Washington Nationals have the advantage going back home
The Washington Nationals tied up the series with the help of Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer, and as they head back to DC for Game 3, do they have the advantage?
The Washington Nationals won the Wild Card game to advance to the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. But then they fell flat, losing 6-0 in game 1.
Stephen Strasburg, who has been their best starter down the stretch, took a perfect game into the 6th, and Max Scherzer came out of the bullpen two innings later to strike out the side in just 14 pitches.
Daniel Hudson closed out the series-tying win, and Washington now gets on the plane to head back home with the advantage in the series.
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I know the Dodgers have a great lineup, and they are confident in Hyun-Jin Ryu, who is starting in Game 3 on Sunday night, but the Nats now have home-field advantage for the next two games with Max Scherzer on the mound for either Game 3 or Game 4.
I think the Nats have the advantage now not just because of their lineup, but because of who their lineup is facing.
Ryu hasn’t proved himself in the postseason as of yet, and Rich Hill is starting Game 4, which could close out the series.
Hill is getting up there in age and he was grimacing throughout his three-inning outing in San Diego at the end of September, in addition to having a knee brace below his pants.
I think Dave Martinez‘s squad will match up well, especially if Scherzer pitches Game 4 to secure what should be an easy win vs Rich Hill.
So, the worst-case scenario for the Nats is they have to go play Game 5 with Stephen Strasburg on the mound, who has a 0.64 postseason ERA. Not bad.
Next. Strasburg next great postseason ace. dark
If it were to go to a fifth game, I would still give the Washington Nationals the advantage, as they would be able to use Scherzer for an inning with at least a day of rest in addition to Patrick Corbin out of the bullpen.