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ST LOUIS ( LYONS ) |
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| 959 | WASHINGTON | +1.5,-190 | -1.5,+120 | | 960 | ST LOUIS | -1.5,+165 | +1.5,-140 |
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| All Games | 66-65 | -15.1 | 69-56 | 4.3 | 0.251 | 0.317 | 0.401 | 0.719 | 4.1 | 0.257 | 0.302 | 0.392 | 0.694 | | Road Games | 29-39 | -15.4 | 37-29 | 4.4 | 0.250 | 0.314 | 0.394 | 0.708 | 4.5 | 0.268 | 0.317 | 0.419 | 0.736 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 49-49 | -8.8 | 52-43 | 4.3 | 0.251 | 0.318 | 0.400 | 0.718 | 4.1 | 0.261 | 0.307 | 0.392 | 0.698 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -3.2 | 4-2 | 4.9 | 0.293 | 0.359 | 0.478 | 0.838 | 4.7 | 0.252 | 0.309 | 0.413 | 0.722 | | Grass Games | 65-64 | -15.2 | 68-56 | 4.2 | 0.249 | 0.315 | 0.398 | 0.712 | 4.1 | 0.257 | 0.301 | 0.392 | 0.693 | | Night Games | 40-47 | -17.9 | 45-38 | 4.3 | 0.253 | 0.321 | 0.400 | 0.721 | 4.1 | 0.260 | 0.306 | 0.404 | 0.710 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.251 | 0.317 | 131 | 4385 | 1102 | 218 | 13 | 138 | 0.401 | 530 | 424 | 1061 | 54 | 900 | 112 | 76 | 95 | 47 | | Road Games | 4.4 | 0.250 | 0.314 | 68 | 2344 | 586 | 113 | 10 | 68 | 0.394 | 279 | 220 | 586 | 30 | 481 | 56 | 35 | 51 | 28 | | Righty Starters | 4.3 | 0.251 | 0.318 | 98 | 3292 | 827 | 157 | 10 | 104 | 0.400 | 400 | 325 | 786 | 41 | 685 | 83 | 58 | 78 | 42 |
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| All Games | 3.66 | 1.248 | 379 | 168 | 154 | 361 | 33 | 112 | 341 | 14-19 | 36 | 16 | 69.2% | | Road Games | 4.09 | 1.301 | 196 | 98 | 89 | 190 | 20 | 65 | 166 | 4-14 | 16 | 10 | 61.5% |
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| All Games | 86-46 | +30.1 | 51-73 | 4.1 | 0.255 | 0.317 | 0.394 | 0.712 | 3.0 | 0.243 | 0.301 | 0.354 | 0.655 | | Home Games | 48-19 | +20.7 | 21-42 | 3.9 | 0.262 | 0.327 | 0.396 | 0.723 | 2.8 | 0.242 | 0.296 | 0.349 | 0.646 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 66-31 | +28.3 | 37-53 | 4.1 | 0.256 | 0.317 | 0.400 | 0.718 | 2.8 | 0.239 | 0.297 | 0.347 | 0.644 | | Past 7 Games | 6-1 | +5.1 | 4-2 | 5.9 | 0.283 | 0.361 | 0.454 | 0.815 | 3.4 | 0.259 | 0.332 | 0.356 | 0.688 | | Grass Games | 86-46 | +30.1 | 51-73 | 4.1 | 0.255 | 0.317 | 0.394 | 0.712 | 3.0 | 0.243 | 0.301 | 0.354 | 0.655 | | Night Games | 61-33 | +22.3 | 40-47 | 4.2 | 0.254 | 0.318 | 0.392 | 0.710 | 3.1 | 0.245 | 0.300 | 0.355 | 0.655 |
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| All Games | 4.1 | 0.255 | 0.317 | 132 | 4492 | 1146 | 232 | 30 | 111 | 0.394 | 517 | 409 | 1009 | 61 | 937 | 123 | 78 | 126 | 39 | | Home Games | 3.9 | 0.262 | 0.327 | 67 | 2215 | 580 | 123 | 14 | 49 | 0.396 | 249 | 214 | 460 | 28 | 479 | 68 | 40 | 55 | 24 | | Righty Starters | 4.1 | 0.256 | 0.317 | 97 | 3271 | 839 | 183 | 24 | 80 | 0.400 | 375 | 292 | 714 | 40 | 686 | 80 | 56 | 86 | 25 |
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| All Games | 2.36 | 1.256 | 388.7 | 114 | 102 | 345 | 24 | 143 | 354 | 24-15 | 55 | 12 | 82.1% | | Home Games | 2.05 | 1.234 | 206.7 | 53 | 47 | 190 | 12 | 65 | 162 | 16-5 | 32 | 5 | 86.5% |
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| 8/19/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | @ COLORADO | DE LA ROSA(L) | 4-1 | W | -145 | 9.5 un | U | 9 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | | 8/20/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | @ COLORADO | FLANDE(L) | 2-3 | L | -190 | 10.5 ov | U | 4 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 8/21/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | 3-10 | L | -145 | 7 un | O | 6 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 0 | | 8/22/2015 | ROSS(R) | MILWAUKEE | JUNGMANN(R) | 6-1 | W | -155 | 7 ov | P | 11 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 8/23/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | 9-5 | W | -190 | 7.5 un | O | 9 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 8/25/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | SAN DIEGO | SHIELDS(R) | 8-3 | W | -185 | 7 un | O | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 1 | | 8/26/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | 5-6 | L | -135 | 7 un | O | 7 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 1 | | 8/27/2015 | ROSS(R) | SAN DIEGO | CASHNER(R) | 4-2 | W | -170 | 7.5 un | U | 11 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | | 8/28/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | MIAMI | CONLEY(L) | 3-4 | L | -275 | 7 un | P | 8 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | | 8/29/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | MIAMI | KOEHLER(R) | 5-1 | W | -245 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 8/30/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | MIAMI | HAND(L) | 7-4 | W | -245 | 7 ov | O | 13 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 8/31/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | @ ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | 5-8 | L | 115 | 7 un | O | 8 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 1 | | 9/1/2015 | ROSS(R) | @ ST LOUIS | GONZALES(L) | 5-8 | L | -115 | 7.5 ev | O | 12 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 1 | | 9/2/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | @ ST LOUIS | WACHA(R) | | | 9/3/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | ATLANTA | WISLER(R) | | | 9/4/2015 | STRASBURG(R) | ATLANTA | TEHERAN(R) | | | 9/5/2015 | GONZALEZ(L) | ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | | | 9/6/2015 | ROSS(R) | ATLANTA | BANUELOS(L) | | | 9/7/2015 | SCHERZER(R) | NY METS | NIESE(L) | | | 9/8/2015 | ZIMMERMANN(R) | NY METS | HARVEY(R) | | | 9/9/2015 | | NY METS | | |
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| 8/19/2015 | GARCIA(L) | SAN FRANCISCO | CAIN(R) | 4-3 | W | -160 | 7 un | P | 9 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 8/21/2015 | LACKEY(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | CASHNER(R) | 3-9 | L | -115 | 6.5 ov | O | 8 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 1 | | 8/22/2015 | MARTINEZ(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | KENNEDY(R) | 0-8 | L | -130 | 6.5 ov | O | 8 | 10 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 0 | | 8/23/2015 | WACHA(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | REA(R) | 10-3 | W | -145 | 7 un | O | 11 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 2 | | 8/24/2015 | LYNN(R) | @ ARIZONA | CHACIN(R) | 5-3 | W | -120 | 8 un | P | 9 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 2 | | 8/25/2015 | GARCIA(L) | @ ARIZONA | RAY(L) | 9-1 | W | -120 | 7.5 ev | O | 12 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 1 | | 8/26/2015 | LACKEY(R) | @ ARIZONA | CORBIN(L) | 3-1 | W | 110 | 8 un | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1 | | 8/27/2015 | MARTINEZ(R) | @ ARIZONA | DE LA ROSA(R) | 5-3 | W | -115 | 8 un | P | 8 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0 | | 8/28/2015 | WACHA(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | LEAKE(R) | 4-5 | L | 100 | 6.5 un | O | 7 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 0 | | 8/29/2015 | LYNN(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | VOGELSONG(R) | 6-0 | W | -135 | 7 un | U | 13 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 8/30/2015 | GARCIA(L) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HESTON(R) | 7-5 | W | -115 | 7 un | O | 13 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 0 | | 8/31/2015 | LACKEY(R) | WASHINGTON | GONZALEZ(L) | 8-5 | W | -125 | 7 un | O | 13 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 0 | | 9/1/2015 | GONZALES(L) | WASHINGTON | ROSS(R) | 8-5 | W | +105 | 7.5 ev | O | 8 | 10 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 1 | | 9/2/2015 | WACHA(R) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | | | 9/4/2015 | LYNN(R) | PITTSBURGH | HAPP(L) | | | 9/5/2015 | GARCIA(L) | PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | | | 9/6/2015 | LACKEY(R) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | | | 9/7/2015 | MARTINEZ(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAREN(R) | | | 9/8/2015 | WACHA(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | | | 9/9/2015 | | CHICAGO CUBS | | |
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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.'' | | ST LOUIS: ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Cardinals hope Michael Wacha is ready to stand alongside ace Adam Wainwright at the top of their rotation.
Wacha was the NL Championship Series MVP as a rookie but just 5-6 with a 3.20 ERA in 19 starts last year. He was sidelined for most of the season's second half by a stress reaction in his shoulder, and was rusty in October before giving up Travis Ishikawa's series-winning homer in Game 5 of the NLCS.
Now he feels healthy.
''It's very encouraging, the long term of what this kid could be and the short term of how he feels, somebody every fifth day that can bring the kind of stuff he does,'' St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. ''He feels good about himself and we feel good about what we're seeing.''
The 23-year-old Wacha has long insisted the injury is behind him.
''Ever since I came back last year, I haven't thought about it when I was on the mound,'' Wacha said. ''As far as I know, it was a rare injury. I'm not sure where it came from.''
If it stays away, the Cardinals figure to again have one of the deeper starting staffs despite trading 15-game winner Shelby Miller for outfielder Jason Heyward. Wainwright was a 20-game winner for the second time, and Lance Lynn has averaged 16 wins during three years in the rotation.
John Lackey is a proven late-season talent. Jaime Garcia's resurgent spring following surgery to relieve nerve compression may cause promising Carlos Martinez to be related to the bullpen again.
Lackey expects to be more comfortable in his first full NL season, saying ''It's different for a lot of reasons.''
Things to watch for with the Cardinals, who open April 5 at Chicago:
LEFT-HANDED HEAVY
There are five lefty bats in the lineup, a potential downside. But there also figures to be more power on the bench. Mark Reynolds, who has hit 20 or more homers each of the last seven seasons, was signed as a free agent. He could factor in as a semi-regular, especially at first base, where Matt Adams has struggled against lefties.
HEYWARD TIME
Only 25, Heyward is a potential future core member of the franchise. His is eligible for free agency after the World Series, and the wooing began not long after the trade with Atlanta - which also brought set-up man Jordan Walden.
''He fits in very well with how our guys work, how seriously they take the game,'' Matheny said. ''He's mixed in very well to this point.''
IMPROVED POP
St. Louis hit just 105 homers last season, second-fewest in the majors. They Cardianls are anticipating more out of right field from Heyward, who had a career-low 11 last year while forced into the leadoff spot with Atlanta. Jhonny Peralta followed his drug suspension with a 21 homers, a franchise record among shortstops, and the smooth-swinging Adams is capable of hitting a lot more than 15.
HEALTHY CHOICES
A full return by Garcia would be an unexpected bonus after two injury-filled seasons. Wainwright and Lynn are recovering from health setbacks early in spring training. Center fielder Jon Jay made a delayed exhibition debut following wrist surgery. ''I said the whole goal was to be ready April 5,'' Jay said.
MORE SPEED
Along with increasing the power profile, there will be an emphasis on manufacturing runs. The Cardinals stole 57 bases last year, third-fewest in the major leagues, but are primed for at least a little more thievery with both Wong and Heyward capable of swiping 20-plus.
''I want to see bigger leads. I want to see more aggressive chances with balls in the dirt,'' Matheny said. ''I want to see us take a first-and-second double steal because we have the kind of players to do that.'' |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (WASHINGTON-ST LOUIS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Nationals-Cardinals Preview* =============================
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD STATS Writer
Washington (66-65) at St. Louis (86-46), 8:15 p.m. EDT
If the Washington Nationals are going to make a September push, they're probably going to need Max Scherzer to start pitching like a Cy Young Award candidate again.
The right-hander may be especially motivated to turn things around in his hometown.
Mired in arguably his worst stretch, Scherzer will try to help the Nationals end their road woes Wednesday night in a showdown with Michael Wacha and the St. Louis Cardinals.
A native of Chesterfield, Missouri, Scherzer (11-11, 2.88 ERA) was drafted by St. Louis in the 43rd round in 2003 before opting to attend the University of Missouri.
He was selected by Arizona three years later as the 11th overall pick. Scherzer last pitched at Busch Stadium in the final start of his 2008 rookie year with the Diamondbacks.
The 2013 AL Cy Young winner looked like a 2015 NL candidate on July 19 when he was 10-8 with a 2.08 ERA and had thrown a no-hitter versus Pittsburgh in June. However, he's struggled to a 1-3 record and 5.63 mark over his last seven outings.
The 31-year-old will try to avoid dropping a career-worst fourth consecutive start after giving up four runs and six hits, including two home runs, over seven innings in Friday's 4-3 home loss to Miami.
"Slider, changeup, curveball, they are all there," Scherzer told MLB's official website. "I'm not sitting here kicking chairs around because I'm frustrated how I pitched. My stuff is there."
Scherzer is 0-2 with a 3.71 ERA in three career starts against the MLB-leading Cardinals. In his only other meeting this season, he yielded two runs over seven innings in a 4-1 loss April 23.
Mark Reynolds is day to day after leaving Tuesday's 8-5 win when he was hit by a pitch on the right wrist. Brandon Moss delivered a walk-off, three-run homer as the Cardinals scored five in the last two innings.
The Nationals (66-65) missed a chance to trim their 6 1/2-game deficit behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East. They've dropped nine straight in St. Louis and 12 of 15 overall on the road.
"We had a two-run lead in the eighth and couldn't get it done," said manager Matt Williams, whose club also blew a two-run lead in the seventh in Monday's 8-5 defeat.
St. Louis (86-46), which is 40 games over .500 for the first time since 2005, has averaged 6.5 runs during a 9-1 stretch. Stephen Piscotty is batting .421 with 11 RBIs over a nine-game hitting streak.
"Just the style of play that they bring every single day," manager Mike Matheny said. "They are deserving to have whatever kind of acknowledgment is out there."
Wacha (15-4, 2.69), who has replaced injured Adam Wainwright as the club's ace, has gone 4-0 with an 0.92 ERA over his last six starts and is 4-1 with a 1.99 mark in his past seven at Busch.
The 24-year-old has been dominant versus Washington, going 2-1 with an 0.79 ERA in three outings. He earned the win opposite Scherzer in April, giving up one run over seven innings.
Bryce Harper (2 for 9), Anthony Rendon (1 for 6), Ian Desmond (1 for 9) and Jayson Werth (0 for 6) haven't had much success versus Wacha. Werth, though, had his third straight two-hit game Tuesday.
Wilson Ramos is batting .394 with three homers over a nine-game hitting streak, while Ryan Zimmerman is batting .303 with five home runs and 15 RBIs over his last eight.
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| | Last Updated: 5/18/2024 9:27:19 PM EST. |
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