Save #5: Post Game

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Breaking: Stephen Strasburg scratched. Tanner Roark now starts Game #7 Game Thread #Nats

We learn now that Tanner Roark will start instead of Stephen Strasburg against Matt Wisler.  Strasburg was officially scratched the Nationals are reporting due to illness.

This shouldn’t change the Braves line-up as they were preparing for a right-handed pitcher. Roark last pitched on Thursday which was the Nationals’ home opener which means Roark is pitching today on regular rest. Roark threw 99 pitches in that game and was scheduled to pitch tomorrow against the Braves.

The key for Roark is to get off to a good 1st inning and allow his arm motion to be free and easy and be concerned more with movement and location rather than velocity which has put him in trouble in the past. Roark is more of a finesse pitcher than a power pitcher. Does Roark have the ability when he needs it to throw mid-90s gas in a reach-back fastball? Yes, but use it strategically.

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