The Washington Nationals rebounded in San Diego after getting shellacked in the series opener. The Nats young pitching duo of Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore rose to the challenge and gave their team a rewarding road series victory over Juan Soto’s San Diego Padres. The Nats also evened the season series vs San Diego at three games. If not for a crushing ninth inning loss last month, the Nats would have won both series against the Padres.
The Washington Nationals June slump continued as they lost three out of four games at home. The St. Louis Cardinals won two out of three. Then the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Nats in a makeup game.
Before the Nats traveled to San Diego, they were 4-14 in the month of June. After 75 games, the Nationals are 28-47. At the same point last season, the Nats were one game worse (27-48). Despite the slim difference, I still think the DC9 are markedly improved in 2023.
The surging Miami Marlins swept the Washington Nationals for the second time this season. After going 14-15 in May, the Nats skidded to a 3-11 record through the first fourteen games in June.
How many baseball players have had a pseudo holiday named after them before they played their first MLB game? That might add just a little bit more pressure. To help appreciate how well it went from 2010 until 2019, below is my Twelve Best Days of “Strasmas,” ranked. Feel free to add to the list.
Overview Lord and heavens above; the Baltimore Orioles are officially a good baseball team. Wait. Let me try that again: the 2023 Baltimore Orioles are a great baseball team. Mmm still not right. How’s this?...
In yesterday’s contest between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians, star center-fielder Cedric Mullins sustained a right groin strain on his way to first base. While the severity of the strain is still unknown, it...
The Washington Nationals made their first trip to Kansas City since 2016. But after winning the first two games, the Nats could not complete the sweep.
On a day that was more like classic San Diego weather, the Nats let the rubber game slip away in crushing fashion. Padres INF Rougned Odor hit a ninth inning two-out 3-run HR that sliced through Nats fans’ hearts.
The Miami Marlins took all three games from the Washington Nationals in Florida this week. Washington got swept for the first time since the second series of the season versus the Tampa Bay Rays. The Nats lost three straight for the first time since April 27 to April 29.
Miami enjoyed a little bit of luck here and there throughout the series. In taking the first two games by just a run, the Marlins are now 14-1 in one run games on the year. With a -52 run differential, that record in tight games is not sustainable.
But a three-game losing streak stings no matter how you slice it. The losses seemed like a “garden variety” sweep at the hands of a division rival. However, not being able to sustain momentum from series to series remains a troubling trend for these Nats. Too many strikeouts and not enough hits in the clutch doomed the Nats in South Florida.
The Nats record fell to 18-26. They haven’t been eight games under .500 since May 1. They got very close to crawling within four games of .500 in game 1 of the series.
As Kevin Frandsen said at the end of the Nats TV broadcast yesterday afternoon, “This is different. And this is a good different.” These young Nats have their ups and downs, but their ability to shake things off and continue to compete after a brutal loss on Saturday night was on full display in the series finale on Sunday. While still early in the season, the Nats are playing better than 2022. Since improvement was a crucial goal for the club in 2023, this Washington squad is on a solid track, even if the track is not the fastest. The Nats salvaged the last game of the series in Phoenix yesterday with another crazy finish. In doing so, the Nats also boosted their confidence and character for the remainder of the season.
