Series Preview: Cardinals at Washington Nationals

Continuing the theme of "Guest Blogger Week", my name is David Nichols, editor of Nats News Network, a credentialed independent website dedicated to the constructive criticism of the Washington Nationals. You can keep up with us on our Facebook page or on Twitter @NatsNewsNetwork.

The Washington Nationals host the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game set this week from Nationals Park.  The Nats come off a grueling 11-game road trip to Arizona, San Francisco and San Diego, notching their first winning multi-city road trip since April 2008, going 6-5.  Washington plays 23 of their next 29 at home, and with a season record of 30-36 (fifth in N.L. East), hope to challenge the .500 mark, starting with a nine-game homestand with the Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners.

The Nats expect to welcome Face of the Franchise ™ Ryan Zimmerman back to the lineup, after a two-month lay-off following abdominal surgery.  He originally injured himself during spring training, but aggravated it making a head-first slide into second against the New York Mets on April 8.  The primary diagnosis at that point was a strain, and rest would take care of the problem.  Still shelved two weeks later, Zimmerman visited a specialist who recommended surgery.  Zimmerman, 26, has played in just eight games for the Nats this year but was hitting .357/.486/.536 at the time of his injury.

His return comes not a moment too soon, as the Nationals offense has struggled mightily this season.  They are 14^th in the N.L. in runs per game (3.71), with a team slash line of .229/.301/.661.  The Nats are middle of the pack in home runs (55 - eighth in the league), but 13^th in total base runners.  Washington has scored three or fewer runs in eight of their last ten games.

The offense was built around the veterans in the middle of the lineup: Zimmerman, Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche.  But Zimmerman's been out since the second week of the season, and LaRoche played on one arm (.172/.288/.258, 5 HR, 19 RBI) until it was revealed that the "minor" rotator cuff tear he was diagnosed with in spring training was really a significant tear of both the rotator cuff and labrum - he's been on the D.L. with no timetable to return since May 21. 

Werth's performance has disappointed with little-to-no protection in the lineup, hitting .236/.337/.406, and manager Jim Riggleman actually had Werth leading off during the recently concluded San Diego series to try to jumpstart the veteran.  The move was ineffective, as Werth was hitless in two games from the leadoff spot and is hitting .121/.302/.212 in the month of June with just two extra base hits and no home runs.  In fact, he hasn't homered since hitting two bombs against Baltimore May 20, his 32^nd birthday.

The rest of the Nats lineup is comprised of journeymen and promising first or second-year players.  Former Cardinal Rick Ankiel (.204/.271/.276, 1 HR, 9 RBIs) splits time with Roger Bernadina (.246/.308/.320 with eight steals in 133 plate appearances) in center field.  Laynce Nix, with nine homers and 25 RBIs, has been a revelation in left field while Michael Morse continues to surprise at first base, hitting .300/.345/.517 with a team-leading 10 home runs and 36 RBIs. 

Washington is especially young up the middle with true rookies Wilson Ramos at catcher and Danny Espinosa at second base joining second-year shortstop Ian Desmond. Desmond is 18-of-21 in stolen base opportunities, Espinosa is providing some much-needed pop (10 home runs) and Ramos has caught half of all stolen base attempts against (12-of-24).

Your pitching probables for the mid-week series:

Tue:  Jaime Garcia (6-2, 3.20) v. Yunesky Maya (0-1, 5.40)

Maya, a 29-year old Cuban defector, started the season in the minor leagues and was recalled when Tom Gorzelanny went down with arm soreness.  He's been pretty good through the lineup the first time, but opposing batters are hitting .364/.440/.545 off Maya the second trip through the order.  He throws several breaking balls, but his 89-MPH fastball is flat and he needs to have supreme control over it to be successful.  Maya had a terrific start last time out against the Giants (one earned run on four hits and a walk in six innings), but is still looking for his first Major League win in ninth career start.

Wed:  Kyle McClellan (6-2, 3.86) v. Livan Hernandez (3-8, 4.15)

What can be said about Livan Hernandez that hasn't already been said?  He's the same old Livo, chucking up 83-MPH fastballs and 65-MPH curves as he always has.  Sometimes they get hit at people, sometimes they don't.  It's really that simple.  He doesn't walk too many hitters - though he will pitch around big hitters - and he doesn't strike too many of them out either.

Thu:  Kyle Lohse (7-3, 2.67) v. John Lannan (4-5, 3.60)

Like Livo, Lannan doesn't strike anyone out, but his sinker is one of the best in the league, and when hitters are pounding the top half of the ball into the dirt allowing the ground balls to be fielded by the Nats' increasingly excellent infield defense (no errors in last 11 games), Lannan can be successful.  He walks too many (3.7 per nine), but Lannan has been on a tear recently.  In his last four starts he's given up a total of two earned runs, lowering his ERA from 5.03 to his current 3.60.

BULLPEN:  The Nationals' bullpen is one of their strengths.  The closer is Drew Storen, a 23-year old in his first full season.  He was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2009 draft, signed quickly, and made an impressive and fast rise to the Major Leagues.  He's got a 96-MPH fastball that he can paint the black with, a slider that he bears hard inside against lefties, and an improving change. 

Tyler Clippard is the set-up man, and he uses a rising 93-MPH fastball and devastating changeup to be equally effective against righties and lefties, striking out 11.2 per nine innings.  Veteran Todd Coffey (2.13 ERA, 0.987 WHIP) is the seventh inning guy and Sean Burnett (5.96 ERA), who has struggled of late, is the Nats bullpen lefty.

1 Comments

1 Comment | Leave a comment

Guest Author | June 14, 2011 8:53 PM | Reply

Terrific preview. Nice job.

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