Know Your Foe #31: Up-and-Coming Nationals Welcome Slumping Rockies to DC with Open Arms

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Jul 8, 2011 2:00 PM MDT in Know Your Foe

Washington Nationals (45-44, 4th in the NL East)

Last Series vs. Rockies: May 13-16, 2010 (L 1-3 at Coors Field)

After winning the first game of the series in a 14-8 slopfest - "highlighted" by a seven-run frame - that was called after eight innings, the Nats were a season-high five games over .500. However, they would go on to lose the next three contests, scoring just six runs in the process.

Just about everybody on the Nationals destroyed the Rockies' pitching staff in the first game, but really only Ryan Zimmerman was able to continue it through the rest of the series. Zimmerman finished the four-game set with eight hits - two of which went for home runs - and drove in seven runs. Adam Dunn only had two hits in the series, but both long balls. Other than that, the Nats were held relatively in check after the opener.

John Lannan, who will start tonight for the Nats, was tagged for four runs on six hits and four walks in 4.2 innings in the opening contest. Meanwhile, Livan Hernandez, who is not scheduled to pitch in the upcoming series, took the loss in the second game. He allowed three runs - two of which came on solo homers by Miguel Olivo and Jason Giambi - on seven hits in six innings. Neither of the other two starters the Rockies faced are on Washington's roster in 2011.

Latest Series Results: Split 2-2 vs. Pittsburgh; W 3-1 vs. Chicago (NL)

The Nationals should have finished off a sweep of the Cubs yesterday, as they had an 8-0 lead after five innings. However, the Cubs stormed back with six runs in the sixth, two more in the seventh, and one apiece in the eighth and ninth innings and ended up prevailing 10-9. It was indeed a tough loss for the Nationals.

With that being said, Washington is still on the road to respectability, as their above-.500 record would suggest. Offensively, their lineup contains six above-average hitters in terms of wRC+ (although their bench is quite subpar), with only 100-plus-millionaire Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond coming in below average at the halfway point.

Michael Morse

#38 / Left Field / Washington Nationals

Height: 6-5

Weight: 230

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Mar 22, 1982

	AVG	OBP	SLG
2011 - Michael Morse	.303	.351	.536

Leading the pack for the Nats is 29-year-old first baseman Michael Morse, who is enjoying a rather fine breakout campaign. A mountain of a man, Morse was acquired a couple of seasons ago from Seattle, and has enjoyed success with Washington (albeit in a small sample size prior to this year) ever since. As much as I hate to admit it, he was just as deserving of that final All-Star spot that ended up going to Shane Victorino as our own Todd Helton. Unfortunately, he too was snubbed in favor of the large-market centerfielder. Morse has posted a wRC+ of 140, and has 15 bombs to go along with an OPS of 887. He could walk more, but all-in-all he has been tremendous for DC.

Rookie Danny Espinosa has had a breakout season of his own, as he possesses a 125 wRC+ and has hit for a ton of power; his 16 home runs are good enough for a tie with Rickie Weeks for the major league lead among second basemen. Like Morse, Espinosa also missed out on an All-Star spot. He is, however, likely the front-runner for the National League Rookie of the Year award so far.

The one guy for the Nats who did make the All-Star team is reliever Tyler Clippard. And, other than the fact that he's a reliever, there's no good argument as to why he shouldn't have made it, either. In 48.1 innings, Clippard has struck out 61 batters and walked only 15. He is a bit homer-prone, but other than that he has been fantastic - to the tune of a 204 ERA+. On the starting rotation front, Jordan Zimmermann has been unlucky, if not masterful. Zimmermann has portrayed very good command, walking just 1.7 batters per nine innings while whiffing a respectable 6.3. His ERA+ is 136, best among Washington's starters. Despite that, he holds a W-L record of just 5-7, though his ERA is just 2.82.

Friday through Sunday: 3-game series at Nationals Park

Expected Pitching Matchups

Friday, July 8, 2011 @ 5:05 PM MT

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - Jason Hammel	4-8	17	17	0	0	0	0	104.1	107	57	50	11	39	53	4.31	1.40

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - John Lannan	5-5	18	18	0	0	0	0	105.1	106	43	41	8	37	53	3.50	1.36

Saturday, July 9, 2011 @ 5:05 PM MT

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - Ubaldo Jimenez	3-8	16	16	2	1	0	0	96.1	90	54	47	8	40	87	4.39	1.35

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - Jason Marquis	7-3	22	17	1	1	0	0	100.2	116	51	46	7	30	59	4.11	1.45

Sunday, July 10, 2011 @ 11:35 AM MT

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - Jhoulys Chacin	8-6	18	17	1	1	0	0	109.2	81	43	40	15	49	97	3.28	1.19

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - Jordan Zimmermann	5-7	19	17	1	0	0	0	108.2	98	39	34	4	21	76	2.82	1.10

Expected Lineup

Name	Position	AVG	OBP	SLG	wOBA	wRC+	HR	RBI
Roger Bernadina	CF	.267	.326	.382	.329	106	5	18
Danny Espinosa	2B	.249	.335	.473	.357	125	16	52
Ryan Zimmerman	3B	.252	.348	.420	.336	111	4	15
Laynce Nix	LF	.279	.320	.514	.358	126	12	33
Michael Morse	1B	.303	.351	.536	.379	140	15	48
Jayson Werth	RF	.218	.323	.370	.313	95	10	31
Wilson Ramos	C	.254	.332	.418	.325	103	7	29
Ian Desmond	SS	.217	.259	.298	.257	57	3	22

Bench

Name	Position	AVG	OBP	SLG	wOBA	wRC+	HR	RBI
Ivan Rodriguez	C	.214	.276	.325	.267	64	2	19
Brian Bixler	Util	.205	.271	.227	.224	34	0	1
Alex Cora	IF	.237	.290	.281	.264	62	0	6
Matt Stairs	PH	.145	.254	.161	.206	22	0	2
Rick Ankiel	OF	.234	.303	.322	.287	78	2	11

Closer

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - Drew Storen	5-2	43	0	0	0	22	3	45.1	32	14	13	4	12	33	2.58	.97

Injuries

Washington Nationals Injuries

15-Day

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Doug Slaten	elbow	06/04/2011
Cole Kimball	shoulder	06/10/2011
Ivan Rodriguez	oblique	07/08/2011

60 Day DL / Out for the season

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Stephen Strasburg	elbow	03/30/2011
Elvin Ramirez	shoulder	03/30/2011

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Comments

I like these Nationals

their bench is atrocious and it’s hard not to cringe at Werth’s contract, but there’s so much there to like.

I like these pitching matchups too. Tonight is clearly the game to worry the most about but I think Hammel will go out and have a good game and maybe, just maybe we can walk away from this thing in alright shape.

Newton's laws say that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, proving he knew nothing about women.

by bishoPurple on Jul 8, 2011 2:30 PM MDT reply actions

John Lannan kinda sorta sucks.

He and Hammel’s numbers looked pretty dead on though.

I love these pitching matchups. Rockies CAN win this series, possibly even sweep.

@CentralCaliRox

by CentralCaliRox on Jul 8, 2011 3:22 PM MDT up reply actions

yeah, he's not so good

but he has given up fewer runs than Hammel. Really my concern about tonight is Hammel, not Lannan. The Rox should crush him. But, this year, who knows.

Newton's laws say that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, proving he knew nothing about women.

by bishoPurple on Jul 8, 2011 3:33 PM MDT up reply actions

I think you're underestimating their pitching

Lannan does not suck. In his last eight starts, he has a 1.92 ERA and has gone 7 innings or more four times; and Jordan Zimmerman has been a beast for them all season.

I'm pretty disgusted right now!

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Jul 8, 2011 3:37 PM MDT up reply actions

has he been that good lately?

Hmm…worrisome. Still, I think these matchups favor the Rockies, if our guys go out with their A stuff.

Newton's laws say that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, proving he knew nothing about women.

by bishoPurple on Jul 8, 2011 3:46 PM MDT up reply actions

With the exception of Ubaldo,

Every starting pitcher’s first name in this series starts with a “J” – and even Ubaldo’s last name starts with a “J”.

I'm pretty disgusted right now!

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Jul 8, 2011 3:16 PM MDT reply actions

Random note

My best friend pitches for the Nationals affiliate in Auburn

"Don't give up, don't ever give up" - Jim Valvano

by nodakroxfan on Jul 8, 2011 3:17 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

MLB free game of the day

But I’m back in LA now staying at a friend who lives like a block away from Angels stadium. Ehhh… bar break to watch the Rockies or go to see Mike Trout’s debut? Either way will probably be the last baseball until July 18th :(

by CarRo2010 on Jul 8, 2011 3:23 PM MDT reply actions