Here it is 9 games into a hellacious stretch of games starting the Nationals 2010 season and they are sitting at 4-5. One would have to think most Nats fans are content with this record, especially when they could very easily be 2-7 if it hadn't been for a great catch in NY by Willie Harris and a shocking comeback yesterday in Philly. It doesn't get any easier though folks as the Brew Crew heads in to town for a 3 game series followed by the Rockies and Dodgers.
Game one of this series brings together two of the brighter young pitchers in the league, both off to not so brilliant starts. The Nats defacto ace, John Lannan, will be squaring off with the now very wealthy Yovani Gallardo. Gallardo signed a 5 year $30.1 million contract last year but is off to a slow start, going 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in his first two starts of the season. Lannan's numbers aren't much better. His 8.31 ERA is terrible but he settled down in his second start to actually pick up the win against the Mets on Saturday.
The Brewers come into the series having hit 10 homers so far this year, despite Prince Fielder not going deep yet. Ryan Braun and Casey McGehee are tied for the team lead at 3 a piece. Don't think Fielder is slumping though. He joins a quartet of Brewers with OBP over .400 through the first 9 games (Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks and Casey McGehee are the others).
Offensively for the Nats they have hammered out 6 homers, lead by Josh Willingham's 2. What the team is lacking in power at this point they are making up for in speed. 7 different Nationals have stolen bases this year (11 total). All of this running has helped the team stay out of inning killing double plays that were all too familiar last season. Pudge Rodriguez is leading the team in hitting, which has to make Mike Rizzo smile.
Game 2 will feature racquetball extrodinaire, Livan Hernandez going up against the Brewers big offseason aquisition Randy Wolf. Livan was wonderful against the Mets last weekend, going 7 scoreless innings, picking up the win and registering the only quality start by a Nats starter this year. Wolf has gone 6 2/3 both of his starts with mixed results. He gave up 4 earned runs in his first start against Colorado and 4 runs (2 earned) against the Cardinals. One thing is for sure, he has been hittable, giving up 15 hits (including 2 HRs) and walking 3 in 13.1 innings thus far.
Game 3 will see Jason Marquis making his 3rd start of the season against Doug Davis. Marquis has just got to be glad he isn't facing the Phillies this time out. His 12.96 ERA is ugly and both of his performances have been less than stellar. Lucky for him, Doug Davis is also the owner of an ERA in the 12s (12.27). If these two continue to pitch the way they have early in the season the bullpens could be in for a LONG day.
There are 2 big question marks going into this series. Will Ryan Zimmerman be able to play all 3 games, and will the starters be able to follow up Scott Olsens 5 2/3 innings on Thursday with respectable starts of their own. The bullpen has been hung out to dry on more than one occasion already this year and a couple of quality starts this weekend would really help.
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