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WASHINGTON ( GONZALEZ )
CINCINNATI ( IGLESIAS ) |
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7.5un
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| 905 | WASHINGTON | -130 | Ov 7.5,-110 | -110 | Ov 8,+105 | | 906 | CINCINNATI | +120 | Un 7.5,-110 | +100 | Un 8,-125 |
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| All Games | 28-20 | +3.1 | 27-20 | 4.6 | 0.256 | 0.323 | 0.417 | 0.741 | 4.1 | 0.263 | 0.311 | 0.379 | 0.690 | | Road Games | 14-13 | -1.2 | 15-11 | 5.0 | 0.259 | 0.327 | 0.411 | 0.737 | 4.6 | 0.283 | 0.332 | 0.421 | 0.754 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 20-17 | -1.3 | 20-16 | 4.5 | 0.256 | 0.324 | 0.410 | 0.734 | 4.3 | 0.266 | 0.316 | 0.386 | 0.702 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.5 | 1-6 | 2.3 | 0.230 | 0.287 | 0.392 | 0.679 | 2.7 | 0.244 | 0.278 | 0.402 | 0.679 | | Grass Games | 28-20 | +3.1 | 27-20 | 4.6 | 0.256 | 0.323 | 0.417 | 0.741 | 4.1 | 0.263 | 0.311 | 0.379 | 0.690 | | Day Games | 11-8 | +0.5 | 12-6 | 4.2 | 0.238 | 0.306 | 0.405 | 0.711 | 4.5 | 0.264 | 0.309 | 0.383 | 0.692 |
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| All Games | 4.6 | 0.256 | 0.323 | 48 | 1615 | 414 | 84 | 7 | 54 | 0.417 | 214 | 160 | 383 | 12 | 326 | 38 | 36 | 40 | 19 | | Road Games | 5.0 | 0.259 | 0.327 | 27 | 933 | 242 | 48 | 6 | 27 | 0.411 | 128 | 93 | 215 | 10 | 190 | 20 | 19 | 24 | 11 | | Righty Starters | 4.5 | 0.256 | 0.324 | 37 | 1245 | 319 | 65 | 5 | 39 | 0.410 | 162 | 124 | 293 | 11 | 255 | 33 | 24 | 32 | 17 |
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| All Games | 3.08 | 1.226 | 146 | 56 | 50 | 133 | 12 | 46 | 136 | 8-6 | 18 | 7 | 72% | | Road Games | 3.58 | 1.295 | 88 | 41 | 35 | 83 | 10 | 31 | 76 | 3-5 | 9 | 5 | 64.3% |
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| All Games | 20-27 | -8 | 21-22 | 3.7 | 0.238 | 0.305 | 0.391 | 0.696 | 4.4 | 0.251 | 0.319 | 0.405 | 0.724 | | Home Games | 11-11 | -1.7 | 11-8 | 3.9 | 0.232 | 0.309 | 0.411 | 0.720 | 4.7 | 0.255 | 0.317 | 0.414 | 0.731 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 5-6 | -0.8 | 6-4 | 3.9 | 0.249 | 0.314 | 0.404 | 0.718 | 4.5 | 0.246 | 0.324 | 0.411 | 0.735 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -3.8 | 3-4 | 3.0 | 0.235 | 0.290 | 0.396 | 0.686 | 4.0 | 0.250 | 0.346 | 0.379 | 0.725 | | Grass Games | 20-27 | -8 | 21-22 | 3.7 | 0.238 | 0.305 | 0.391 | 0.696 | 4.4 | 0.251 | 0.319 | 0.405 | 0.724 | | Day Games | 3-13 | -11.8 | 6-8 | 3.4 | 0.232 | 0.296 | 0.388 | 0.684 | 4.8 | 0.263 | 0.327 | 0.441 | 0.768 |
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| All Games | 3.7 | 0.238 | 0.305 | 47 | 1566 | 372 | 56 | 10 | 55 | 0.391 | 166 | 152 | 339 | 46 | 319 | 40 | 21 | 37 | 29 | | Home Games | 3.9 | 0.232 | 0.309 | 22 | 723 | 168 | 27 | 3 | 32 | 0.411 | 80 | 80 | 158 | 24 | 156 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 15 | | Lefty Starters | 3.9 | 0.249 | 0.314 | 11 | 369 | 92 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 0.404 | 41 | 35 | 81 | 9 | 69 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
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| All Games | 4.63 | 1.412 | 130.3 | 71 | 67 | 121 | 9 | 63 | 128 | 7-8 | 8 | 5 | 61.5% | | Home Games | 4.34 | 1.307 | 72.7 | 35 | 35 | 69 | 5 | 26 | 85 | 7-4 | 5 | 4 | 55.6% |
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| 5/16/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | CASHNER(R) | 4-1 | W | -135 | 6.5 un | U | 11 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 2 | | 5/17/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | KENNEDY(R) | 10-5 | W | -125 | 6.5 ov | O | 8 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | | 5/19/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | NY YANKEES | EOVALDI(R) | 8-6 | W | -130 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 5/20/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | NY YANKEES | WARREN(R) | 3-2 | W | -155 | 7 ov | U | 5 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | 5/22/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | PHILADELPHIA | O'SULLIVAN(R) | 2-1 | W | -270 | 7 ov | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 5/23/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | PHILADELPHIA | HAMELS(L) | 1-8 | L | -135 | 6.5 un | O | 5 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 0 | | 5/24/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | PHILADELPHIA | HARANG(R) | 4-1 | W | -170 | 7 un | U | 10 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | ROARK(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | WADA(L) | 2-1 | W | 105 | 11 un | U | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | | 5/26/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 2-3 | L | 100 | 10 ev | U | 6 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 5/27/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | 3-0 | W | -125 | 6.5 ov | U | 9 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 3 | | 5/29/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | @ CINCINNATI | DESCLAFANI(R) | 2-5 | L | -120 | 7.5 un | U | 10 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 0 | | 5/30/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | @ CINCINNATI | IGLESIAS(R) | | | 5/31/2015 | ROARK(R) | @ CINCINNATI | CUETO(R) | | | 6/1/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | | | 6/2/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | TORONTO | ESTRADA(R) | | | 6/3/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | | | 6/4/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | | | 6/5/2015 | | CHICAGO CUBS | | | | 6/6/2015 | | CHICAGO CUBS | | |
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| 5/16/2015 | LEAKE(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | VOGELSONG(R) | 2-11 | L | -135 | 8 ov | O | 7 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 0 | | 5/17/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | SAN FRANCISCO | HESTON(R) | 8-9 | L | +100 | 8 ev | O | 12 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 12 | 2 | | 5/19/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 0-3 | L | 110 | 6.5 un | U | 4 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | | 5/20/2015 | MARQUIS(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | 1-7 | L | 140 | 7.5 un | O | 9 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 0 | | 5/22/2015 | LEAKE(R) | @ CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | 3-7 | L | 165 | 7 un | O | 6 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 1 | | 5/23/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | 1-2 | L | 215 | 7 un | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 5/24/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | @ CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | 2-5 | L | 170 | 8.5 ov | U | 6 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 1 | | 5/25/2015 | MARQUIS(R) | COLORADO | BUTLER(R) | 4-5 | L | -145 | 8.5 ev | O | 11 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 0 | | 5/26/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | COLORADO | RUSIN(L) | 2-1 | W | -145 | 8 ov | U | 5 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | | 5/27/2015 | LEAKE(R) | COLORADO | KENDRICK(R) | 4-6 | L | -150 | 8 ov | O | 6 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 5/29/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | WASHINGTON | STRASBURG(R) | 5-2 | W | +110 | 7.5 un | U | 11 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 0 | | 5/30/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | WASHINGTON | GONZALEZ(L) | | | 5/31/2015 | CUETO(R) | WASHINGTON | ROARK(R) | | | 6/2/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | O'SULLIVAN(R) | | | 6/3/2015 | LEAKE(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | HAMELS(L) | | | 6/4/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | HARANG(R) | | | 6/5/2015 | | SAN DIEGO | | | | 6/6/2015 | | SAN DIEGO | | |
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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.'' | | CINCINNATI: CINCINNATI (AP) - The rotation was Cincinnati's strength in an otherwise disappointing season last year. It's the Reds' biggest question as they try to move forward.
They're not sure what they're getting beyond 20-game-winner Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, the only two holdovers who are healthy enough to pitch as the season begins. They've got some veteran retreads and unproven young starters trying to hold it together.
The rotation could be a work in progress well into the season.
''I know what the regular lineup looks like,'' second-year manager Bryan Price said. ''The biggest challenge is the bullpen and deciding roles and finalizing the last two starting pitchers.''
The Reds created two openings by trading Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon in the offseason. Homer Bailey hasn't fully recovered from surgery on his forearm and won't be ready until at least mid-April.
Cincinnati is counting on Anthony DeSclafani, who was acquired from Miami in the trade for Latos, to fill one of the spots. The rest of the rotation was under construction late in spring training, a sign of how much things had changed from a year ago.
''We feel we have a competitive team,'' Price said. ''This isn't a rebuilt situation. So we have to feel as confident as we can one-through-five in our rotation.''
The Reds lost 86 games last season in large part because of a subpar offense and a bullpen that finished as one of the NL's worst. They've tried to fix those two problems in the offseason through trades and free agency.
Now, a lot of it is on the starters to make it hold together during a special season in Cincinnati, which will host the All-Star Game. Some things to watch:
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CUETO'S CONTRACT
Cueto is entering the final year on his deal. The Reds have talked to him about an extension, but nothing was imminent as spring training wound down. If Cueto doesn't have an extension by midseason, the Reds would be in the position of considering a trade offer rather than letting him leave as a free agent after the season.
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VOTTO'S LEG
First baseman Joey Votto didn't play after July 5 because of strained muscles above his left knee. The 2010 National League MVP felt good in spring training. The Reds struggled to score runs last season despite playing in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. If Votto is back to form, the offense will get a huge boost. The question is whether he can make it through the season without getting hurt again.
''I think that I've proven when healthy that I'm a helpful part of the team,'' Votto said.
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NEEDING RELIEF
The bullpen was one of the biggest problems in the second half of the season, contributing to the Reds' collapse. They were only 1 1/2 games out in the NL Central at the All-Star break, but went 25-42 the rest of the way. The bullpen was 1-17 after the break. Closer Aroldis Chapman was dependable, but the middle of the bullpen was a huge problem. The Reds added Burke Badenhop and Kevin Gregg to try to help, and moved left-hander Tony Cingrani into a relief role during spring training.
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OUT IN LEFT FIELD
Ryan Ludwick struggled in his return from a significant shoulder injury, and nobody else excelled in left field, either, making it the biggest weakness in the lineup. The Reds got Marlon Byrd in a trade with the Phillies, hoping to finally stabilize the position. The 14-year veteran knows there's a lot at stake in how he performs.
''Yes, there is pressure and there should be,'' Byrd said. ''This is a team that wanted me. I've got to come in to fill that veteran role, the left field spot, and bring some pop to the lineup. I have to do what I've done the last two years. To do any less is just a failure on my part.''
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RUN BILLY RUN
Center fielder Billy Hamilton had an exceptional rookie season, stealing a club-record 56 bases. He wore down as the season went along, batting only .200 with 18 steals in the second half. The 6-foot, 160-pound leadoff hitter lifted weights in the offseason, trying to get stronger so he doesn't fade again.
''I'm not a power hitter, but I want to be stronger than last year,'' Hamilton said. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (WASHINGTON-CINCINNATI) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Nationals-Reds Preview* ========================
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD STATS Writer
Washington (28-19) at Cincinnati (19-27), 4:10 p.m. EDT
Failing to homer for the first time in three games in one of his toughest ballparks to hit, Bryce Harper took exception when the Cincinnati Reds plunked him late in the series opener.
The superstar slugger will look to respond and help the Washington Nationals avoid their first back-to-back losses in a month Saturday at Great American Ball Park.
Harper had homered in two straight games and was hitting .460 with 13 homers over his previous 19 before going 1 for 4 with a strikeout in Friday's 5-2 loss to the previously struggling Reds (20-27).
Although he has NL bests of 18 home runs and 43 RBIs, the two-time All-Star is 7 for 41 (.171) with one homer in 10 games at Cincinnati. Among NL parks, he's only posted worse averages at Milwaukee (.120) and San Francisco (.160).
Harper wasn't happy when Tony Cingrani hit him in the back with his first pitch in the seventh inning, staring at the pitcher while taking his time going down the line. He also had an animated chat with Joey Votto at first base.
"What are you going to do?" Cingrani said. "He should've jogged. Be a baseball player. Sorry I hit you. Run."
Washington (28-20) hasn't dropped two straight since a six-game skid from April 22-27, but appears to have a good chance to bounce back with a 22nd victory in 29 games. Probable starter Gio Gonzalez is 2-1 with a 1.06 ERA in five career starts against the Reds, posting 10.59 strikeouts per nine innings and limiting them to a .138 batting average.
The left-hander has gone at least seven innings in four of those meetings and he'll look to go deep again after the bullpen worked seven innings Friday after Stephen Strasburg left in the second with neck tightness.
After allowing 11 runs over 10 innings in his previous two starts, Gonzalez (4-2, 4.53 ERA) got back on track by giving up one run and striking out seven over 6 1-3 innings in Sunday's 4-1 home win over Philadelphia.
"I just think he established the low strike," manager Matt Williams told MLB's official website, "which helps with his breaking ball because it's a big, sweeping breaker that gets down below the zone and his changeup."
Todd Frazier is 0 for 5 when facing Gonzalez, but he moved closer to Harper's home run total Friday with a third homer in four games for his 15th overall. Votto, who had a first-inning solo shot, is 3 for 10 with a homer in this matchup.
It's unclear when Brandon Phillips will return to the lineup after missing the past three starts with a turf toe injury.
The Reds had been outscored 66-29 during a 1-10 stretch before plating five runs for the first time in nine games.
They'll try to provide more scoring for Raisel Iglesias (1-1, 4.26), who was shaky Sunday while filling in for injured ace Johnny Cueto. The rookie right-hander needed 84 pitches to get through three innings, allowing two runs in a 5-2 loss at Cleveland.
Iglesias faces the Nationals for the first time as Cueto is not yet ready to return due to inflammation in his pitching elbow.
Washington won't have Jayson Werth for an extended period after learning the outfielder broke his left wrist two weeks ago. Werth was batting .208 with two homers and 12 RBIs when he got hurt May 15.
Ian Desmond is batting .352 over a 13-game hitting streak after going 2 for 5 Friday.
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| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 10:15:17 PM EST. |
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