National Update - Nats Bounce Back, Split Series with Braves

And after the weekend, we are right back where we started. The Nats split this weekend with the Braves, dropping the first two and giving the Braves hope that they would lead the division once this series concluded.

The Nats had other ideas, coming back over the weekend and letting them know who's in charge. They regain the 1.5 game lead over the Braves and immediately fly out to Milwaukee (47-30) for a three game series, followed by a four game series against the Cubs (31-42).

Series Recap:

Some takeaways from this series:

Four or More to Seal the Door
As Michael Smith would say, "The number for the Nationals is 4!" The Nationals are officially 33-3 when scoring 4+ runs, and 6-32 in the games they fail to score 4+ runs. Not to mention that all three of the 4+ run losses are in extra innings, one coming this weekend after the Rendon bomb in the bottom of the ninth. While 4 is somewhat the magic number for all teams in the majors, this is a true credit to the Nationals pitching staff. Still holding on to the second best team ERA, and best bullpen ERA in the major leagues, the Nattys need to be able to take advantage of that when at the plate. The Nats are middle of the pack in terms of runs scored per game (4.05). If they can even up that by half a run, that jumps them up 10 spots, and puts them basically in the drivers seat in the division. The Marlins are the only team in the division with a higher RPG (4.35) while the Braves are 29th in the league (3.57).

Rollin Rollin Rendon
Anthony Michael Rendon must be butter, because the kid is on a fucking roll as of late. While he only hit 9-25 in this homestand, it's somewhat skewed by the 1-6 day in which he tied the game in the 9th with a two run bomb. Of the 11 runs the Nats scored this weekend against the Braves, he accounted for 6 of them. He's really coming into his own after being put into the starting line-up at 3B while Zimmerman plays in LF. Plus, you can basically put him anywhere in the infield, and will likely move back to 2B when Harper returns and Zimm goes back to third. Rendon is second in the team in home runs and RBI's only behind Ian Desmond. With those two up the middle, the youth movement that is the Nationals continues to look promising.

K - Thats Not Good
To continue with the talk about the offense, the Nationals are striking out A LOT. Braves pitching were dialed in this weekend, at times making the Nats look silly at the plate. Minor (11), Teheran (10), Santana (9), Floyd (6), Jaime (3), Kimbrel (2), Varvaro (1), Avilan (1), Buchter (1), Walden (1). Of the 120 outs the Braves recorded, the Nats struck out for 45 of them. Thats 38% of their outs coming without even putting the ball in play, which is 38% more than I'd like it to be. Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond lead the charge this weekend with 10 K's a piece and both going 2-16. With Desmond as the leader in HR and RBIs for the club, he can't be killing himself at the dish. Sometimes it feels like he's up there to crush the ball, when all he needs to do it put the ball in play, he's an asset on the bases as well. Jayson's been in the middle of a cold streak, and needs to channel the beard magic and heat up again. Can't have the 3-spot turn into an automatic out in the line-up. He just needs to loosen up a bit, a la 2013:

Werth definitely rages, even at the ripe age of 35. Pretty sure he was at PCBSB '14 in between Spring Training games, just crushing Nattys (of course) with frat stars everywhere. I wish Werth could wear this every at-bat. 0 fucks given. That for sure would break the slump.

The series against Milwaukee should be a great test for the Nationals, as the Brewers are starting to pull away in the NL Central. Gio Gonzalez (3-4) looks to rebound from his last outing against the always colorful Matt Garza (4-4) tonight for game one of three.

In other news get your Potomac Nats tickets for tonight! Harper set to make his rehab debut.