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WASHINGTON ( ZIMMERMANN )
ATLANTA ( MILLER ) |
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6.5un
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Final
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| 955 | WASHINGTON | -120 | Ov 6.5,-125 | -115 | Ov 6.5,-105 | | 956 | ATLANTA | +110 | Un 6.5,+105 | +105 | Un 6.5,-115 |
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| All Games | 42-34 | +0.7 | 41-32 | 4.4 | 0.260 | 0.322 | 0.409 | 0.730 | 4.0 | 0.262 | 0.307 | 0.379 | 0.686 | | Road Games | 20-20 | -2.7 | 24-14 | 4.9 | 0.262 | 0.327 | 0.413 | 0.740 | 4.7 | 0.281 | 0.328 | 0.416 | 0.744 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 31-29 | -4.4 | 33-26 | 4.4 | 0.259 | 0.321 | 0.404 | 0.725 | 4.2 | 0.265 | 0.311 | 0.382 | 0.693 | | Past 7 Games | 6-1 | +4.4 | 3-4 | 4.9 | 0.287 | 0.343 | 0.422 | 0.766 | 2.3 | 0.249 | 0.273 | 0.339 | 0.612 | | Grass Games | 41-33 | +0.5 | 40-32 | 4.3 | 0.256 | 0.317 | 0.403 | 0.720 | 4.0 | 0.261 | 0.305 | 0.378 | 0.684 | | Night Games | 23-21 | -1.8 | 22-20 | 4.5 | 0.269 | 0.331 | 0.414 | 0.745 | 4.0 | 0.271 | 0.316 | 0.395 | 0.712 | | Division | 22-13 | +4.3 | 18-16 | 4.1 | 0.257 | 0.319 | 0.400 | 0.718 | 3.5 | 0.256 | 0.298 | 0.344 | 0.642 |
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| All Games | 4.4 | 0.260 | 0.322 | 76 | 2575 | 670 | 132 | 8 | 78 | 0.409 | 320 | 234 | 584 | 25 | 529 | 64 | 49 | 63 | 32 | | Road Games | 4.9 | 0.262 | 0.327 | 40 | 1396 | 366 | 69 | 6 | 43 | 0.413 | 185 | 135 | 319 | 15 | 293 | 31 | 24 | 32 | 21 | | Righty Starters | 4.4 | 0.259 | 0.321 | 60 | 2043 | 529 | 102 | 6 | 61 | 0.404 | 252 | 187 | 469 | 21 | 424 | 51 | 37 | 53 | 27 |
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| All Games | 3.43 | 1.282 | 217.7 | 91 | 83 | 212 | 17 | 67 | 200 | 10-9 | 25 | 10 | 71.4% | | Road Games | 4.20 | 1.375 | 120 | 62 | 56 | 123 | 12 | 42 | 101 | 4-8 | 12 | 7 | 63.2% |
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| All Games | 36-40 | +2.5 | 43-29 | 4.0 | 0.258 | 0.317 | 0.366 | 0.683 | 4.4 | 0.262 | 0.326 | 0.408 | 0.734 | | Home Games | 19-15 | +4.8 | 20-11 | 4.2 | 0.259 | 0.326 | 0.370 | 0.697 | 4.4 | 0.246 | 0.312 | 0.375 | 0.686 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 31-33 | +2.5 | 34-26 | 4.1 | 0.264 | 0.322 | 0.373 | 0.695 | 4.2 | 0.259 | 0.325 | 0.395 | 0.719 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -2.4 | 1-6 | 1.6 | 0.233 | 0.278 | 0.308 | 0.587 | 3.4 | 0.274 | 0.323 | 0.350 | 0.673 | | Grass Games | 34-39 | +0.4 | 41-28 | 3.9 | 0.257 | 0.315 | 0.362 | 0.677 | 4.3 | 0.261 | 0.325 | 0.402 | 0.727 | | Night Games | 26-26 | +3.4 | 28-20 | 4.0 | 0.257 | 0.320 | 0.356 | 0.676 | 4.2 | 0.257 | 0.321 | 0.405 | 0.726 | | Division | 17-19 | -0.4 | 23-12 | 4.1 | 0.269 | 0.324 | 0.379 | 0.703 | 4.3 | 0.261 | 0.328 | 0.400 | 0.727 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.258 | 0.317 | 76 | 2577 | 664 | 129 | 9 | 44 | 0.366 | 286 | 223 | 517 | 38 | 531 | 79 | 44 | 85 | 46 | | Home Games | 4.2 | 0.259 | 0.326 | 34 | 1115 | 289 | 59 | 4 | 19 | 0.370 | 130 | 111 | 223 | 20 | 237 | 34 | 16 | 38 | 22 | | Righty Starters | 4.1 | 0.264 | 0.322 | 64 | 2181 | 576 | 113 | 8 | 36 | 0.373 | 249 | 188 | 431 | 34 | 449 | 69 | 40 | 72 | 42 |
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| All Games | 4.37 | 1.407 | 220.4 | 113 | 107 | 213 | 25 | 97 | 197 | 12-17 | 26 | 13 | 66.7% | | Home Games | 3.83 | 1.269 | 110.3 | 48 | 47 | 95 | 7 | 45 | 105 | 6-5 | 13 | 4 | 76.5% |
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| 6/16/2015 | ROARK(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | COLOME(R) | 16-4 | W | 115 | 7.5 un | O | 23 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 | | 6/17/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | TAMPA BAY | GELTZ(R) | 0-5 | L | -150 | 7.5 un | U | 2 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 0 | | 6/18/2015 | FISTER(R) | TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 3-5 | L | +105 | 7 un | O | 12 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 0 | | 6/19/2015 | ROSS(R) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 4-1 | W | +115 | 7 ov | U | 14 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | 6/20/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | 6-0 | W | -140 | 6.5 un | U | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | | 6/21/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | 9-2 | W | +100 | 8 ov | O | 12 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 1 | | 6/23/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | ATLANTA | WOOD(L) | 3-1 | W | -160 | 7.5 ev | U | 12 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 1 | | 6/24/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | 2-1 | W | -170 | 6.5 ev | U | 6 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 6/25/2015 | FISTER(R) | ATLANTA | WISLER(R) | 7-0 | W | -130 | 7.5 un | U | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 3 | | 6/26/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | HARANG(R) | 5-2 | W | -175 | 6.5 ev | O | 9 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | | 6/28/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | CORREIA(R) | 3-2 | W | -165 | 8 un | U | 9 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | | 6/28/2015 | ROARK(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | GONZALEZ(R) | 5-8 | L | -155 | 8.5 un | O | 10 | 8 | 1 | 16 | 9 | 1 | | 6/30/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | @ ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | | | 7/1/2015 | FISTER(R) | @ ATLANTA | WISLER(R) | | | 7/2/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | @ ATLANTA | | | | 7/3/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | SAN FRANCISCO | PEAVY(R) | | | 7/4/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | BUMGARNER(L) | | | 7/5/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | VOGELSONG(R) | | | 7/6/2015 | | CINCINNATI | | | | 7/7/2015 | | CINCINNATI | | |
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| 6/16/2015 | TEHERAN(R) | @ BOSTON | MILEY(L) | 4-9 | L | 150 | 9 un | O | 10 | 8 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 0 | | 6/17/2015 | WOOD(L) | BOSTON | KELLY(R) | 5-2 | W | -125 | 8 un | U | 10 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 | | 6/18/2015 | MILLER(R) | BOSTON | BUCHHOLZ(R) | 2-5 | L | +100 | 7 ev | P | 6 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 1 | | 6/19/2015 | WISLER(R) | NY METS | DEGROM(R) | 2-1 | W | +130 | 7 un | U | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | | 6/20/2015 | PEREZ(R) | NY METS | SYNDERGAARD(R) | 6-4 | W | +115 | 7 ev | O | 10 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 2 | | 6/21/2015 | TEHERAN(R) | NY METS | HARVEY(R) | 1-0 | W | +115 | 7 un | U | 6 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | | 6/23/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ WASHINGTON | STRASBURG(R) | 1-3 | L | 150 | 7.5 ev | U | 9 | 10 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 0 | | 6/24/2015 | MILLER(R) | @ WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | 1-2 | L | 160 | 6.5 ev | U | 10 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 1 | | 6/25/2015 | WISLER(R) | @ WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | 0-7 | L | 120 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 0 | | 6/26/2015 | PEREZ(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | 2-3 | L | 220 | 6.5 ov | U | 6 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 1 | | 6/27/2015 | TEHERAN(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | 4-8 | L | 145 | 7 ev | O | 11 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 1 | | 6/28/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | 2-1 | W | 150 | 7 un | U | 8 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 6/30/2015 | MILLER(R) | WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | | | 7/1/2015 | WISLER(R) | WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | | | 7/2/2015 | | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | | | 7/3/2015 | TEHERAN(R) | PHILADELPHIA | CORREIA(R) | | | 7/4/2015 | WOOD(L) | PHILADELPHIA | O'SULLIVAN(R) | | | 7/5/2015 | MILLER(R) | PHILADELPHIA | HAMELS(L) | | | 7/6/2015 | | @ MILWAUKEE | | | | 7/7/2015 | | @ MILWAUKEE | | |
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| |  | WASHINGTON: WASHINGTON (AP) - Bryce Harper's reaction to the news that the Washington Nationals added Max Scherzer to an already-talented starting staff drew quite a lot of attention.
''I just started laughing,'' Harper famously said. ''I was like, `Where's my ring?'''
Yes, that pretty much sums up where the expectations are for the 2015 Nationals - as expressed by them and by others.
On the first day of full-squad workouts at spring training, reigning NL Manager of the Year Matt Williams posted these words of wisdom in the clubhouse: ''The road to the World Series begins today.''
''We're here to get to that ultimate goal,'' Williams said. ''We're not alone. There's 29 other teams that have the same thought. So that being said, I want to make sure that we understand that that's our goal. That is our goal: to be the last one standing at the end of it.''
The main reason many folks think the Nationals are capable of achieving that goal, even if the team has yet to win a playoff series, is the rotation.
Scherzer, the 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner with Detroit, came aboard with a $210 million contract, joining a group that led the majors in ERA last season - right-handers Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister, and lefty Gio Gonzalez.
''There's no break'' for an opposing team, new reliever Casey Janssen observed.
It's such a formidable quintet that a guy who won 15 games, had a sub-3.00 ERA and threw nearly 200 innings a year ago, Tanner Roark, is moving to the bullpen.
In 2014, the Nationals won a league-best 96 games and finished atop the underwhelming NL East by a whopping 17 games, but then bowed out in four games in a Division Series against the eventual champs, the San Francisco Giants. Washington's starting pitching wasn't the problem in the postseason; its bullpen and hitting were what led to a second quick playoff exit in three years.
And yet general manager Mike Rizzo allowed those two areas to lose important pieces, trading away the man he called ''maybe the best eighth-inning setup man in the history of the game,'' Tyler Clippard, and letting first baseman Adam LaRoche (team highs of 26 homers, 92 RBIs) leave via free agency.
The hope, presumably, is that hitters such as Harper, Ryan Zimmerman (who replaces LaRoche at first) and Wilson Ramos, who each missed significant chunks of last season, will deliver the numbers they're capable of producing, while opponents have a really hard time scoring much against all the aces Williams will send to the mound.
''It's hilarious having to go in there and face them. It's absolutely stupid,'' Harper said. ''We have the best staff in baseball. I don't care what anybody says.''
Actually, Bryce, that's exactly what pretty much everybody IS saying.
Here are other things to know about the Nationals, who open the season on April 6 at home against the New York Mets:
HEALTH MATTERS: Half of the everyday lineup - outfielders Jayson Werth and Denard Span (both recovering from offseason surgery), third baseman Anthony Rendon and new second baseman Yunel Escobar - missed extended periods of spring training, as did fourth outfielder Nate McClouth. Rendon, Span, Werth and McClouth might all miss opening day. ''You can be as good as you want on paper, but that doesn't mean anything until the end of the year,'' Scherzer said. ''We've got to stay healthy.''
MIGHTY `PEN?: Given their aspirations, October is what really matters for the Nationals, and Drew Storen blew save chances in the 2012 and 2014 playoffs. Still, the closer's job is his entering the season, and Clippard is no longer around to shut down foes in the eighth - or provide ninth-inning backup if needed. Worth watching: Will Aaron Barrett set aside the yips that hit him in the NLDS?
LAST HURRAH: A couple of homegrown franchise cornerstones, Zimmermann and shortstop Ian Desmond, can become free agents after the season, as can Span and Fister. Rizzo could try to sign one or more to long-term deals. He could trade one or more. Or he could decide to let things play out with this group, then move on next offseason. ''With this group of guys,'' Werth said, ''this might be it.'' | | ATLANTA: ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Braves usually start the season touted as playoff contenders.
Not this time.
For one of the few times in the last two-plus decades, not much is expected of a team that collapsed late last season, fired general manager Frank Wren and underwent a massive overhaul during the offseason.
The Braves dealt away sluggers Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Evan Gattis, receiving only one player (starting pitcher Shelby Miller) who is likely to make a significant impact right away. Mostly, the team was focused on restocking a once-mighty farm system that fell on hard times during Wren's regime.
The message was clear: The Braves are rebuilding under new GM John Hart, with an eye toward the 2017 opening of the team's new suburban stadium.
''It's kind of on us to just put our heads down and work hard and try to win as many games as we can with the team we've got,'' third baseman Chris Johnson said. ''We can't look back. We can't look at who's gone.''
The Braves are likely to remain one of the most offensively challenged teams in baseball, but the pitching staff at least looks promising. The 24-year-old Miller had 25 wins for St. Louis over the last two season and joins a rotation that already includes two more 24-year-olds: All-Star Julio Teheran (14-13, 2.89) and left-hander Alex Wood (11-11, 2.78). If lefty Mike Minor, only 27, can bounce back from shoulder problems, the outlook is even brighter.
Atlanta also has perhaps the most dominant closer in the game, Craig Kimbrel, who led the NL in saves for the fourth year in a row with 47.
''I like our pitching,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ''Our rotation is going to be as good as you want.''
Even if the pitching comes through, the Braves have slipped way behind Washington in the NL East and could have trouble holding off the up-and-coming Miami Marlins as well.
Yep, times have changed in Atlanta.
Or maybe not.
''The goal is the same for me,'' Gonzalez insisted. ''Our goal is to make the playoffs.''
WHAT'S IN A NAME?: The center fielder formerly known as B.J. Upton is hoping a name change - actually, using his given name - will help him bounce back from two horrific seasons. The early results were not promising for Melvin Upton Jr., who missed all of spring training with a foot injury. Eric Young Jr. will hold down the starting job until Upton returns. Even then, Upton may have to share playing time unless he shows significant improvement. As it stands now, he's one of the greatest free-agent busts in baseball history. Since signing a $75-million, five-year contract with the Braves, his two-season totals are .198 with 21 homers, 51 RBIs and a staggering 324 strikeouts.
WHERE'S THE OFFENSE?: Even with Upton, Heyward and Gattis, the Braves scored the second-fewest runs in the majors. The offense was virtually non-existent coming down the stretch, the major reason Atlanta went 7-18 over the final month and wound up 17 games behind Washington after being tied for first at the All-Star break. The homer-or-bust philosophy clearly didn't work, so the Braves are hoping to scrap for runs this season. They'll have to with a lineup likely to include journeymen such as Young and Jonny Gomes, as well as rookie second baseman Jace Peterson. The only major offensive addition was right fielder Nick Markakis, and he's coming off neck surgery.
FREDI'S FUTURE: After firing Wren with a week to go in the disappointing 2014 season, the Braves decided to bring back Gonzalez for another year. He certainly deserved a shot to make up for a late-season collapse that was largely the result of a feeble offense. Let's not forget: During Gonzalez's first three years as manager, Atlanta won an NL East title, made two playoff appearances and missed out on another postseason berth on the final day. But his long-term future looks shaky, even with a franchise that cherishes stability. The Braves are definitely in rebuilding mode, and the manager often takes the fall when the losses begin to pile up. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (WASHINGTON-ATLANTA) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Nationals-Braves Preview* ==========================
By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer
Washington (42-34) at Atlanta (36-40), 7:10 p.m. EDT
Shelby Miller and Jordan Zimmermann locked up in a superb duel last week but neither pitcher could end his winless drought.
For Miller, that has reached seven games, and the right-hander will try for another dominant outing Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals while helping the Atlanta Braves avoid matching their longest losing streak to their NL East rivals.
Miller retired 17 of his first 18 batters and ended up yielding one run and three hits in Washington on Wednesday. He was also in line for the loss when he exited after the seventh inning because Zimmermann had tossed eight scoreless innings.
Zimmermann, however, was denied a win when Drew Storen gave up a run in the ninth in the Nationals' 2-1 victory in 11 innings, one of Washington's eight consecutive wins over the Braves.
Nationals starters combined for 20 scoreless innings in the latest three-game sweep of Atlanta and had a franchise-record streak of 47 1-3 snapped in a 5-2 win in Philadelphia on Friday.
"I thought the whole night both pitchers pitched really, really good baseball," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I thought it was going to be one of those special nights where maybe both guys get complete games, and one ends up to be a loser, you know, 1-0."
The two pitchers will hook up again with Miller (5-3, 1.94 ERA) seeking his first win since May 17. In seven starts since, he's recorded a solid 2.70 ERA.
Zimmermann (5-5, 3.42) had a 7.63 ERA in losing his three starts prior to last week's matchup and will try for his first victory since June 2. He's 3-1 with a 2.29 ERA in his last eight starts against Atlanta while Miller, who has the majors' third-best ERA, is 2-0 with a 0.85 ERA in five career matchups with Washington (42-34).
"(Miller) has got a good season going so far," Zimmermann said. "He was obviously tough to hit (on Wednesday). We had a rough time but were able to scratch a run across. He puts up zeros, and you want to go out and put up zeros."
The Nationals are heading to Atlanta (36-40) after having a season-best eight-game win streak snapped with an 8-5 loss in Sunday's finale to a doubleheader against Philadelphia.
The Braves ended a season-worst five-game skid with Sunday's 2-1 win in Pittsburgh. They are batting .233 with 11 runs in their last seven contests.
Atlanta is on the verge of dropping nine in a row to the Nationals' franchise for the first time since June 18, 1972-June 5, 1973, when that team was known as the Montreal Expos.
Atlanta has won six of eight at home, and Washington has five wins in its last seven road games.
Bryce Harper is 11 for 25 (.440) with three homers and nine RBIs in his last six games against the Braves, but is 2 for 11 lifetime against Miller. He was forced to miss two games with an ailing hamstring before going 1 for 4 on Sunday.
Danny Espinosa is hitting .433 (13 for 30) and Wilson Ramos is at .407 (11 for 27) in the season series.
Kelly Johnson is batting .371 in his last 10 games against Washington and is 4 for 9 versus Zimmermann this season.
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| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 9:02:27 AM EST. |
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