Time to turn it around

In a game that was obviously written up before the season began, the Nats cruised to an easy victory as Corbin looked like an ace pitching 7 innings of 5 hit, 9K, no walk ball and the Nats got big homers from both their free agent power bats - Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber. The reality of watching the game was the Phillies got 1 in the first, the Nats got 4 and everyone kind of packed it in after that. The ump widened the zone and both teams would have 5 baserunners a piece for the next 8 innings. There was a small bit of worry as Rainey couldn't help himself from causing issues but that ended up being nothing as Hudson shut the door on the rally. It was a getaway day game in all it's glory. 

The Mets have taken advantage of an easy section of their schedule to build up a little lead, the Nats in last falling 5 games behind. But now the Mets take on the Rays and the Braves - likely a .500 stretch at best and a chance for the Nats to start making up some ground (if they are going to do it). 

Onto Arizona! 

The Dbacks have the bad luck of being in the division with the two pre-season best teams (SDP and LAD) and the biggest surprise of the year (SFG).  They've been a .500 team since playing the Nationals and have developed some hitters. Carson Kelly - once a solid catching prospect - is hitting like an All-Star and Josh Rojas has come out of nowhere to slug in the middle of the line-up. Add to the solid vet bats of Asdrubal and David Peralta and it's a solid core. Around that core though - without Calhoun (out for 2 months or so) or Marte (should be back soon - maybe this series? not tonight though - playing a sim game tonight) - it's weak.  They keep playing around with positioning to get the worst hitters out and hotter bats in the line-up but it's a shell game. So far they are winning, but for how long. 

Pitching wise the pen peaks at ok and goes downhill from there. Caleb Smith and Stefan Crichton might develop into a good 1-2 at the end but aren't there yet. So if you can get to the middle of the pen, you're gold. Pitching wise the D-backs only go two deep, one of which Zac Gallen - is out for at least a month, maybe the season. The other in Bumgarner.  The Nats will miss the two guys I'd want to face, just a 5th starter Merrill Kelly, and not even a 5th starter Matt Peacock (assumed no relation)

Probables

Scherzer vs Riley Smith - Scherzer was great last time out.  Arizona can be a homer filled place but Max can be awesome anywhere. Games against Riley Smith are sequence determined. He'll give up hits and walks and not strike out many, but doesn't give up the longball. How grouped they are will determine how bad it gets.

Ross vs ??? (but it's Luke Weaver's turn) - Ross was acceptable again against NY but the 5 walks was a troubling new problem. The D-backs are another walking team. He should pitch about 5, give up 3 and we'll see if the pen can hold. Weaver, once a top prospect, is a fun watch. His games either seem to go one way or the other and a cursory examination doesn't give me any reason why. Usually goes the opponents way though

Fedde vs ??? (but it's Bumgarner's turn) Fedde has lost the strike zone and with it his effectiveness. He can manage a not bad start (last one wasn't bad) but it's on the edge for something worse. I'm not excited for this one. Bumgarner has pitched like the Bumgarner of old the past month. A 0.90 ERA in his last 4 starts, 12 hits, 2 walks, and 34 K s in 30 innings.  Big advantage here for the D-backs. 

Normally .500+ vs .500+ (which is how I see these teams in a vacuum) you give 2 to the team at home but the Nats can't afford another series loss. There isn't time to do what the Nats are expected to do because the Nats have to play like a good team (90+ wins) the rest of the way to have a shot at the playoffs. It's not impossible but it's gotta start sometime. Now is a time that it could.