Nats Drop Another One, 7-6
The Nats fell behind 6-0 after one inning but got them all back in the 7th to tie it. Alas, a double and a Darren Baker error put a runner on third with less than two out in the 8th and the Mets cashed it in with a sac fly to give Washington a 7-6 loss on Sunday afternoon.
It was the second of two errors, which rendered five of the first six runs unearned, though Washington starter Jake Irvin was smoked for a two-run HR and a grand slam by former Nats prospect Jakson Reetz.
Irvin was lifted for Marquis Grissom (see: goofy ST rules), who got the last out of the 1st, then returned to pitch in the 2nd, 3rd, and got two outs in the 4th before he was taken out again in favor of Brad Lord whot got the last out and stranded a runner.
Irvin finished with the aforementioned six runs allowed (one earned) on four hits (two HR) and three walks while getting ten outs.
Lord lowered his spring ERA to 0.93 with two and a 1/3rd scoreless innings. He gave up one hit, no walks, and struck out two.
The loss went to Orlando Ribalta, who was charged with the final, unearned Mets run while pitching the 7th and 8th innings. He struck out three.
Dylan Crews did not start for the second straight game, with Andrew Pinckney manning CF for the entire game, going 1-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Daylen Lile also played the whole game, reaching base three times on a pair of walks and a Robles and driving in a run. He was 0-for-2 otherwise.
Here’s how the rest of the watchlisters did:
- Elijah Green pinch-ran for Stone Garrett in the top of the 9th and did not score. He also did not strike out.
- Brady House subbed for Paul DeJong in the 6th and singled in the 7th, scoring the second run of the six-run rally.
- Cayden Wallace replaced Luis García Jr. at 2B in the 7th and drew a walk in the 8th.
- Darren Baker followed Alex Call in LF in the 7th and struck out in the 8th.
The Nats and Marlins will split their squads tomorrow, with Washington heading to Jupiter to play Miami for the afternoon game and a vice-versa for West Palm Beach in the evening. Mitchell Parker is expected to start the road game while Shinnosuke Ogasawara is slated for the bump at home.
Baker had the error in the 8th, not Lile.
Ribalta having a very solid spring. truth be told Baker misplayed that fly ball into a double before the error.
I’m running out of superlatives on Lord.
Finnegan, Lopez, Ferrer, Sims, Poche, Salazar, Ribalta, Lord.
Got something better?
Without much to watch for among the batters. With the FA signings this winter, there aren’t any roster spots up for grabs among the prospects, except perhaps Adams vs Millas, and Millas isn’t helping his cause at all.
But the pitchers remain very interesting. Someone is going to be unjustly bumped from the rotation among Irvin, Parker and Herz, and it’s hard to make out who’s faring the worst.
Irvin always seemed the least likely of the three to get cut, and based on usage to date, that seems to be the case. He’s started more games than anyone else (3), and sports an impressive 0.84 ERA. But it’s not all rosy, as he’s allowed 5 unearned runs, and walked more batters (6) than he’s struck out (5).
Herz has had a bumpier start. He has a 8.10 ERA and really struggled with his command (7 BB in only 6.2 IP and only 3 K).
But perhaps most peculiarly, Parker hasn’t yet started a game. He’s only thrown twice (3.1 IP) and done okay. 5.40 ERA, 3 K, 1.50 WHIP. Good to see he’ll get his first start today.
Among the relievers, there’s an even more interesting competition. I’d assumed Finnegan, Law, Ferrer, Lopez, Sims, and Reifert were essentially to make the OD roster, leaving two vacancies.
And Salazar and Poche would be favorites for the last two spots, but Brzykcy, Ribalta, and Helvey as outside shots. But I didn’t expect the emergence of Henry, who’s been red hot, posting a perfect ERA, as well as 9 K and 0 BB in only 4.2 IP. Ribalta has been just as good. The hit he allowed yesterday was the first of the spring, and he’s struck out 10 in 7.1 IP, and sports a 0.55 WHIP.
Salazar, for his part, has been very good too, with a 0.00 ERA, 7 K in 6.2 IP, and a 0.60 WHIP.
But the most unexpected development has been the usage of Brad Lord in relief. As Luke mentioned, his ERA sits at 0.93, with a 0.62 WHIP.
Reifert, Brzykcy, Poche and Sims, on the other hand, have been bad, each with ERAs 9.00 or higher.
And unreported everywhere is Derek Law’s status. He’s still not appeared in a game, strongly suggesting an injury. For that matter, neither has Finnegan.
As a result, it seems like there’s currently 3 bullpen spots available, maybe even 4 if Reifert continues to struggle, and potentially a 5th if Finnegan needs some more preparation time, given his late arrival.
Ribalta, Lord and Henry just might be playing themselves into a roster spot.
Parker vs Herz is the one to watch for me. I’m picking Parker to make the club even though I think Herz is the better prospect.
Riefert over Salazar is possible because the latter has an option.
and yes, I forgot about Law
Seems everyone has!
While I think Lord is making a very strong case, I think the Nats in the end will opt for a bunch of other players ahead of him, if only for the roster flexibility and not burning options/making 40 man decisions before it’s absolutely necessary. Lord isn’t on the 40 man roster, which they’ve made a mess of by hoarding a dozen crappy middle infielders, so to add him, will necessitate releasing another reliever or someone like Darren Baker or Andres Chaparro.
Instead, I expect they’ll start the season with Rutledge or Reifert, even if they continue posting unsightly ST stats, and let them play themselves out of a 40 man roster spot, before giving Lord a chance.
On the other hand, Henry, Ribalta, Salazar, Brzykcy, Ogasawara, Reifert and Rutledge are, so they’ll get prioritized.
But it’s also why Poche is a longer shot too. He still would need to be rostered. But given there’s still no signs of life from Cavalli, it seems to me that one roster spot to be found would be to add Cavalli to the 60 day IL, since he still seems a long way off to contending for big league innings.
On Parker vs Herz, I think you’re right.
In any case, Herz has a IP cap to worry about. He maxed out at 138 IP last season, a career high, so there’s value in limiting his innings to start the season in AAA. In the ideal scenario, you ramp him up in May, and then promote him in June, when the Nats make an early trade of Soroka (or move him to the bullpen if he’s floundering). But more likely one of the SPs gets injured (or shelled), and you don’t need to do anything about Soroka to promote Herz.
But in the long run, I think Herz has more upside than everyone except Gore in the rotation, and if Gore can’t find consistency soon, there’s a not unlikely scenario where Herz becomes the Nats’ ace in a season or two (but hopefully we’ll have signed a real ace, like Cease or Skubal in free agency).
Fred MD : George Bamburger in BALT and MIL always loved a pitcher giving up a solo HR preferred to walking a few batters than giving up a tater .
Henry has already been sent to minor league camp.