Will Nationals Ride the Wave of Success Against Astros?

As the Washington Nationals gear up to face the Houston Astros at Nationals Park, fans are eager to see if their team can maintain its recent momentum. The Nationals have shown a mixed bag of results in their past games, but there's an upward trend that suggests they might be finding their rhythm.

In their most recent game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, despite a loss with a score of 4-8, the Nationals demonstrated resilience by rallying late in the game. Their hitting statistics showed promise with an on-base percentage (OBP) of 31 percent and slugging (SLG) at 32 percent. However, it was clear that improvements were needed in both bullpen and starting pitching as they posted an earned run average (ERA) above 5 and a walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) over 2.

The previous encounter against Cincinnati Reds saw them on the losing end again with a score of 5-6. The batting lineup managed to hit two home runs and maintained an OBP of 36 percent along with a SLG percentage of 50 percent. Fielding was impeccable as they committed no errors, but once more pitching proved costly as bullpen ERA soared over seven.

However, turning back another page reveals a glimmering performance where they outscored Cincinnati Reds by securing seven runs to six. Their batting average stood at an impressive .314 while managing to steal five bases successfully indicating aggressive base running tactics.

Nationals Park has been known for its hitter-friendly confines which could play into Washington's hands given their recent offensive uptick. With consistent fielding being one of their strengths this season – boasting perfect fielding percentages in past games – fans can expect solid defense backing up pitchers who will need to tighten up against Houston's potent lineup.

The upcoming clash is scheduled for April 20th at Nationals Park in Washington D.C., where fans can catch all the action live from 8:05 PM local time onwards.