The Washington Nationals have had one of the weaker schedules in the major leagues so far this season, so when they finally played a team that is their match, it was must-see TV.
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Koda Glover, right, is pulled from a baseball game by Dusty Baker, left, during the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 10, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
A three-game road set against the Los Angeles Dodgers from June 5-7 was the first meeting between the two teams since their National League Divisional Series during last season’s playoffs. The Nats haven’t played a team with a winning record since May 10, and they’re not slated to play many the rest of the way. As a result, fairly or unfairly, the series against the Dodgers was a barometer of how good this year’s Nationals team truly is. Washington not only has a massive lead in the NL East, but they also have 49 games remaining against their divisional opponents, all of whom are well below .500.
Thankfully, the outstanding overall talent of the Nationals’ starting pitchers shined through in all three games against the Dodgers. In Game One, Gio Gonzalez (5-1) went six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six in a 4-2 win.
The following night in Game Two, defending Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer continued his hot streak of late, striking out 14 batters in seven innings and delivering a masterful performance to secure a 2-1 victory. The first nine outs he recorded came via strikeout, as Scherzer (7-3) fanned double-digit batters for the third straight start and sixth time this season. Amazingly, he is putting up even better numbers than last year.
Game Three pitted Dodgers ace and recent Nationals nemesis Clayton Kershaw against Stephen Strasburg in the most anticipated pitching duel in the majors this season. The dueling aces did not disappoint, but Kershaw slightly out-pitched Strasburg to send the Nationals to a 2-1 defeat and help his team avoid being swept in the series. Strasburg (7-2) struck out eight batters in six innings while suffering his first loss since April 29. The ace right-hander was 5-0 with a 2.75 ERA in his previous six starts.
Nagging injuries have continued to plague the roster as Jayson Werth, Daniel Murphy and recently Ryan Zimmerman have missed multiple games with various ailments. Werth is currently on the 15-day DL after fouling a ball off his toe, and could be out longer than previously expected.
Then, after blowing a save which resulted in a 6-3 loss in 11 innings to the Texas Rangers on June 10, closer Koda Glover revealed he has a back issue. Glover said he was frustrated that he’s been dealing with injury issues since the end of last season, with a hip problem landing him on the DL earlier this season. If Glover’s back injury lingers, team manager Dusty Baker will have to again find some other way to get results from the bullpen.
