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Wild numbers show just how dominant Washington Nationals can be

ByKevin Henry|
May 28, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto (22) is congratulated by Washington Nationals second baseman Cesar Hernandez (1) after scoring runs against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto (22) is congratulated by Washington Nationals second baseman Cesar Hernandez (1) after scoring runs against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Take a peek at the standings in the National League East and you will see the Washington Nationals at the bottom with a 17-31 mark heading into Sunday’s action. However, for a Nationals team that can flex its muscles at the plate in any given game, overall team numbers don’t tell the whole strange story.

When the Washington Nationals are good at the plate, they’re very good and can put up some impressive numbers

After posting a 13-7 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday in the first game of a double-header in the nation’s capital, the Washington Nationals have scored at least 10 runs in six games this season. That number is tied for the most in all of Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers, all teams much higher in the standings than the Nationals.

Let’s expand on that Washington production a little bit more. In the 17 games the Nationals have won this season, they have totaled 129 runs, an average of 7.59 per game. In those same 17 wins, the Nationals have outscored their opponents by a 129-47 margin (+82 in run differential). As a mode of comparison, the Los Angeles Dodgers led MLB in run differential heading into Saturday’s action at +116 (in all games, wins or losses).

But here’s where the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the Nationals comes into play. In their 31 losses, the Nationals have been outscored by a 202-66 margin (minus-136) and they are averaging 2.13 runs per game.

It’s a stark contrast for a team that has Juan Soto, Josh Bell, and Nelson Cruz in the lineup, yet has Yadiel Hernández pacing Washington with an OPS+ of 139 heading into Sunday.

And yes, Washington showed both sides of the Jekyll and Hyde production at the plate in Saturday’s double-header against the Rockies, scoring 13 in the opening game to win and following that up with just a pair of runs in a loss in the nightcap.

The Washington Nationals have shown they can produce some high-powered offense this season, but it’s not been often enough for a team that will most likely be a seller at the trade deadline.

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