Tonight's Game

Don't get us wrong: this isn't a must-win game. On the other hand, it sure would be nice to win it because the pitching matchups don't get any better over the next two games of this four-game series. The Marlins start their two best pitchers in the next two games--Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett--while we will start only one pitcher--John Patterson in game 4--who can match them. Our game three starter--John Halama--will put us at a distinct disadvantage.

Tonight's starters both present a lot of uncertainty. As we said earlier today, the Nationals just called up tonight's starter, Darrell Rasner, who has potential, but from whom we can't expect excellence at this point. In other words, almost anything is possible from him tonight.

On the other hand, the Marlins start Ismael Valdez, who only recently learned how to spell his last name. He used to spell it with an "s," but now uses a "z." We're not sure what caused Ismael to make this change, but there will be LOTS of fans who compare tomorrow's box score with their Ismael Valdes autograph and wonder whether it's the newspaper or the autographed ball that contains a typo. OK, maybe not "lots" of fans, but at least.... Well, maybe nobody will do that. Who, after all, has saved an Ismael Valdes or Ismael Valdez autograph?

Anyway, Valdez is not a good pitcher anymore, no matter how you spell his name. In 33 innings, his ERA is 4.36, he gives up ten hits every nine innings, and walks three and strikes out only five every nine innings. In other words, Rasner catches a break in drawing Valdez rather than Dontrelle Willis, Josh Beckett, or AJ Burnett.

The Nationals were very efficient in their offensive production in game 1, so let's hope that production continues tonight. It may be the only way for the Nationals to win.

Go Nats!