The 2019 Washington Nationals are like a reluctant child in learn-to-swim courses. They keep treading water.
Every time you believe that they may be poised to make a go about the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves, the Nats shrivel up and let the opportunity escape them.
The Nationals now sit 6.5 games behind the Braves. Washington is given +600 odds to overtake Atlanta in the NL Divisional chances.
*Opportunities accepted on 08/12/19.
Washington is just five games behind Atlanta in the reduction column and still two up on the slumping New York Mets.
Just past the midway mark of July, Washington took just two of four matches from the Braves at Atlanta. The Nats followed up by winning three of four from the Colorado Rockies. They’d moved to within four games of the Braves.
This, though, isn’t a team that embraces riches or opportunity.
Since then, Washington has dropped four of five series. That comprised falling twice during a three-game home place from the Braves.
They completed a nine-game road trip Sunday with a win on the New York Mets in Citi Field to complete the trip with their heads barely above water. Washington went 5-4 on the trip.
The Nationals are a mediocre 15-13 because the All-Star Break. They aren’t exactly charging the Braves.
The Detroit Tigers have been the American League version of the Nationals not so long ago. Much like Washington, they awakened a sensational beginning rotation. Heck, one starter — Max Scherzer — was part of the two rotations.
Between 2006-14, Detroit made the playoffs five times and played in two World Series, but never came close to winning it all, since the Tigers didn’t bother to invest in a bullpen.
Sound familiar?
In Friday’s opener of the large three-game series from the Mets, Washington closer Sean Doolittle coughed a 6-3 lead in the ninth and had been walked off 7-6. Prior to Friday, the Mets had dropped 187 consecutive games when down three runs in the ninth inning.
Washington owns an MLB-worst 6.07 bullpen ERA. Even if you should discard the dreadful 22.74 ERA of those deceased Trevor Rosenthal, the Nats will still own an MLB-bottom 5.63 ERA. Nationals relievers have discounted 22 of 52 save chances.
Even guys who earn their cover covering the national disgrace that resides in DC at the White House recognize that the Washington bullpen is still a Nationals disgrace.
Holding the initial NL Wild Card spot, the Nationals begin a significant six-game homestand Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. That is accompanied by three games with the Milwaukee Brewers, such as the Reds a team in the Wild Card hunt.
This must be Washington’s focus. The old baseball adage is that you want a week’s worth of games to make up for one match in the standings. The Nats are 6.5 games outside with seven weeks to play, so that their division-winning window is closing fast.
They have seven games left using Atlanta but would practically need to go at least 5-2 in that stretch to get any opportunity. The Nationals play 17 of their last 45 games against Wild Card teams, 19 matches against current play clubs and only 15 against groups using sub-.500 records.
The wisest move for Washington is forget about the branch and lock on locking down the Wild Card.
Let’s have fun and keep it civil.

Read more here: http://letsgosimple.in/2019/09/25/valentina-shevchenko-vs-jessica-eye-headlines-ufc-238/