With a pair of two-run homers – the second with two outs in the bottom of the 11th – James Wood led the Washington Nationals to a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies yesterday. That win ended an 11-game losing streak for the Nats, just in time for them to board the plane for Los Angeles to begin a nine-game road trip where they’ll take on the Dodgers, Padres and Angels.
Now what?
Washington had been nearing the elusive .500 mark at 30-33 prior to the recent fruitless stretch, and some of us were thinking a run at a playoff berth was a distinct possibility. That illusion has been thoroughly shattered, but there are still reasons to watch this team. And the foremost of those is Wood.
All Star in the making
The voting doesn’t reflect this – Wood ranks ninth among NL outfielders in the first tabulation of fan votes – but Wood’s stats put him at or near the top in nearly every offensive category. He’s first in OPS (on-base plus slugging) at .944; he’s tied for first in homers with 20; he’s second in RBI with 56; he’s fourth in batting average at .284. It doesn’t look like the fans will vote him onto the team, but he will surely be picked by NL team manager Dave Roberts.
Anyone else worth watching?
Reclamation project Michael Soroka looks like he may have been worth the modest investment the Nats made in him. He has averaged seven strikeouts in his last three starts, each of which has lasted five innings or more. Reliever Zach Brzykcy has allowed just two hits and no runs in seven appearances. MacKenzie Gore continues to lead the NL in strikeouts, and Kyle Finnegan is second in saves.
Elsewhere, the Nats’ middle infield is looking solid offensively; CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia are both batting over .300 in the team’s last 15 games. And the future is now for third baseman Brady House, who has displayed stellar defensive skills since being called up in the middle of the losing streak.
And that’s about it. After the recent awful stretch, the Nats will only be a factor in the playoff picture as a spoiler, and fans can expect GM Mike Rizzo to deal veterans for prospects after the All-Star break – again.
The post Nats conclude brutal home stand with walk-off win appeared first on Marylandsportsblog.com.