They lost last night to end an 8 game streak. Jordan Zimmermann has been on fire for them on the mound, and they are mashing since the All-Star break, even without all-star shortstop Ian Desmond. The Braves won 14 of 17 and lost ground on the Nats, who won 15 of 17. The Strasburg question, at this point, likely won't be an issue as far as making the post-season. The Nats are on a 100 win pace. But even should they make the post-season, if they don't win a WS they will be second guessed for shutting Stras down. And the Braves are still only 4.5 back, with the Nats in SF to face the first-place Giants away from home for three.
Speaking of which, want to see the best pitching matchups you'll likely see all season, this series is it. Game one, tonight, pits Gio Gonzalez vs. Ryan Vogelsong
Gio season - 14-6 3.32 154K 54BB 1.14WHiP .209OBA
Vogelsong - 10-5 2.27 105K 48BB 1.11WHiP .215OBA
Tomorrow Jordan Zimmermann vs. Madison Bumgarner
JZimm season - 9-6 2.35 110K 25BB 1.06WHiP .238OBA
Bumgarner season - 12-7 3.08 144K 37BB 1.03WHiP .224OBA
The rubber match is Strasburg (13-5 2.90 166K 38BB 1.12WHiP .226OBA) vs. Lincecum, but this season that is only third because Lincecum has struggled horribly this season. The Nats luck out in that they miss Cain (though it isn't like Lincecum couldn't shut down the Nats). However, top to bottom the Nats have a better starting rotation with 0.30 better ERA. The Nats enter the series with a 4.5 game lead on ATL, the Giants with a game lead on LA. Should be a fun one.
Just for fun, the Nats number 4 & 5 starters stats:
Edwin Jackson - 7-7 3.74 110K 44BB 1.21WHiP .239OBA
Ross Detwiler - 6-5 3.18 74K 33BB 1.16WHiP .236OBA
How many teams could use the Nats numbers 4 & 5 as their 2 and 3? LOL
YankeeJim: Shades of the Amazing Mets. :-)
Jim, Jim... those Mets were a surprise because they weren't really that talented. This team is that talented. They just have gelled a season before anyone thought they would. Myself included. I hoped for a wild card berth this year since they have the expanded wild-card. The best record in baseball halfway through August? No way. And they have done it missing their clean-up hitter for the first two months of the season, their #2 hitter for 3 months, all-star shortstop for a month and counting, starting catcher for the last 4+ months of the season, closer of 43 games last year for the first 3 months, and effectively missing their top position player for the first three months as a lingering shoulder issue rendered him ineffective. They've played a 19 year old in the outfield the whole season (I know, clown point, bro :)).