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Washington Nationals: Are They Ready For Cubs Series?

By Walter Yeates

Jun 12, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker (12) in the dugout during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 12, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker (12) in the dugout during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 8, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 8, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

In order for the Nationals to win this three game set against the Cubs, they are going to have to receive great starting pitching from Max Scherzer (Monday), Gio Gonzalez (Tuesday), and Stephen Strasburg (Wednesday).

Both Gonzalez (5.54) and Strasburg (5.11) have struggled through their first two starts in the month of June. Of note Strasburg’s struggles have come against a moderate Cincinnati Reds offense where he gave up homeruns to Jay Bruce and Joey Votto on June 4th.

Strasburg gave up 4 over 7 innings to the desolate Phillies offense – giving up a homerun to first baseman Tommy Joseph. Each of the homeruns he’s giving up during his June starts have been off his secondary pitches. Bruce catching a changeup, Votto the curve, and Joseph a slider.

Since we’re on the homerun, Scherzer has given up an NL leading 16 thus far during the 2016 campaign and was victimized 4 times by the Cubs on his May 6th outing. Ben Zobrist got him twice while Tommy La Stella and Anthony Rizzo added in one of their own. It was Scherzer’s worst outing of the season as he gave up 7 over 5 innings.

Not to be left out the Cubs touched up Gonzalez as well giving up 5 over 5 2/3 innings on May 7th. The quick moral of the story is, if these three struggle the Nationals will be starring at another sweep at the hands of the team with best record in baseball.

Next: The Nats Better Do This Too

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