14-14 Nats visit the 15-14 reigning world series champions, the Bob Short Senators Texas Rangers.
Pitching matchups
Game 1:
- Mackenzie Gore (LHP, 5 GS, 26 IP, 2-2, 3.12 ERA/2.93 FIP, 3.88 K:BB, .400 BABIP, 1.38 WHIP)
- Jon Gray (RHP, 5 GS, 24.2 IP, 0-1, 2.92 ERA / 2.96 FIP, 29.1 K%, 10 BB%, .354 BABIP, 1.46 WHIP)
Game 2:
- Trevor Williams (RHP, 5 GS, 26.2 IP, 2-0, 2.70 ERA / 2.63 FIP, 0 HR, 45.9 GB%, .215 AVG)
- Andrew Heaney (LHP, 5 GS, 23 IP, , 6.26 ERA / 5.64 FIP, 5 HR, 33.8 GB%, .222 AVG 3.52 BB/9)
Game 3:
- Mitchell Parker (3 GS, 16 IP, 2-0, 1.69 ERA / 1.78 FIP, 7 K:BB, 0.94 WHIP, 28.3 FB%, 0 HR)
- Nathan Eovaldi (6 GS, 36 IP, 1-2, 3.00 ERA / 3.91 FIP, 2.12 K:BB, 1.22 WHIP, 33 FB%, 3 HR)
Rangers are .248 / .316 / .401, with 32 HR, 132 Runs (14th), 12 SB, .319 wOBA.
Nats are .237 / .318 / .379, with 27 HR, 117 Runs (20th), 52 SBs, .312 wOBA.
Nats offensive numbers moved a lot by beating up on the Marlins the last 3 games. Clearly, the team identity is to run when they get on, but a few key HRs by Senzel, Winker, and Abrams helped a lot with scoring in bunches.
Josh Jung's injuries have allowed Josh Smith to play, and he's produced well (.304 / .402 / .456 over 92 PA). The two RotY preseason RotY candidates, Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford, have drilled home the "importance" of batting average, with Carter's .213 possibly suggesting that he's the bigger disappointment than Langford's .248. Carter's .311 OBP / .461 SLG vs. Langford's .325 OBP / .327 SLG tells a bit different story. Corey Seager is off to a slow start (.238 / .325 / .317, .289 wOBA) but Adolis Garcia is not (.291 / .342 / .592, .399 wOBA).
As for the pitching matchups, Gore and Parker have tough draws. Gore / Gray looks pretty even, with both pitchers' WHIPs inflated by BABIP misfortune. Eovaldi is pitching near ace level. Both Parker and Williams have been helped a lot by the 0 HR allowed. With PArker, some of that has to do with the lack of flies. Williams vs Heaney is a bit of a "what is reality?" kind of matchup. Projections say Williams is pitching out of his mind right now while Heaney is due to recover some.
