After 2 straight losses, they're back to .500 at 45-45. They're 3-6 in July. They finished June 9-16. The arrow is pointing down, but these next 6 games before the All-Star break may very well decide whether or not the Nationals are buyers or sellers at the deadline. The Nationals started this "easy" 11 game stretch against the Marlins, Pirates and Mets with a 3-2 record. Not good. These are bad teams. They needed an 8-3 stretch here, so that means a 5-1 finish to the first half. Not impossible, but surely not likely based on how the starting rotation is pitching. The starters finished June with a cumulative 3-14 record and a 5.54 ERA. Not to be outdone, they've started July with a 1-4 record and a 7.98 ERA. They're not getting it done. They're not giving the team a chance to win. Tanner Roark is 0-4 with an 8.53 ERA over his past 5 starts and Gio Gonzalez is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA over his past 5 starts.
The bats are not completely off the hook, but, they're putting up 5.56 runs per game so far in July, which is coming off a June where we saw them hit .238 and average 4 runs per game. That does take into account the 14 run outburst on Thursday and the 18 run outburst on Saturday, but it's an improvement from June, nonetheless. But, when you're allowing 6.22 runs per game and start every game in a 3-0 hole, you put an already struggling offense in a terrible situation. I'm not sure what the solution is right now. The already taxed bullpen can't catch a break because the starters can't get through the 4th inning. A bullpen with no clear long reliever can only take so much abuse before it falters. For now, it would be reasonable to expect Jefry Rodriguez get sent back down so the Nationals can call a fresh arm up, most likely Sammy Solis, Wander Suero or Trevor Gott. On Saturday, the Nationals will need a 5th starter again, which will most likely be Austin Voth. We can only hope we've seen the last of Jefry Rodriguez for the year. If we haven't, it means this team is in big trouble.
At 45-45, the Nationals are 5.5 games out of first place and 5.5 games out of a wild card spot. Unless they fall 9 or 10 games back, the Nationals aren't going to sell at the deadline. Even then, they still might not sell. I don't necessarily agree with that, but it's been how this team operates ever since they made the playoffs in 2012. In 2013, when they were 11 games out with a 52-56 record at the end of July and they didn't sell.
Aside from winning games, the Nationals need to do something they haven't done at the trade deadline since they've become buyers. They need to acquire a starting pitcher. Some of the names that have been tossed around are J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada, Matt Harvey and Nathan Eovaldi. All of those are rental players, but two other rental players that nobody seems to be talking about are Garrett Richards and Lance Lynn. The Angels are currently 11 games out of a playoff spot and the Twins are 8.5 games out. Both are going to be sellers. If Garrett Richards becomes available, he probably will be the most sought after starting pitcher on the market. Although he has a history of injuries, Richards owns a 3.52 career ERA and a 5-4 record through 15 starts this year with a 3.42 ERA. Lynn on the other hand, has a 6-7 record through 17 starts with a 5.21 ERA. The 5.21 ERA leaves a lot to be desired, but Lynn has given the Twins quality starts in 7 of his past 12 starts and aside from his July 1st start against the Cubs, he hasn't given up more than 4 earned runs in a start since April. Lynn could definitely benefit from a switch back to the National League. The other positive with Lynn is that he most likely wouldn't cost too much. The Twins still owe Lynn a little over $5 million, so if the Nationals assume most or all of that salary, the Twins will most likely take a mid-level prospect in return. Lance Lynn for Brigham Hill, who was the Nationals 5th round pick in 2017 and 18th best prospect, could be enough to get a deal done. Acquiring Richards would probably require a top 10 prospect, along with a lesser prospect. That price could prove to be too high, especially if the team is still floundering towards the end of July.
First thing's first - play well, finish 5-1 and head into the break at 50-46. It won't be enough to take over first place or take over a wild card spot, but it'll be enough to stay in the hunt, especially with a pivotal 3 game series with the Braves coming right out of the break. Pitch well, put some runs on the board and finish the first half strong.
The bats are not completely off the hook, but, they're putting up 5.56 runs per game so far in July, which is coming off a June where we saw them hit .238 and average 4 runs per game. That does take into account the 14 run outburst on Thursday and the 18 run outburst on Saturday, but it's an improvement from June, nonetheless. But, when you're allowing 6.22 runs per game and start every game in a 3-0 hole, you put an already struggling offense in a terrible situation. I'm not sure what the solution is right now. The already taxed bullpen can't catch a break because the starters can't get through the 4th inning. A bullpen with no clear long reliever can only take so much abuse before it falters. For now, it would be reasonable to expect Jefry Rodriguez get sent back down so the Nationals can call a fresh arm up, most likely Sammy Solis, Wander Suero or Trevor Gott. On Saturday, the Nationals will need a 5th starter again, which will most likely be Austin Voth. We can only hope we've seen the last of Jefry Rodriguez for the year. If we haven't, it means this team is in big trouble.
At 45-45, the Nationals are 5.5 games out of first place and 5.5 games out of a wild card spot. Unless they fall 9 or 10 games back, the Nationals aren't going to sell at the deadline. Even then, they still might not sell. I don't necessarily agree with that, but it's been how this team operates ever since they made the playoffs in 2012. In 2013, when they were 11 games out with a 52-56 record at the end of July and they didn't sell.
Aside from winning games, the Nationals need to do something they haven't done at the trade deadline since they've become buyers. They need to acquire a starting pitcher. Some of the names that have been tossed around are J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada, Matt Harvey and Nathan Eovaldi. All of those are rental players, but two other rental players that nobody seems to be talking about are Garrett Richards and Lance Lynn. The Angels are currently 11 games out of a playoff spot and the Twins are 8.5 games out. Both are going to be sellers. If Garrett Richards becomes available, he probably will be the most sought after starting pitcher on the market. Although he has a history of injuries, Richards owns a 3.52 career ERA and a 5-4 record through 15 starts this year with a 3.42 ERA. Lynn on the other hand, has a 6-7 record through 17 starts with a 5.21 ERA. The 5.21 ERA leaves a lot to be desired, but Lynn has given the Twins quality starts in 7 of his past 12 starts and aside from his July 1st start against the Cubs, he hasn't given up more than 4 earned runs in a start since April. Lynn could definitely benefit from a switch back to the National League. The other positive with Lynn is that he most likely wouldn't cost too much. The Twins still owe Lynn a little over $5 million, so if the Nationals assume most or all of that salary, the Twins will most likely take a mid-level prospect in return. Lance Lynn for Brigham Hill, who was the Nationals 5th round pick in 2017 and 18th best prospect, could be enough to get a deal done. Acquiring Richards would probably require a top 10 prospect, along with a lesser prospect. That price could prove to be too high, especially if the team is still floundering towards the end of July.
First thing's first - play well, finish 5-1 and head into the break at 50-46. It won't be enough to take over first place or take over a wild card spot, but it'll be enough to stay in the hunt, especially with a pivotal 3 game series with the Braves coming right out of the break. Pitch well, put some runs on the board and finish the first half strong.
No comments:
Post a Comment