.500 Road Trip:
After winning the first two games against the Royals and losing the final and first two games against the Dodgers, manager Davy Martinez avoided a sweep and made a six-game road trip to Kansas City and Los Angeles for three. He was determined to finish with 3 wins and 3 losses.
Heading into the series finale at Dodger Stadium, the sixth-year captain said he liked Washington’s hitter’s swing and wanted the Nationals coach to teach his players consistency.
“The biggest thing today is,” he said. They have a good plate at bat, we’re hitting the ball hard and we need to find some holes. So, “keep swinging the bat the way it is now” and hopefully the ball will drop and score today.
Photo Credit: Harry Howe/Getty Images
“So I don’t want them to start pressing like they have to chase hits. Just do their job at good at-bats.”
After that, Martinez, who had 12 hits and five homers in a 10-6 win, said of his club going 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position in Game 3 in Los Angeles. they do.
“We talked about this earlier today, how we’re keeping the ball, how we’re hitting the ball hard, today, we’re having a day game here, so we’re hitting the ball hard. continue,” he said.
“Today, I hit a few home runs, and I hit some hits.
Those five homers and the long-awaited victory meant a lot to the manager, who avoided a three-game set sweep as his team played against the NL West No. 1 Dodgers.
“Did you hit a big home run today?” Martinez said. “A big home run. But overall a good at-bat. We’ve been hitting the ball hard, so let’s keep doing that.”
![Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Dodgers](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pnPUEwc7U9NYu8UbtN0PUJfh5bI=/0x0:2706x1866/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2706x1866):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24697881/1494930127.jpg)
Photo Credit: Harry Howe/Getty Images
“Look, hey, these people.” [the Dodgers] It’s hard, it really is.They had some of the best hitters in baseball, not just the league, so we came here and thought we had made it. [make] I made some mistakes when I was young, but it feels pretty good to be here after a long trip and to win the last game and go home. We hit .500 on the road. Coming out on the West Coast is never easy. So I am proud of my players. After losing the first two games, to get back to where we were today and win this game. “
Rotation plan?:
With yesterday off and next two Mondays off, the Nationals plan to change things up or find ways to rest their starters to help younger pitchers like Mackenzie Gore, Jake Irvin and Josiah. are you going to find it? Will Gray survive an entire MLB 162-game season early in their respective careers?
“At the moment, we’re keeping everything the same,” Davey Martinez told reporters before the final game of the series against the Dodgers. “We haven’t spoken yet, but we’re going to get through today. We’ll talk [Pitching coach Jim] Hickey is probably on the flight home for a bit, but I like the way the rotation works now.
![Washington Nationals v Kansas City Royals](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0CqPh6lt7v_7ZSEcwsILVOX3rZo=/0x0:4659x3106/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:4659x3106):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24697885/1494069582.jpg)
Photo Credit: Ed Zurga/Getty Images
“They will be given a few more days off.
Patrick Corbin and Trevor Williams are veteran members of the starting rotation, and Gray is an experienced pitcher. [most of] He’s going to spend a full season in the majors, but the Nationals have done enough to get him through the year in 2022, and they’re doing the same for Gore and Irvin, who haven’t played a full season in the major leagues yet. do you intend to
“Both are doing well,” Martinez said.
“They’re both doing well. We’re looking at different measurements on their outings.
“For now, they’re doing well. But there will come a point in the second half of the season when we have to start paying attention to the innings.”
Starting pitchers, as well as relief pitchers and many position players, are closely monitored for development early in their careers. But their manager likes the progress they’ve made as a team over the first two months.
“I think a lot of it is about consistency,” Martinez explained.
![MLB: Detroit Tigers vs. Washington Nationals](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0aJuxbn-ONtjGLKAOgVwDXS0JNk=/0x0:6538x4359/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:6538x4359):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24697886/usa_today_20703994.jpg)
Brad Mills – USA TODAY Sports
“They’re coming out. We’re laying the groundwork for them. They’re going out and playing consistently,” he said ahead of three of the three games in Los Angeles. he said.
“The last two games I was a little bit blaming myself because I wasn’t playing like I usually do. I had to keep everything simple and go back to playing routine, but overall I’m really proud of what we do and how we do it. They’re working hard, they’re improving, they’re playing the game the right way, they’re having fun, and that’s what matters. And they will get even better. The big key is to keep improving every day, and we’ve seen it. “