Nationals Open Long Weekend Set With Cardinals
For the first time in a good while, the ground looks to be shaking under the Washington Nationals. Slumping after what to this point has been a wildly-successful summer, Davey Johnson’s team is best-advised to stop the bleeding ASAP.
And no one has to tell Thursday night’s opponent, the St. Louis Cardinals, how things can change in the playoff races come September.
The Cards and Nats open a crucial four-game weekend set in D.C. on Thursday night, with postseason implications galore in the outcome. Scheduled starters for the first game of the set are Jaime Garcia for St. Louis and Edwin Jackson for Washington; the Don Best MLB odds screen notes early pricing on the game rates it a veritable toss-up, with the Nats priced at -110 and the Cards at even money at Las Vegas sports books, while the total is at eight shaded to the ‘over’ at -125.
Meanwhile, early Run Line pricing notes the Cards -210 with the extra run, while the Nats can fetch a +175 laying a run. First pitch at Nationals Park will be 7:05 p.m. (ET); if planning to attend we suggest arriving early to beat the long lines at the several Ben’s Chili Bowls around the ballpark, where the famous chili half-smokes are served.
Then, save room for a shake (we recommend the chocolate) in the later innings at the Shake Shack located in the open-air right field concourse.
For those watching from elsewhere and not able to indulge in the many dining options at Nationals Park, the issues this weekend suddenly involve the once high-flying Nats, whose staff has started to wobble in recent weeks. Indeed, the fact Washington could count upon solid starting pitching has mostly enabled it to avoid the sorts of losing skids that threaten to undermine potential contenders. The Nationals were on a five-game losing streak (tied for their longest slump of the season) after Tuesday’s 9-0 loss at Miami.
Moreover, nerves might be starting to fray, if reports of a recent shouting match between Johnson and GM Mike Rizzo are to be believed.
But recent developments, including Stephen Strasburg getting hammered on Tuesday at Miami, are a bit troubling for manager Johnson. Thursday night’s starter Jackson has also been struggling in recent outings, reflected in his less-than-stellar 4.55 ERA in his last five appearances. Washington has also lost its last two and five of Jackson’s last eight starts, not providing much run support in the process the last two, generating a mere pair of runs total in losses last Friday vs. the Phils and August 18 vs. the Mets.
Jackson’s 4.55 ERA also covers all of his August starts and rates as his least-effective month of the season to date. Of course, remember that Jackson was a member of St. Louis for the last half of the 2011 season when arriving in a trade deadline deal from the White Sox, and was a contributor to the Cards’ late-season charge to a World Series crown before leaving for D.C. in the offseason via free agency.
Jackson has not pitched against the Redbirds since the 2010 season when working for the Diamondbacks.
Manager Johnson has other worries at the moment, including his suddenly-impotent batting order that had scored only six runs in the five-game losing streak through Tuesday. The returns of SS Ian Desmond and OF Mike Morse to the lineup could not prevent that humbling 9-0 loss to the Marlins and their erratic starter Ricky Nolasco on Tuesday.
Entering Wednesday’s game at Miami, the Nats had also seen their NL East lead over the Braves trimmed to just four games. Washington is also now locked in a virtual dead-heat with Cincinnati for the best record in the NL and the home-field edge throughout the playoffs which would accompany that honor. They swept the Cards in a 3-game set in DC a year ago.
Working in the Nationals’ favor on Thursday night is the fact that St. Louis starter Garcia has been struggling himself lately, with the Cards losing his last four starts. Garcia has been hit hard in that stretch, posting a 6.55 ERA in those defeats.
Garcia hasn’t faced the Nationals since last season; in his career he’s started three times vs. Washington, fashioning a 2-0 record and 1.65 ERA, although those were against lesser Nats editions.
The Cardinals also enter this set concerned about the status of their catcher Yadier Molina, who had to exit Tuesday night’s loss in Pittsburgh after a brutal home-plate collision with the Pirates’ Josh Harrison. Suffering from back, neck and shoulder soreness, Molina might be expected to miss at least a few games, which could be an issue for St. Louis considering his defensive work and surprisingly-good hitting (.325 BA) this season.
Mike Matheny’s club, however, has moved into the NL’s second wild-card position after mostly-positive efforts since the All-Star break. The Redbirds know all about stretch-drive pressure, too, having rallied from a 10½-game deficit on August 24 in last season’s wild card race before collaring the Braves and surpassing them on the final night of the regular season.
And we all remember what happened thereafter.
For the first time in a good while, the ground looks to be shaking under the Washington Nationals. Slumping after what to this point has been a wildly-successful summer, Davey Johnson’s team is best-advised to stop the bleeding ASAP.
And no one has to tell Thursday night’s opponent, the St. Louis Cardinals, how things can change in the playoff races come September.
The Cards and Nats open a crucial four-game weekend set in D.C. on Thursday night, with postseason implications galore in the outcome. Scheduled starters for the first game of the set are Jaime Garcia for St. Louis and Edwin Jackson for Washington; the Don Best MLB odds screen notes early pricing on the game rates it a veritable toss-up, with the Nats priced at -110 and the Cards at even money at Las Vegas sports books, while the total is at eight shaded to the ‘over’ at -125.
Meanwhile, early Run Line pricing notes the Cards -210 with the extra run, while the Nats can fetch a +175 laying a run. First pitch at Nationals Park will be 7:05 p.m. (ET); if planning to attend we suggest arriving early to beat the long lines at the several Ben’s Chili Bowls around the ballpark, where the famous chili half-smokes are served.
Then, save room for a shake (we recommend the chocolate) in the later innings at the Shake Shack located in the open-air right field concourse.
For those watching from elsewhere and not able to indulge in the many dining options at Nationals Park, the issues this weekend suddenly involve the once high-flying Nats, whose staff has started to wobble in recent weeks. Indeed, the fact Washington could count upon solid starting pitching has mostly enabled it to avoid the sorts of losing skids that threaten to undermine potential contenders. The Nationals were on a five-game losing streak (tied for their longest slump of the season) after Tuesday’s 9-0 loss at Miami.
Moreover, nerves might be starting to fray, if reports of a recent shouting match between Johnson and GM Mike Rizzo are to be believed.
But recent developments, including Stephen Strasburg getting hammered on Tuesday at Miami, are a bit troubling for manager Johnson. Thursday night’s starter Jackson has also been struggling in recent outings, reflected in his less-than-stellar 4.55 ERA in his last five appearances. Washington has also lost its last two and five of Jackson’s last eight starts, not providing much run support in the process the last two, generating a mere pair of runs total in losses last Friday vs. the Phils and August 18 vs. the Mets.
Jackson’s 4.55 ERA also covers all of his August starts and rates as his least-effective month of the season to date. Of course, remember that Jackson was a member of St. Louis for the last half of the 2011 season when arriving in a trade deadline deal from the White Sox, and was a contributor to the Cards’ late-season charge to a World Series crown before leaving for D.C. in the offseason via free agency.
Jackson has not pitched against the Redbirds since the 2010 season when working for the Diamondbacks.
Manager Johnson has other worries at the moment, including his suddenly-impotent batting order that had scored only six runs in the five-game losing streak through Tuesday. The returns of SS Ian Desmond and OF Mike Morse to the lineup could not prevent that humbling 9-0 loss to the Marlins and their erratic starter Ricky Nolasco on Tuesday.
Entering Wednesday’s game at Miami, the Nats had also seen their NL East lead over the Braves trimmed to just four games. Washington is also now locked in a virtual dead-heat with Cincinnati for the best record in the NL and the home-field edge throughout the playoffs which would accompany that honor. They swept the Cards in a 3-game set in DC a year ago.
Working in the Nationals’ favor on Thursday night is the fact that St. Louis starter Garcia has been struggling himself lately, with the Cards losing his last four starts. Garcia has been hit hard in that stretch, posting a 6.55 ERA in those defeats.
Garcia hasn’t faced the Nationals since last season; in his career he’s started three times vs. Washington, fashioning a 2-0 record and 1.65 ERA, although those were against lesser Nats editions.
The Cardinals also enter this set concerned about the status of their catcher Yadier Molina, who had to exit Tuesday night’s loss in Pittsburgh after a brutal home-plate collision with the Pirates’ Josh Harrison. Suffering from back, neck and shoulder soreness, Molina might be expected to miss at least a few games, which could be an issue for St. Louis considering his defensive work and surprisingly-good hitting (.325 BA) this season.
Mike Matheny’s club, however, has moved into the NL’s second wild-card position after mostly-positive efforts since the All-Star break. The Redbirds know all about stretch-drive pressure, too, having rallied from a 10½-game deficit on August 24 in last season’s wild card race before collaring the Braves and surpassing them on the final night of the regular season.
And we all remember what happened thereafter.
