As Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s all time purpose report, the Washington Nationals misplaced their fourth straight sport to fall to 1-6. Listed here are a few of my takeaways from a cut up display evening in Washington, DC.
The Bats are Highly effective
Regardless of the loss, my largest takeaway was how highly effective the Nats bats have been. The one means they’ll rating runs proper now’s by way of the lengthy ball. Tonight, CJ Abrams, Luis Garcia Jr. and Nathaniel Lowe went deep.
Final yr, the Nationals had been second to final in house runs, having to grind out a number of hits at a time to get runs. Nonetheless, this yr the ability is on full show, there simply isn’t a lot else. They’ve been placing out loads and the outcomes with runners in scoring place haven’t been fairly.
If the situational hitting can catch as much as the ability, the Nats offense could be cooking with fuel. Nonetheless, it has been house run or bust to this point this season.
2. The Bullpen is Nonetheless a Drawback
The Washington Nationals bullpen has not been as laughably terrible as they had been within the first couple video games. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless not nice. Tonight, Jose A. Ferrer couldn’t get the job completed. Whereas he received onerous completed by on a missed name and Dylan Crews took a foul path to the ball, Ferrer nonetheless couldn’t maintain the sport tied. He gave up a two run double to Randal Grichuk that ended up deciding the sport.
Colin Poche additionally appears to be like to be an issue. He simply has not been not been sharp in any of his appearances. Poche’s command has not been on level, even throwing a pitch to the to the backstop.
On the intense facet, Lucas Sims seemed higher at the moment. It might be very good if he may flip himself right into a dependable center reliever for Davey Martinez.
3. They Want Wins and Quick
The Nationals at the moment are 1-6 and have to get stepping into a rush. You possibly can’t name the seventh sport of the season a should win, but it surely fairly shut. Corbin Burnes is pitching on Sunday and the Dodgers come to city to begin subsequent week. So in the event that they don’t win tomorrow, 1-11 might be on the desk.
If that occurs, all the temper across the staff may get ugly shortly. This was meant to be a step ahead season, however they nonetheless seem like the identical previous Nats which have misplaced so many video games in recent times. As Alex Ovechkin takes up all of the headlines in DC, the Nationals are off to a gradual begin but once more.
