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ATLANTA ( WISLER ) |
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| 905 | WASHINGTON | -130 | Ov 7,-105 | -125 | Ov 7.5,+100 | | 906 | ATLANTA | +120 | Un 7,-115 | +115 | Un 7.5,-120 |
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| All Games | 43-34 | +1.7 | 42-32 | 4.4 | 0.261 | 0.322 | 0.409 | 0.732 | 4.0 | 0.262 | 0.306 | 0.379 | 0.685 | | Road Games | 21-20 | -1.7 | 25-14 | 5.0 | 0.263 | 0.328 | 0.414 | 0.742 | 4.6 | 0.280 | 0.326 | 0.414 | 0.740 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 32-29 | -3.4 | 34-26 | 4.4 | 0.260 | 0.322 | 0.405 | 0.727 | 4.1 | 0.264 | 0.310 | 0.381 | 0.691 | | Past 7 Games | 6-1 | +4.4 | 3-4 | 4.4 | 0.282 | 0.343 | 0.408 | 0.751 | 2.1 | 0.248 | 0.266 | 0.329 | 0.595 | | Grass Games | 42-33 | +1.5 | 41-32 | 4.3 | 0.257 | 0.318 | 0.403 | 0.721 | 4.0 | 0.261 | 0.304 | 0.378 | 0.682 | | Night Games | 24-21 | -0.8 | 23-20 | 4.5 | 0.270 | 0.332 | 0.415 | 0.747 | 4.0 | 0.270 | 0.314 | 0.394 | 0.709 | | Division | 23-13 | +5.3 | 19-16 | 4.2 | 0.258 | 0.320 | 0.401 | 0.722 | 3.5 | 0.256 | 0.296 | 0.344 | 0.640 |
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| All Games | 4.4 | 0.261 | 0.322 | 77 | 2612 | 681 | 135 | 8 | 79 | 0.409 | 324 | 238 | 599 | 26 | 538 | 65 | 49 | 63 | 32 | | Road Games | 5.0 | 0.263 | 0.328 | 41 | 1433 | 377 | 72 | 6 | 44 | 0.414 | 189 | 139 | 334 | 16 | 302 | 32 | 24 | 32 | 21 | | Righty Starters | 4.4 | 0.260 | 0.322 | 61 | 2080 | 540 | 105 | 6 | 62 | 0.405 | 256 | 191 | 484 | 22 | 433 | 52 | 37 | 53 | 27 |
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| All Games | 3.45 | 1.283 | 219 | 92 | 84 | 214 | 18 | 67 | 201 | 10-9 | 25 | 10 | 71.4% | | Road Games | 4.23 | 1.376 | 121.4 | 63 | 57 | 125 | 13 | 42 | 102 | 4-8 | 12 | 7 | 63.2% |
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| All Games | 36-41 | +1.5 | 44-29 | 4.0 | 0.257 | 0.316 | 0.366 | 0.681 | 4.4 | 0.263 | 0.327 | 0.408 | 0.735 | | Home Games | 19-16 | +3.8 | 21-11 | 4.1 | 0.258 | 0.324 | 0.370 | 0.693 | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.313 | 0.377 | 0.691 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 31-34 | +1.5 | 35-26 | 4.1 | 0.264 | 0.321 | 0.372 | 0.693 | 4.2 | 0.260 | 0.325 | 0.396 | 0.721 | | Past 7 Games | 1-6 | -4.5 | 2-5 | 1.6 | 0.237 | 0.272 | 0.318 | 0.591 | 4.3 | 0.293 | 0.345 | 0.388 | 0.733 | | Grass Games | 34-40 | -0.6 | 42-28 | 3.9 | 0.257 | 0.314 | 0.362 | 0.676 | 4.4 | 0.262 | 0.326 | 0.403 | 0.728 | | Night Games | 26-27 | +2.4 | 29-20 | 3.9 | 0.256 | 0.319 | 0.356 | 0.674 | 4.3 | 0.258 | 0.322 | 0.406 | 0.728 | | Division | 17-20 | -1.4 | 24-12 | 4.0 | 0.268 | 0.322 | 0.378 | 0.699 | 4.4 | 0.262 | 0.329 | 0.401 | 0.730 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.257 | 0.316 | 77 | 2612 | 672 | 130 | 9 | 45 | 0.366 | 287 | 223 | 524 | 38 | 539 | 79 | 45 | 86 | 47 | | Home Games | 4.1 | 0.258 | 0.324 | 35 | 1150 | 297 | 60 | 4 | 20 | 0.370 | 131 | 111 | 230 | 20 | 245 | 34 | 17 | 39 | 23 | | Righty Starters | 4.1 | 0.264 | 0.321 | 65 | 2216 | 584 | 114 | 8 | 37 | 0.372 | 250 | 188 | 438 | 34 | 457 | 69 | 41 | 73 | 43 |
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| All Games | 4.33 | 1.400 | 224.4 | 114 | 108 | 216 | 25 | 98 | 202 | 12-17 | 26 | 13 | 66.7% | | Home Games | 3.78 | 1.260 | 114.3 | 49 | 48 | 98 | 7 | 46 | 110 | 6-5 | 13 | 4 | 76.5% |
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| 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) | 6-1 | W | -115 | 6.5 un | O | 11 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 1 | | 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 | FISTER(R) | CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | | | 7/7/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | CINCINNATI | CUETO(R) | | | 7/8/2015 | | CINCINNATI | | |
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| 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) | 1-6 | L | +105 | 6.5 un | O | 8 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 0 | | 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 | WISLER(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | | | 7/7/2015 | | @ MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | | | 7/8/2015 | | @ 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 CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS Editor
Washington (42-34) at Atlanta (36-40), 7:10 p.m. EDT
The Washington Nationals' rotation may have watched their overall shutout streak end, but against the Atlanta Braves they just keep on going.
Back to their winning ways and with the starters in position to begin another shutout streak, Doug Fister looks to extend the Washington Nationals' scoreless run versus the Atlanta Braves as their series continues Wednesday.
Monday's off day served Washington (43-34) well as it emphatically bounced back from having its eight-game winning streak snapped in the second game of its Sunday doubleheader at Philadelphia by cruising past Atlanta 6-1 to open this three-game set.
Jordan Zimmermann, who previously contributed eight of the rotation's 47 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings while beating the Braves last week, kept Atlanta at bay for another 7 2-3 while scattering six hits Tuesday. That extended Washington's shutout streak versus Atlanta by its starters to 27 2-3 innings over the last four between the teams.
"We're just trying to win the series and take two out of three every time we face somebody and just go from there," Zimmermann said.
Even including their 8-5 loss to the Phillies, the Nationals' starters have been flat-out dominant. During this 10-game run, they are 8-1 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.84 WHIP - yielding 13 runs in 69 1-3 innings, including all eight Sunday. In the nine victories, the rotation has posted a 0.65 ERA and 0.71 WHIP by conceding only five runs in 66 innings.
Fister (3-3, 4.15 ERA) provided seven shutout innings to the previous streak Thursday versus Atlanta, giving up four hits and one walk while throwing a season-high 111 pitches in a 7-0 triumph. The right-hander, though, was more concerned with keeping himself in sync than adding to the zeroes - a mindset he'll likely carry again into this contest.
"... Honestly when I'm at my best I have no idea what inning it is. I really try and stay simple," he said. "I want to take things one pitch at a time, and if I get anything bigger than that, I'm in trouble myself."
This will mark the fourth start of the season against Atlanta for Fister, who yielded eight runs and 16 hits in 12 1-3 innings in the other two - including a defeat April 27. That marked his only loss in six lifetime starts versus Atlanta and also his only career outing at Turner Field, where he was touched for five runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings.
Nick Markakis has enjoyed some success versus Fister, going 9 for 29 with a homer.
The Braves are hitting .192 (20 for 104) against Washington's starters over the last four games. Atlanta has totaled three runs in those defeats, going 0 for 21 with runners in scoring position, and only avoided a shutout Monday on Juan Uribe's ninth-inning homer.
Matt Wisler (1-1, 3.75) allowed six runs and nine hits in four innings opposite Fister in his second career start last week, and his ineffectiveness was compounded by two Braves errors that contributed to two runs being unearned.
The 23-year-old rookie was comfortable at home in winning his major league debut June 19, limiting the New York Mets to one run in eight innings of a 2-1 victory.
Since that April 27 defeat, Washington has reeled off nine straight wins over Atlanta by a combined 66-31 margin. It matches the Braves' longest losing streak to the Expos/Nationals franchise set June 18, 1972-June 5, 1973.
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| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 8:07:36 AM EST. |
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