The Washington Nationals look to end a slide that has them free-falling in the NL East standings. Just two weeks ago the Nats had a three-game lead in the division then a stretch of 10 losses in 14 games has them facing their largest deficit in the division.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Washington Nationals say they aren’t concerned about their recent skid that has them falling further behind the Mets in the NL East. Maybe they should be. The Nats lost for the 10th time in 14 games Thursday to fall 4.5 games off the division lead and are in the red 9.3 units during that stretch.
Following a four-game sweep in Chicago that knocked the Giants out of a wild card spot, the G-Men have responded with two wins in three games, including their 3-1 win Thursday in the first series game. Though the Giants have the third-highest team batting average in the majors, they rank 10th in runs scored and have found that to be problematic. Over their last four games the Giants plated just six runs, have been shutout twice and cashed the under in all four.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The Nationals will need more pitching performances like the one Gio Gonzalez (9-4, 3.50 ERA) turned in last time to stay in contention. He held the Dodgers scoreless over a season-high eight innings in an 8-3 Nats win at Dodger Stadium. He scattered seven hits with six strikeouts and has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last eight starts.
Gonzalez tossed seven innings of one-run ball getting the win in Washington’s 2-1 home victory over the Giants on July 3. He’s 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA over 26 innings of four starts at ATT Park.
Jake Peavy (2-5, 3.75 ERA) was outdueled by Chicago’s Jake Arrieta in his last start, a 2-0 loss at Wrigley Field on Sunday. He gave up two earned on four hits with six strikeouts in five innings and has been mostly effective since returning from his back problems, recording a 2.74 ERA in seven starts. But he hasn’t lasted more than six innings in any of his last four outings.
Peavy was Gonzalez’s mound opponent on July 3 and was the tough luck loser after giving up two runs on three hits. Clint Robinson’s two-run bomb off him in the seventh was the deciding blow.
QUOTE TO NOTE
Washington manager Matt Williams appeared frustrated after Thursday’s loss and feels his team needs to be more aggressive at the plate to break out of its offensive funk. “I think, for the most part, we are not even swinging at the fastballs. We need to swing at the fastball. ...It may be the first pitch of the at-bat. You never know. If you get to swing at the fast ball, we need to do that.”
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
It’s been a frustrating few weeks for the Nationals as they continue to plummet in the standings. Their current road trip got off to a nice start with an 8-3 win in Los angeles on Monday, but it’s been downhill since. The Nats were shutout in the final two games of the LA series then managed just one run Thursday, that coming on a leadoff home run from Yunel Escobar. During those three games the Nats have collected a total of 15 hits while batting .156, going 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position and striking out 32 times. Since the All-Star break the Nats are hitting .224 with a .295 on base percentage and manager Matt Williams hinted that changes to the lineup are coming.
PROP TALK
Buster Posey has been on fire since the first of July, batting .400 with 48 hits in 120 at-bats. Those MVP numbers are keeping the Giants in the thick of a playoff battle. Posey had two hits and an RBI Thursday to help SF capture the series opener and is .332 for the season, tied for second in the majors with Washington’s Bryce Harper. Posey has hit .370 in his last 11 regular season and playoff games against the Nationals and has a home run among his four career hits off Gio Gonzalez.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Washington’s struggles are mind-boggling. This is a good team that is going through an extremely difficult time and seemingly can’t catch a break. As bad as they’re playing now, that can change quickly, just ask the Giants players. Gio Gonzalez has had plenty of success against SF from his days with cross bay rival Oakland and now in DC. He’s been the staff ace over the last month turning in several marvelous outings and the Nats need another to get a win.
Washington 4, San Francisco 1
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