After leaving the sport final evening, it seems like Dylan Crews must go on the IL. To exchange him, the Nationals determined to name up prospect Robert Hassell III. Nonetheless, including Hassell to this lineup would create a bit little bit of an issue. The staff is now severely missing in proper handed hitters.
Even earlier than Crews’ damage, the Nationals lineup had a whole lot of left handed hitters. The primary six guys within the lineup final evening have been left handed hitters, or swap hitters. Notably, each swap hitters are higher as left handed hitters as properly.
The one righties within the lineup final evening have been Alex Name and Dylan Crews, who’s now harm. With Crews happening, the Nationals will solely have one proper handed hitter within the lineup a whole lot of nights, until they wish to bench Hassell and play Name and Jacob Younger collectively. Whereas that is an possibility, I doubt it’s one followers can be pleased with. They wish to see what the extremely touted Hassell can do.
Nonetheless, that is going to create an imbalance within the lineup. This isn’t the top of the world, but it surely might be a problem, particularly in opposition to left handed pitching. Guys like James Wooden and CJ Abrams can deal with any sort of pitcher, however different guys are extra platoon reliant.
Nathaniel Lowe and Luis Garcia Jr. each have excessive splits. Garcia is 2/22 in opposition to left handed pitching and Lowe is hitting simply .180 in opposition to southpaws. As an entire, the Nats have a .720 OPS in opposition to righties and a .654 mark in opposition to lefties. That may be a 66 level distinction which may develop into much more excessive with Hassell’s arrival.
Hassell has been raking, however solely in opposition to proper handed pitching. Towards righties, the younger outfielder is hitting over .300 with an OPS of .798. All of his additional base hits have additionally come in opposition to righties. Nonetheless, his .491 OPS in opposition to lefties is over 300 factors decrease. Left handed pitching has been an issue for the Nats and it’s one thing Hassell will solely make worse.
With this in thoughts, you will need to platoon. Amed Rosario must be within the lineup each recreation in opposition to left handers. I additionally suppose it might be sensible to platoon Hassell with both Jacob Younger or Alex Name. Davey Martinez can also be going to have to make use of his bench when lefty relievers inevitably come within the recreation. Pinch hitting just isn’t as prevalent because it was once, however it’s one thing Davey Martinez must do.
One different potential answer to this concern might be an thrilling one. The Nationals have a prime prospect performing in Triple-A who simply so occurs to be a proper handed bat. That in fact is Brady Home.
I imagine Home may assist resolve the shortage of stability within the lineup. He may exchange the left handed Jose Tena and supply an on the spot influence. Home is nice in opposition to righties with a .794 OPS. Nonetheless, he actually shines in opposition to southpaws, hitting .324 with a .959 OPS.
Truthfully, he brings a whole lot of issues the Nationals want. He’s a proper handed bat who crushes lefties and has large energy. The Nats additionally haven’t gotten a lot from the third base place offensively. Together with the bat, Home has an ideal glove over at third, which makes issues much more interesting.
Whereas Jose Tena has made strides as a defender, he nonetheless has his shaky moments. Home could be a brick wall on the scorching nook the way in which Paul DeJong was for the primary few weeks. Nonetheless, Home brings rather more to the desk offensively than DeJong. It could even be a transfer to energise the fanbase.
Proper now, the Nats are going to have nights the place they solely have one true proper handed hitter within the lineup. This isn’t a backbreaking downside or something, that lack of stability could be exploited by some groups. The Nats are usually not going to be the identical offense in opposition to left handed pitching. It’s already unhealthy, however shedding Crews may make issues even worse.
It is a story to observe, and if the lineup seems too unbalanced, they’ve a solution ready in Triple-A. Robert Hassell’s name up could be very thrilling, but it surely does create a scarcity of stability within the Washington Nationals lineup.
