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As the Houston Astros prepare to face off against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 20, fans are buzzing with anticipation. The Astros, coming off a dominant performance on April 2 against the Toronto Blue Jays, where they shut out their opponents with a staggering 10-0 victory, are looking to continue their winning ways.

<img src="/imgproxy/Ur-mIoKYBHON2rnD4sz1IlVquzm6efQNyZvU4kMoVSY/rs:fit:800:800:false:false/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdG9yYWdlLmdvb2dsZWFwaXMuY29tL3dtdC1nYW1lcy1zZXJ2aWNlLzI1MDdmYzY4Zjc2ODI0ODFjMGE5NDg2MmRjZWYxNjNmLmpwZw==?image_id=2900826c-4e7f-448d-86de-618ae09adbc4" alt="Mar 18, 2024; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) slides safely into third base as Washington Nationals third baseman Trey Lipscomb (38) waits on the ball to arrive during the third inning at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports" title="Mar 18, 2024; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) slides safely into third base as Washington Nationals third baseman Trey Lipscomb (38) waits on the ball to arrive during the third inning at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports" /> The game against the Blue Jays showcased Houston's offensive prowess as they amassed 12 hits and an impressive .343 batting average. Their slugging percentage stood tall at .829, thanks in part to five home runs that helped seal their victory. The pitching was equally formidable; Ronel Blanco led a shutout with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of just 0.2222 over nine innings.

However, baseball is a game of day-to-day consistency and adjustments. While their recent performance has been stellar, it's worth noting that in another recent game against the New York Yankees on March 31st, despite collecting more hits than their opponents (12 vs. Yankees' 10), Houston fell short by one run (4-3). This suggests that while hitting is indeed one of HOU's strengths; converting those hits into runs will be crucial when facing WSH.

<img src="/imgproxy/m5JLfjIpTZ1ixYqp_hC6wt-wsZFdy-uR8K9EpdJKkFE/rs:fit:800:800:false:false/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdG9yYWdlLmdvb2dsZWFwaXMuY29tL3dtdC1nYW1lcy1zZXJ2aWNlLzA4MDA0MzBmNzA0MDdkOTc2NzI5NjAwNmQ1ZTA4MTRmLmpwZw==?image_id=b6ed349a-d2c2-4abf-8343-4daba5ac0edb" alt="Mar 18, 2024; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Victor Robles (16) runs to third base during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports" title="Mar 18, 2024; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Victor Robles (16) runs to third base during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports" /> The Nationals will not make it easy for them either. In contrast to HOU’s powerful offense stands WSH’s determination and resilience as seen in previous games this season.

Astros fans should keep an eye on how well their team can capitalize on scoring opportunities when runners are in scoring positions – something they struggled with during the March 31st loss where they left nine runners stranded on base.

<img src="/imgproxy/YjH4h0PoAu5D9tei8KsXLcm-h9hngEExpOD2Emr9ynk/rs:fit:800:800:false:false/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdG9yYWdlLmdvb2dsZWFwaXMuY29tL3dtdC1nYW1lcy1zZXJ2aWNlL2JkMDM1YWRmYTM3NTFlMWQ4YTVkMzEzNDMwYzc2ZmZkLmpwZw==?image_id=df5397b1-c7cf-4885-bca9-f835a7632e5a" alt="Mar 18, 2024; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) slides safely into third base as Washington Nationals third baseman Trey Lipscomb (38) waits on the ball to arrive during the third inning at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports" title="Mar 18, 2024; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) slides safely into third base as Washington Nationals third baseman Trey Lipscomb (38) waits on the ball to arrive during the third inning at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports" /> Defensively speaking, Houston has shown reliability with no errors recorded during these highlighted games and maintaining perfect fielding percentages across all positions – a testament to their defensive coordination and skill which will be essential in keeping WSH hitters at bay.

Looking ahead to April 20th’s clash at Nationals Park, if HOU can maintain its offensive momentum from April 2nd while tightening up clutch hitting situations like those missed against NYY on March 31st – there is every reason for optimism among Astro fans.

This upcoming match promises excitement as both teams bring unique strengths onto the field under Washington skies. Fans eager to witness this encounter can tune into local broadcasts or head over to Nationals Park for an evening start time of what could be another memorable chapter in this season's storybook for HOU or WSH alike.

Remember: First pitch is scheduled for April 20th at precisely four past eight PM Eastern Time right here in Washington DC!

Carlos Cortes

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