The Nationals played in big markets and won the championship in 2019, but over the past five years, they have operated like poor teams. Their $111 million opening day wage rate is lower than what the Small Market Royals pays, with one-third going to retired pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Rebuilding failed to produce many useful players and they lost 90 games for the fifth consecutive year.
Washington Nationals (47-70) vs. Kansas City Royals (58-60) at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri
Nationals: 4.26 runs/match (20th place in Major League Baseball), 5.48 runs/match (29th place)
Royals: 3.68 Run/Match (29th), 3.84 Run/Game (2nd)
Only three teams have fewer home runs than the Nationals (one of the Royals). The Nationals have an All-Star Game in James Wood, a young infielder for CJ Abrams and has no other attacks. They hope receiver Keibert Ruiz and outfielder Dylan Crew will be part of their future, but both are disappointing this year and are currently injured. Third baseman Brady House and outfielder Robert Hassell III still have some hope, but most of the rest of the roster is full of cut-off distances.
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Veteran Josh Bell has reached .333/.456/.512 in the last 25 games. His career was 24 (.250) with two against Michael Wacha. CJ Abrams hit .304/.370/.593, with 12 of his 15 home runs. Luis García Jr. Drew Millas is a .357 batsman against the right, but only .222 against the left.
Jacob Young fell into a 40 (.100) decline. First baseman Nathaniel Lowe hit only .169/.235/.257 against lefties. Riley Adams had 43% of hard times, but he hit it 52% of the time. Brady House wields bats 58% of the time, and there are 150 cricket games in baseball. Robert Hassell III is the eighth pick in Padres' 2020 draft, with four doubles and four doubles and home runs since recalling from minors on August 1.
The Nationals pitchers are terrible and they are working to give up their franchise record in allowing the run. Former first-round draft pick Cade Cavalli won his second career MLB start last week, hitting six careers in 4.1 innings without points. He made his debut in MLB three years ago but had to recover from Tommy John's surgery. His return looks sharp, throwing high on the curve at 50% speed and 59 of 59 shots hits.
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Mitchell Parker has allowed 31.1 innings in the last six games. Of the qualified starters, he has the lowest strikeout efficiency and the sixth highest tough rate. The road is not friendly to him – he has a 6.10 ERA from DC. The opponent's curve ball hits .300.
Jake Irvin has the sixth highest home run rate, the second highest contact rate and the second highest swing rate. He gave up 26 home runs, the second largest in baseball. The lefty hit him this season.273/.334/.519. In the last eight games, he allowed 35 runs in 41.1 innings.
The Nationals have so far had a worst bullpen era in baseball at 5.84 and second in three-point shooting percentage. They traded Kyle Finnegan in July, with Jose A. Ferrer taking the closure responsibility. Ferrer made a strike with the lowest walking rate, with his 59% ground ball rate ranked tenth among the reliefers. Cole Hnry's soft-strike speed is the fourth highest rate and the fifth highest pop-up rate among rescuers. Jackson Rutledge is the third highest home run among the Relief.
The Nath took three of the three from the Giants on this road trip, but the Nath lost three. They brought the worst pitchers to town, although the Royals' roster can lower the opponent's era. But if the team intends to run, win or even sweep the series, it must be done.