When the Nationals arrived in Washington last week to commence their home slate, they were a 4-2 club coming off consecutive losses but still moving in the right direction. An 11-game homestand was ahead. It was an opportunity to pile up some early wins, first against a couple of National League East foes, then against one of last season’s playoff teams. A week later, the Nationals are 2-4 at home and have lost six of eight overall. To break even for the homestand, they’ll need to win three of four against the Rockies, a talented but scuffling 2017 NL wild-card team coming to town for a series beginning Thursday.
The Nationals suffered their second 12-inning loss in four days Wednesday, when their two comeback attempts fell short against the Braves. Colorado, meanwhile, avoided getting swept by the Padres with a heated 6-4 win at Coors Field to improve to 6-7. The Rockies played most of the game without all-star third baseman Nolan Arenado. The perennial MVP candidate was ejected in the third inning when Luis Perdomo threw behind him and he charged the mound. Benches cleared. Punches were thrown. Arenado, Perdomo and three others were ejected.
After Sunday, the Rockies and Nationals won’t meet again until the final weekend of the season in Denver.
BRAWL AFTERMATH
There will be consequences for Wednesday’s brawl at Coors Field. The question is how severe. Arenado likely faces a suspension for chasing down Perdomo, who threw his glove at the charging slugger before backpedaling away. A furious Arenado, screaming, also threw a couple punches. None landed, but that doesn’t matter much to MLB’s discipline committee.
Rockies outfielder Gerardo Parra reportedly landed a punch Padres catcher A.J. Ellis’s face, and also surely faces suspension. Former National Ian Desmond had to hold Ellis back from pursuing Parra.
Players can appeal suspensions. Both Arenado and Parra, and any other player facing a ban, will likely exercise that right, which could keep them available for the entire series depending how quickly MLB rules on their cases.
WHO’S BEHIND THE PLATE?
The Nationals could’ve waited to confront their catching situation this week. Eventually, when both Miguel Montero and Matt Wieters returned, they would to decide whether to carry three catchers, designate Miguel Montero for assignment or send Pedro Severino to the minors. Their decision arrived Wednesday. Severino was sticking around. Montero was gone.
Now the question becomes how the club will divide the playing time between Wieters and Severino. Wieters is a 10-year veteran. He is regularly commended for his game-calling. Pitchers like working with him. But Severino, 24, might have the advantage in most everything else. He is a better defender. He is faster. Their bats are probably a wash.
Wieters was activated from the 10-day disabled list Wednesday, but Severino started. It could’ve just been to give Wieters another day after he caught eight innings for Class A Potomac on Tuesday. Washington could go end up going with a straight platoon; Wieters is a switch-hitter and Severino hits right-handed. Maybe they’ll play the specific matchups. Whatever they decide, the Nationals have said they want to reduce Wieters’s workload after he appeared in 123 games last season, so expect a more even division of playing time.
[ Boswell: What, Nats worry? A 6-6 start has reasons for optimism — and some cause for concern ]
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE 1-2 PUNCH?
Not many teams in the history of the sport have enjoyed the luxury of rolling out a pair of aces like Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg on back-to-back days. The Braves know. They were at the wrong end of dominant outings from the right-handers Monday and Tuesday. The duo combined for 18 strikeouts and two walks over 17 scoreless innings. The Braves managed five hits. It was a brilliant two-night display.
They’ll take the mound again this weekend in the final two games of the series. Scherzer will oppose Jon Gray, and it’ll be Strasburg against Tyler Anderson. Seeking his third consecutive NL Cy Young, Scherzer has a 0.90 through three starts. He’s struck out 27 batters and walked three. Strasburg, meanwhile, boasts the best ERA in baseball (0.84) since coming off the disabled list last August (minimum 30 innings).
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday: RHP Chad Bettis vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez
Friday: LHP Kyle Freeland vs RHP Tanner Roark
Saturday: RHP Jon Gray vs. RHP Max Scherzer
Sunday: LHP Tyler Anderson vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg
Read more Nationals coverage:
Nationals waste two late comebacks, fall to Braves in 12 innings, 5-3
Max Scherzer joined some elite company (again) with his performance Monday
Nationals place Adam Eaton on disabled list, promote Moises Sierra
