Game of the Week: April 8: WAS @ PHI

[Commissioner Erick]

Washington Nationals (6-2) @ Philadelphia Phillies (7-1)


WAS: Joe Ross (1-0, 3.00)
PHI: Franklyn Kilome (2-0, 1.35)


The Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies have been the two best teams in the National League East for four consecutive seasons, and 2024 is shaping up no differently. The two bruisers will clash for the third time this season when the Washington Nationals visit Philadelphia to take on the Phillies for the Game of the Week.

The two clubs split a short two-game set last week in Washington, with tonight's Phillies starter, Franklyn Kilome, earning the win in his start. Kilome continues a sensational run the past two season. He went 20-3 last year, 4-0 without allowing an earned run last postseason, 1-0 with two saves in the World Baseball Classic, and 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in the early going this year. In fact, Kyle Seager's home run off Kilome stopped a stretch of 39 consecutive innings without an earned run allowed against PBA hitters, dating back to a Jimmy McCabe homer in the seventh inning of a 2-1 win over Atlanta last September 30.

Much of Kilome's postseason brilliance last year came against the Washington Nationals. He got a win in Game 1, working 6.1 shutout innings, then came back for Game 5 and allowed only an unearned run in 7 innings as the Phillies advanced.

He'll be exceptionally tough for a Nationals team dealing with a pair of struggling stars. Bryce Harper hasn't homered yet to begin the season and Mike Trout has returned from a down season and a dreary World Baseball Classic with a disappointing start. He's slugging .286 after slugging .278 in the WBC and hasn't played like a $70 million player. The Nationals have made up for it with four home runs from newly signed Kyle Seager, plus a nice .304 start from Kolten Wong. Victor Robles has been the one star who is hitting for Washington, raking to a .433 average with three home runs and three steals in the early going. Nonethless, the Nationals will need Harper and Trout to play like stars should they wish to win a championship.

On the pitching front, the Nationals seemed to have solved their bullpen issues. Last year's First Round pick, Omar Lara, has worked 3 hitless innings, striking out seven and earning a save as the new closer. Nick Burdi and Jon Carter haven't allowed a run as the trio, neither of which was on Washington's team before last year's trade deadline, have brought stability to a previously unstable situation.

They'll have their work cut out for them as the Phillies are firing on all cylinders and lead the league in OPS. Six regulars are hitting over .300 and the club has 16 home runs, second in the league. Darrick Hall has been feasting with all the men on base. He has 10 RBIs, second in the league, and three home runs after leading the league in 57 bombs last year, and leading the World Baseball Classic with six slams in the tournament. It's a terrifying group, and a tough task for the Nationals to overcome.


Questions for the GMs:


For Jake Pennel, are you happy to see your team performing well despite slow starts to Harper and Trout or concerned the duo isn't hitting well?

You signed Kyle Seager late in Free Agency. Why did you target Seager specifically?

Some are surprised you didn't dish out another one-year contract to Eric Thames again. What do you have to say about his three-year run with your club?

For Matt Grubs, you've had a lot of experience with the Nationals. What would you say is your key to winning this game?

Yoenis Cespedes had a brutal World Baseball Classic and has been rough to start the season, especially as he's had only three at bats against left-handed pitching. Will you continue to use him as an every day starter?

Is Franklyn Kilome the best pitcher in baseball?


TRIVIA: Among Washington's most common starting nine in 2017, Bryce Harper is the only player still with the Nationals. Who is the only other player still on a PBA team?

[Grubs - Philly]

For Matt Grubs, you've had a lot of experience with the Nationals. What would you say is your key to winning this game?

It's a little tricky with Ross, because we need to be patient but not necessarily with the goal of drawing a walk. He's hittable, so we need to look for our pitches without getting into a guessing game (though if we do – and guess right – the long ball could be key). I think we need to once again seek to limit Harper and Trout and be aggressive seeking outs throughout the lineup.

In a broader sense, I've started thinking of the Nats as more of a pitching-first club, which is both crazy with Harper and Trout in the lineup (and perhaps flukey), and a testament to Jake's roster construction. This team doesn't quit.

Yoenis Cespedes had a brutal World Baseball Classic and has been rough to start the season, especially as he's had only three at bats against left-handed pitching. Will you continue to use him as an every day starter?

Ideally, no. Hang with me here...

Andres Gimenez' nagging injury is the butterfly flapping its wings halfway around the world for us. Ideally, I'd have Franco playing DH and a better defensive option at third against righties. But Gimenez being down means we're a little hamstrung. I've tried to create flexibility in the lineup, and I'm sure I'll find something, but right now, the lack of a natural SS replacement is bugging me. I'd like to move Gimenez to second where he's actually a better defender and he doesn't have the throws to make at short that aggravate that elbow. I'm going to need to trust Sierra, as he was clutch in our fall run. Also, I'm kind of itching to pull up Jonathan "El Aspirador" Guzman from AAA just to see that defense in action.

Right. So, Cespedes. I signed him mainly to platoon against lefties, either as DH or in left field. It's still early, and figuring out who's going to produce in those infield spots is key to freeing up Franco for DH against righties (where he's produced better than against lefties for years, ratings be damned – damned ratings) and truly turning Cespedes in to the lock-down platoon option we thought he'd be. 

Is Franklyn Kilome the best pitcher in baseball?

Franklyn is blossoming and we love it. Ask him, and he'll say no. That speaks to how determined this kid is. Having Madison Bumgarner around has helped his mental game. When Franklyn developed his curve two offseasons back, things clicked, and the recent scoreless innings streak (which I didn't know about) proved he can be elite. (Interesting side note: his unearned run in the playoffs was a homer.)

[pennelwashington]

For Jake Pennel, are you happy to see your team performing well despite slow starts to Harper and Trout or concerned the duo isn't hitting well?

Of course I’m glad my team is performing well, but they could be performing better. If Trout and Harper get back to normal this team will win the division.

You signed Kyle Seager late in Free Agency. Why did you target Seager specifically?

We felt like we needed another good hitter in the lineup and Seager was the best player available. Everyone we had at 3B before was replaceable as well.

Some are surprised you didn't dish out another one-year contract to Eric Thames again. What do you have to say about his three-year run with your club?

Eric Thames was a solid addition to the Nationals for those few years we had him. We felt like it was time to move on and make more roster space for the younger guys. The signing of Wil Myers also pushed him out of the lineup.

[Ben_Dodgers]

Trivia: Daniel Murphy

[Commissioner Erick]

Aug 9, 2020 11:26:41 GMT -5 Ben_Dodgers said:

Trivia: Daniel Murphy

Correct!

[Commissioner Erick]

Nationals 9 - Phillies 1


WP: J. Ross (2-0)
LP: F. Kilome (2-1)


The Washington Nationals dealt the Philadelphia Phillies a loss at Citizens Bank Park. The final score was 9-1. Luis V. Garcia was especially productive for Washington. In addition to his 2 singles and 1 triple, he scored 2 runs and drove in 4. Joe Ross got the win, improving to 2-0. He pitched 6 innings, giving up 4 hits and 1 run, while striking out 4 and walking 1. The win has Washington at 7-2.

Garcia had a key at-bat for Washington early in the game. With the bases loaded, he hit a bases-clearing triple. It was his 1st triple of the season and gave Washington an early 3-0 lead.

"Good baseball players make you a smarter manager," said Washington manager Jake Pennel.


Questions for the GMs:


For Jake Pennel, Joe Ross has gotten lost in the shuffle somewhat despite two All-Star appearances and over seven years of consistently strong pitching. What do you have to say about how Ross has performed for the Nationals over his career?

Philadelphia is such a talented team. How were you able to slow down their offense?

Ezquiel Garay had really struggled in the early going and didn't hit well for Brazil in the WBC. How big was it to see him have a strong performance today?

For Matt Grubs, looks like your club just didn't have it today. You wanted your lineup to take pitches, but only six times did your hitters take the first two pitches of an at bat, getting a base hit, a walk, grounding into a double play, lining out softly, and striking out twice during those situations. Did Ross bust the approach or was the execution bad?

You removed Cespedes from the lineup, going with Miguelangel Sierra at Shortstop where he went 0-3. How did you feel about the new offensive alignment?

J.T. Realmuto went 0-3 with two strikeouts and a Passed Ball. I'm sure you can tolerate the bad offense, but combined with the rough defense, does he have a short leash? Austin Hedges was excellent defensively for you and Travis D'Arnaud before him was one of the better hitting Catchers in the league.


TRIVIA: Joe Ross is one of four Nationals pitchers that Darick Hall has faced more than 18 times. Which Nationals pitcher is the pitcher Hall has homered off of most frequently, going yard five times?

[Grubs - Philly]

For Matt Grubs, looks like your club just didn't have it today. You wanted your lineup to take pitches, but only six times did your hitters take the first two pitches of an at bat, getting a base hit, a walk, grounding into a double play, lining out softly, and striking out twice during those situations. Did Ross bust the approach or was the execution bad?

I think it was a combination. When we didn't capitalize on that walk in the first inning, we missed a chance to set him off balance. That's been a big issue with us over the past few years and it's time to tinker a bit to see if there's a way to solve it. Ross was on his game.

You removed Cespedes from the lineup, going with Miguelangel Sierra at Shortstop where he went 0-3. How did you feel about the new offensive alignment?

I feel better about the new defensive, alignment, that's for sure! Cespedes is in against lefties, but we only faced one this week, and he homered. (Lefty Andy Buzzell was used as an opener, and my AI is based on the follower's handedness.) Sierra did okay in the rest of the games, hitting .250 with a couple doubles, four runs scored and an RBI. He has a couple errors (one of which came in the GOTW), but I trust his defense. Maikel Franco has been okay as DH against righties, swatting a couple homers in the other two games against Washington.

J.T. Realmuto went 0-3 with two strikeouts and a Passed Ball. I'm sure you can tolerate the bad offense, but combined with the rough defense, does he have a short leash? Austin Hedges was excellent defensively for you and Travis D'Arnaud before him was one of the better hitting Catchers in the league.

Catchers have been such a saga for us. I generally consider whatever offense I get to be a bonus at that spot. Even the guys like Realmuto and the ones you mentioned feel as though I can't rely on them offensively. J.T. has actually done well from a game-calling perspective, with a CERA of 3.23. It's not a straight platoon between him and Tim Susnara, but they alternate games and so far I'm pleased with what I've seen. 

TRIVIA: Joe Ross is one of four Nationals pitchers that Darick Hall has faced more than 18 times. Which Nationals pitcher is the pitcher Hall has homered off of most frequently, going yard five times?

Eric Pena. Bring it.

[Grubs - Philly]

Hey Commish, did I get the trivia?

[Commissioner Erick]

Aug 20, 2020 19:59:14 GMT -5 Grubs - Philly said:

Hey Commish, did I get the trivia?

You did!