Washington Nationals news & notes: Dom Smith heating up; Hunter Harvey and his splitter + more…

More than just gloves:

In the final game of the series at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., Dominic Smith has 14-for-36 (.389/.476/.500) in his last 11 games with a double, a homer, three RBIs, five walks, and five RBIs. was recorded. game.

As the Nationals noted in their notes for their third of three games with the Giants, Smith “…had only three strikeouts in 42 at-bats.” [that] That lifted him from a slow start with a .221 average to a .277 average after three hits and a walk on Tuesday.

“He’s using his legs,” Knott skipper Davey Martinez said when asked what Smith’s recent changes were.

“We actually talked to him at the beginning of the season that he wasn’t using his legs. He’s been able to stay behind the ball and start hitting it hard all over the field.”

Smith has hit just two doubles and a homer so far, and is underpowered at the moment. He went 1-for-4, including a walk, in the Nationals’ 11-6 win Wednesday in the final game of the series.

Photo Credit: G. Fiume/Getty Images

His manager said he expects the power numbers to pick up as Smith makes more and better contacts.

“He started making hard contact, which is the start of getting out of all kinds of funk,” said the Nationals’ sixth-year captain, adding that the key to turning that around is: Raise the ball and hit it hard. Now, suddenly, his pitch selection will be much better and he will start hitting balls that he should be hitting. ”

Harvey splitter:

In his first season in the Nationals’ bullpen (2022), Hunter Harvey had a four-seam fastball rate of 77.8% (98.2 mph, BAA .202), splitter 15% (89.4 mph, BAA .241), curveball. He threw 6.7% (82.8 mph average speed). MPH; 0.625 BAA), and the occasional slider and sinker.

This Year?: 63.3% Fastball (98.2 MPH; 0.212 BAA). 23.5% splitter (89.5 MPH; 0.133 BAA); 8.8% curve (83.3 MPH; 0.000 BAA).

Photo Credit: Jess Lapfogel/Getty Images

What does his manager think about the change in pitch usage and the decline in relief pitchers’ fastballs (In 15 games and 15 games, he has an ERA of 2.30, FIP of 3.18, 7 walks, 18 kicks, and a batting average of .177/.267/.275. ²⁄₃ IP of the Season)?

“I love his fastball,” Davey Martinez said with a laugh. “But you know his splitter is getting better, it really is. When he can do that, especially when he’s out front, he’s really good. I don’t want him to start throwing curve balls a lot. You get used to it and then suddenly you lose your fastball and you lose your strike zone sometimes with your fastball. But I know he’s doing really well, and he’s working really hard to throw a splitter past the plate, but when he gets into the game, especially in high-leverage situations, his fastball comes to life. So I don’t want him to forget that he has a really good fastball. ”

Seeing Harvey leaning more and more toward a four-seam/splitter combo, the Nats captain made a flash of Hunter’s father, Brian Harvey, who saved 177 games in his nine-year major league career with a similar weapon. Said he was watching.

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“I always say, ‘The more you look, the more you’re becoming a father,'” Martinez said. “His dad threw a really hard fastball, but his splitter was phenomenal. Had, you need to have your own career.’ Okay, so you do too.’ But he was great. ”