Washington Nationals: Ideal starting lineup for NL Wild Card Game

Washington Nationals manager Davey Martinez has one particularly tough lineup decision to make before Tuesday’s 2019 National League Wild Card Game.

For the first time in franchise history, the Washington Nationals will host the NL Wild Card Game at Nationals Park. After starting 19-31, the Nats staged a stunning turnaround that culminated with clinching home-field advantage in the sudden death play-in game.

To advance to the National League Division Series, the Nationals must first find a way to survive on Tuesday night. While Max Scherzer has already been announced as Washington’s starting pitcher, Nats skipper Davey Martinez‘s attention must now turn to constructing the best possible lineup.

While the top four hitters are set, the fifth through eighth spots are not. Assuming the Nats will be facing a right-handed starting pitcher, here is how Martinez should fill out the most important lineup card of his two-year managerial career.

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• Trea Turner SS (R)
• Adam Eaton RF (L)
• Anthony Rendon 3B (R)
• Juan Soto LF (L)
• Howie Kendrick 1B (R)
• Asdrubal Cabrera 2B (S)
• Kurt Suzuki C (R)
• Victor Robles CF (R)
• Scherzer RHP (R)

The most difficult decision is probably whether to start Kendrick or beloved Nationals lifer Ryan Zimmerman. Upon delving into the numbers, however, it’s not a close call. While Zimmerman is the better defensive player, he’s hitting just .215 in 121 at-bats against right-handed pitching this year. Kendrick is hitting .327 vs. righties and a staggering .344 overall. He must be in the lineup.

Zimmerman, nicknamed “Mr. Walkoff” in Washington, will be available as both a pinch-hitter and late-inning defensive replacement. Brian Dozier, who’s hit 20 home runs but definitely shouldn’t start over the red hot, switch-hitting Cabrera, can play a similar role. From the left side, “Baby Shark” Gerardo Parra and Matt Adams should be dangerous bench weapons for the Nats.

In all, the Washington Nationals seem poised to make life stressful for their wild card opponent and, possibly, the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers in what would be an intriguing NLDS matchup. After an unlikely run to the postseason for the Nats, it all comes down to Tuesday night.