On verge of elimination, Cardinals still searching for rhythm in NLCS
On verge of elimination, Cardinals still searching for rhythm in NLCS
Mel Antonen
Nationals
The Cardinals came to D.C. taking aim at becoming the second National League team to recover from a 0-2 deficit in a best-of-seven series and make the World Series. Instead, they dug themselves an even deeper hole. The Nationals, a win away from bringing the World Series to Washington for the first time since 1933, beat the Cardinals 8-1 in Game 3 on Monday night to take a three games to none lead in the NL Championship Series at wild and crazy Nationals Park. The 2004 Red Sox are the only team...
With Game 3 rout, party's on at Nationals Park (updated)
With Game 3 rout, party's on at Nationals Park (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Surely there were some among the throng of 43,675 on South Capitol Street tonight who saw the home team holding a 6-0 lead over the visiting Cardinals in a postseason game and felt a sudden shiver go down their spines. Those folks must still be shell-shocked by the events of Oct. 12, 2012, a day that lives in infamy around these parts because of what happened after the home team took a 6-0 lead on the Cardinals in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. That night has haunted this...
A statistical look at O's pitching in 2019
A statistical look at O's pitching in 2019
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Captain Obvious checked in to remind me that the Orioles will need to pitch better in 2020. He said that O's fans have seen 223 losses and a lot of poor pitching over the last two years. The Orioles were last in the American League in ERA, bullpen ERA, homers allowed, first-strike percentage, homers-per-fly-ball ratio and rotation OPS in 2019, to point out a few categories. If you want a stat that is hard to explain, for the second year in a row, the Orioles allowed a lower hard-contact...
Kendrick's clutch hit caps big third (Nats win 8-1)
Kendrick's clutch hit caps big third (Nats win 8-1)
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg started Game 3 of the National League Championship Series with a pair of strikeouts in the first inning, including a called third strike on a curveball to Paul Goldschmidt to end the frame. Marcell Ozuna led off the second with a double down the left field line. Fielding a comebacker by José Martínez, Strasburg wheeled and was able to catch Ozuna off second base. Strasburg then got a pair of popups to get out of the threat. Anthony Rendon drew a two-out walk...
Robles returns to lineup, schedule could force tricky decisions
Robles returns to lineup, schedule could force tricky decisions
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Davey Martinez had been saying for days Victor Robles would return to the Nationals lineup once his hamstring was healed enough to ease any concern about more serious injury. Tonight, the Nats manager and medical staff decided it was safe for the rookie center fielder to take the field again. Robles, who hasn't played since straining his right hamstring during Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 4, will start tonight in center field and bat eighth for Game 3 of the NL...
NLCS Game 3 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals
NLCS Game 3 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
You couldn't conjure up a better forecast for the first National League Championship Series game played in the District of Columbia. There isn't a cloud in the sky. The temperature at gametime will be in the upper 60s, dropping into the low 60s later in the evening. This is what October is supposed to look and feel like. Nationals Park should be rocking tonight, starting with the pregame festivities that will include the ceremonial first pitch thrown out by Parker Staples, a pediatric cancer...
Splitting up the Orioles bullpen
Splitting up the Orioles bullpen
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde didn't know which relievers to trust this season. Who could get the big outs in the middle and late innings. Who could stay on a roll instead of reverting. Some of the splits increased the degree of difficulty for Hyde as he tried to match up. For example: * Left-handers batted .222/250/.303 with one home run in 104 plate appearances against southpaw Richard Bleier this season, but right-handers hit .355/.392/.612 with five home runs in 131 plate...
After inconsistent 2019, is Mychal Givens' future role in doubt?
After inconsistent 2019, is Mychal Givens' future role in doubt?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
He still has the mid-90s fastball that can touch higher. He can still feature an at times devastating slider and solid changeup. He was still tough on right-handed batters this season and had a very strong stretch of games late in the year. But the season didn't end well for O's reliever Mychal Givens. And in 2019, he posted career worsts in ERA, homers, homer rate and Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP). In 2019 he had the second-highest walk rate of his five years in the majors. While O's...
A few Orioles questions that must be addressed later
A few Orioles questions that must be addressed later
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
As the Orioles' offseason moves into a new week, there are lingering questions surrounding the club that won't immediately be resolved. There's no real rush. Hires need to be made on the coaching staff and the minor league side has to be completed - with new titles part of the process - before the roster becomes more of a priority. However, my patience wears thin - like today's glitch in our system that deleted my morning entry and had me starting over - and I'm sharing a few of my...
Strasburg sees improved culture in clubhouse as key to success
Strasburg sees improved culture in clubhouse as key to success
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg makes his first start at home in the postseason for tonight's Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. Strasburg's last start was in the National League Division Series Game 5, in which he allowed three runs early but then settled in to post six innings in the 7-3, 10-inning win over the Dodgers. "Yeah, he's been awesome," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "The biggest thing for him is what we always talk about, is to control the...