The Nationals struggling, and more
The Washington Nationals were supposed to go approximately 162-0 this season. With a rotation featuring Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister and Jordan Zimmermann, Washington is not allowed to go into a slump. After all, how can that staff ever have a tough stretch?
Well, the impossible has happened. The Nationals are 2-6, sitting dead last in the National League alongside the Miami Marlins. Somehow, Washington is already four games behind the surprising Atlanta Braves in the mediocre NL East.
With 154 games left in the regular season, there is obviously no need for major concern. However, the Nationals have a disturbing history of under-performing. Last year, Washington made the playoffs as the top seed in the National League only to be wiped out in four quick games by the San Francisco Giants. In 2013, the Nationals were supposed to be a World Series contender only to miss the postseason. In 2012, Washington won the NL East but was beaten in five brutal games by the St. Louis Cardinals.
In the nation’s capital, it seems Matt Williams’ club needs to make the mental jump more than anything. The Nationals have an insane amount of talent with the aforementioned pitching and hitters including Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Denard Span, Jayson Werth and more.
It remains extremely early, but Washington needs to get on the right track and start winning a few ball games.
Brewers in for a long campaign?
The Milwaukee Brewers were projected to be a mediocre team, but that prognostication might be generous. With Kyle Lohse as their ace and Matt Garza behind him, the Brewers are woefully thin in the rotation. However, a dangerous lineup should be able to prop the pitching up to some extent.
Instead, the hitting has not come around early. Milwaukee has only scored 21 runs in seven games, with Ryan Braun hitting .222 with zero home runs and one RBI. Jonathan Lucroy, a 2014 NL All-Star, is batting a pathetic .087 in 23 at-bats without a homer or an RBI.
Rockies off to hot start
Nobody expects the Colorado Rockies to contend for very long. The pitching is bad and stars such as Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez always end up on the disabled list. Yet, Colorado is giving its fans some early hope with an NL West-leading 6-2 mark.
Perhaps most impressively, the Rockies are 5-0 on the road. Colorado has an NL-best +18 run differential due in large part to 41 runs scored, the best in the National League.
Dodgers winning in grand fashion
On Monday and Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers fell behind the Seattle Mariners early, only to battle back and win both with walk-offs. On Tuesday, it was Howie Kendrick earning a broken-bat, two-run single to take down Seattle. It’s early, but Los Angeles has some mojo.
