Stephanie: Sean, I've got one word for you: redemption. After last night's 13-1 beatdown, the Nats have a chance to split this series with the Rockies this afternoon. And we're going to break down exactly how they do it.
Sean: That's right, Stephanie. It's a get-back spot. And we've got the pitching matchup, the key bats, and a bold prediction coming up.
Stephanie: Welcome back to Beatline, the only podcast that bleeds red, white, and blue. I'm Stephanie, and as always, the brilliant Sean is here with me. Nationals fans, we've got a big one today.
Sean: Let's get into it. We're coming off a rough one, but today is a new day. And we've got three things to cover: the series so far, today's pitching probables, and the key hitters and bullpen questions.
Stephanie: Plus injuries, because we've got a few of those. Stick with us, because we're going to tell you how the Nats get back on track.
Stephanie: Alright Sean, let's start with the elephant in the room. Last night was ugly. Connor Norby hit a grand slam, and the Rockies launched three two-run homers. Final score 13-1. What went wrong?
Sean: Honestly, it was a perfect storm. The pitching staff had no answer for their lineup, and the bats went quiet. When you give up that many homers, it's tough to come back. But that's behind us now.
Stephanie: And the series is tied? Wait, no. The Rockies took a 2-1 series lead with that win, right?
Sean: Correct. They took game three, so they lead 2-1. But this afternoon, we've got the series finale, and a win would split the series. That's huge for momentum.
Stephanie: So who's on the mound for the Nats today? This is a big one.
Sean: We don't have the official starter listed, but based on the rotation, it could be Cade Cavalli. He's been sharp lately, and he's exactly the guy you want in a spot like this.
Stephanie: Cavalli! We've talked about his stuff all season. He's got that big fastball and a nasty curve. He's capable of shutting down any lineup.
Sean: Absolutely. And remember, we predicted Cavalli would throw seven shutout innings with ten strikeouts in game one of this series. He didn't get that, but he's still been dominant. If he's on today, the Rockies are in trouble.
Stephanie: Speaking of game one, the Nats won that one 3-1. Hunter Goodman homered in his return, but the Nats got the win. So they know they can beat these guys.
Sean: Exactly. And that's the confidence they need to carry into today. It's a rubber match, and the pitching matchup is key.
Stephanie: Alright, stick with us. After the break, we're diving into the key hitters and the bullpen questions. This is where the series could be won or lost.
Stephanie: We're back. Let's talk about the bats. Last night, the offense was held to one run. That's not good enough. Who needs to step up today?
Sean: Well, Dylan Crews is the guy. He's been the sparkplug all season. He needs to get on base and create some chaos. And Keibert Ruiz, he's been clutch all year. He had that go-ahead RBI in our prediction yesterday.
Stephanie: And what about Brady House? He's been swinging a hot bat.
Sean: House has been solid. He's got power, and if he can get a hold of one, it could change the game. But the key is plate discipline. The Rockies have some young arms, and if we can work counts, we can get to their bullpen.
Stephanie: Speaking of the bullpen, that's been a concern. Last night, they got hit hard. What's the issue?
Sean: It's just been inconsistent. Guys like Matt Waldron and Clayton Beeter have had their moments, but they've also given up big innings. The key is getting length from the starter, whoever it is, so we don't have to rely on the pen too much.
Stephanie: And injuries aren't helping. We've got James Wood on the 10-day IL, Drew Millas, Josiah Gray and DJ Herz on the 60-day. That's a lot of talent missing.
Sean: It's tough, but that's baseball. Other guys have to step up. We've seen Harry Ford get some time behind the plate, and he's held his own. It's about depth, and the Nats have shown they have some.
Stephanie: Let's talk about the Rockies' hitters. They've been mashing. Norby, Johnston, Carrigg, Goodman. They've all gone deep this series. What's the game plan against them?
Sean: You have to keep the ball down. They're a power-heavy lineup, and if you leave pitches up in the zone, they'll make you pay. The starter needs to mix his pitches and keep them off balance. And the defense has to be sharp, especially with the shift.
Stephanie: Alright, so we need pitching and defense. And a little bit of luck. But before we get to the bold prediction, let's take a quick break. We'll be right back.
Stephanie: Welcome back. Let's talk about the keys to this game. Sean, what's number one?
Sean: Number one is early runs. Get to their starter, whoever it is, and put pressure on them. If we can score first, it changes the whole dynamic. The Rockies are playing loose, but if we can make them play from behind, that's a different ballgame.
Stephanie: And number two? I'm guessing it's the bullpen.
Sean: Exactly. We need the starter to go at least six innings. If we can limit the bullpen exposure, we give ourselves a chance. And if we do go to the pen, we need clean innings. No walks, no free bases.
Stephanie: Alright, let's get to the bold prediction. I've been thinking about this. Sean, what do you got?
Sean: I'm going to say Cavalli goes six and a third, gives up two runs, and strikes out nine. The Nats win it 5-2. And I'll add this: Dylan Crews hits a two-run homer in the fourth inning to break it open.
Stephanie: I like that. I'm going to say the Nats win 6-3, and Keibert Ruiz drives in the go-ahead run in the seventh. And I'm predicting Brady House sends one into the bullpen in the fifth.
Sean: I'll take that. But here's the thing: we've made predictions before, and they haven't always come true. But if the Nats play their game, they can take this series. It's all about execution.
Stephanie: You know what, Sean? I've got a good feeling about this one. The Nats are hungry. They don't want to lose three of four to a last-place team. They're going to come out swinging.
Stephanie: Alright, that's our show. Quick recap: we've got the series finale today, and the Nats need a win to split. We talked about the pitching, the bats, and the bullpen. And we made our predictions.
Sean: Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Share this episode with your fellow Nats fans. And as always, let's go Nats!
Stephanie: Go Nats! We'll see you tomorrow.