Opinion
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Nationals Eye Redemption Against Dodgers: Who Will Prevail at Nationals Park?

The Washington Nationals are gearing up for a pivotal matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and all eyes are on how they will perform following their recent performances. The Nationals have shown both flashes of brilliance and moments of vulnerability in their past games, which sets the stage for an intriguing battle.


Sep 8, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Luis Garcia (2) fields a ground ball during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports

In their last game on April 1st against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Nationals fell short despite a valiant effort. They managed to rack up 8 hits but were outmatched by the Pirates' 15 hits, resulting in an 8-4 loss. The bullpen's performance was particularly concerning as it struggled with an ERA of over 12 and a WHIP that soared above 3.8 in just under four innings pitched. This is an area where improvement is crucial if they hope to contain the potent Dodgers lineup.


However, it wasn't all doom and gloom for WSH; there were positive takeaways from their hitting statistics. With a home run among their hits and two stolen bases at a success rate of 100 percent, there's potential firepower within this team that could turn any game around.


Sep 8, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) scores a run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back further to March 31st against the Cincinnati Reds provides another perspective on what to expect from WSH. Although they lost with a scoreline of 6-5, they notched up more hits than in their previous outing (9) and showed resilience by keeping errors off the board once again.


One notable aspect has been WSH's ability to get on base via walks or being hit by pitches – demonstrating patience at the plate which could be key against LAD's pitchers who may try to paint corners or induce swings at less-than-ideal pitches.


Sep 8, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Amed Rosario (31) tosses the ball to first base during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports

The most promising performance came from March 30th when WSH emerged victorious over CIN with a scoreline of 7-6 backed by an impressive display of power hitting – totaling eleven hits including four extra-base hits (one home run). Their bullpen held firm with an ERA below four across nearly five innings pitched – showing signs that when dialed-in this group can hold its own even under pressure.


As we look ahead towards April 25th’s game scheduled for an evening start at Nationals Park in Washington DC - fans should keep these factors in mind:


1) Can WSH’s bullpen bounce back from its latest outing?


2) Will patience at bat continue to yield opportunities?


3) Is power-hitting going to be decisive once again?


These questions will be answered when these two teams clash under lights before thousands watching live or tuning into SportsNet PT network coverage.

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