Washington Nationals news & notes: Jake Irvin struggles in PNC; Nats drop opener with Pirates, 9-4…

Irvine in September:

August was Jake Irvin’s toughest month yet.6.61 ERA, 6.25 FIP, .316/.368/.571 batting average in 6 games played in 32 games ²⁄₃ Number of pitches) The 27-year-old fourth-round pick of the Nationals in 2018 was unable to replicate the numbers he put up through the first four months of the 2024 season.He had a 3.44 ERA, a 3.95 FIP, a .228/.277/.399 batting average, and 128 runs scored in 22 games. ¹⁄₃ IP).

Irvin’s final start in August was a tough one, with the right-hander allowing seven runs.Best of the season) and 8 hits in 4 at bats ²⁄₃ He threw 36 pitches in the second inning, giving up six hits and seven runs, but barely escaped disaster.

“It was just one inning, but that inning decided everything,” manager Davey Martinez told reporters after Irvin’s appearance against the Chicago Cubs.

“He didn’t drop the ball. He wasn’t in good position. After that, he settled down.”

Irvin managed to pitch five innings, dropping the ball into the strike zone around the second inning, but why did he struggle in the long second inning?

“it is [something] “We’ll see about that,” Martinez said, “but from what we saw, when he kept the ball down low he was really good. And that’s the key for him, keeping everything down low.”

“When he’s down, his curveball, his changeup, his two-seam, that’s what works. Hopefully he’ll learn that when he’s down, that’s when he’s so effective.”

“To be honest with you,” Ervin explained. Quote from MASN’s Bobby Blanco“I made some really bad pitches with two strikes. I wasn’t able to take control and get the guys out. Not only did I make some bad pitches, I made some pitches that put batters and long hitters in good positions. I deserved to give up seven runs.”

A tough Game 2 defeat again came against Irvin and the Nationals on Thursday night in the nation’s capital, sending the team to miss the series opener against the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Irvin allowed consecutive walks with one out, this time in the bottom of the second, a single that allowed one run, an RBI single with two outs, another RBI single, and then a walk and two-run single with two outs to give the Buccaneers a 5-3 lead and an eventual 9-4 victory.

He allowed consecutive hits in the third inning, but left two runners on base, and got three consecutive outs in the fourth and fifth innings, finishing the day’s pitching with 87 pitches, 52 of which were strikes, seven hits, three walks, and six earned runs allowed. He struck out 10 times and called 16 strikes, with 12 of those being split evenly between his four-seam fastball and curveball.

“That’s something we’ve tried to limit all year,” Irvin said of big innings like the home half of the bottom of the second.

“And I thought I was really bad in terms of throwing my fastball.

“That’s why guys are taking off-speed pitches so seriously. They’re hitting good pitches, pitches in the zone, that they should be hitting, especially in good counts for me.”

“So I’ve got to get better at pitching deep in the count against them.”

“I think he’s going to start relying a lot more on his second pitch and getting beat that way and starting to fall behind,” Martinez said.

“Then he came back on the mound and struck out the next nine batters with his fastball, controlled it, kept it low and I know he threw a couple good changeups there.

“When he gets in a pinch, he’s going to be hitting his curveball a lot. I like his two-seam fastball. His two-seam fastball has really taken off.”

“I’ll speak to him tomorrow and talk about keeping things simple, especially after conceding three goals like this.

“Just attacking, letting the defense take over, keeping the ball low and attacking the hitter. That’s what’s really good about him.”

Lineup:

Prior to last night’s game, Dylan Cruz had gone 5-for-6 with 1 double, 2 home runs, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts in 28 at-bats in 6 games as the Nationals’ leadoff hitter since Davey Martinez traded for the 22-year-old 2023 first-round draft pick.2nd place overall) took the top spot on August 28th.

“He’s working his way up in the count,” Martinez said in a press conference before the second of two games this week in Miami. “He’s seeing the pitches and he’s swinging the bat well, so I like having him up at bat. The kid’s got a lot of energy. I appreciate how he’s played so far, and he’s going to lift our team.”

After eight major league games, Cruz’s manager has been pleased with the outfielder’s performance defensively and at the plate.

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

“So far he’s doing all the right things, so I love his energy and I love the way he plays.”

“He really understands what he’s trying to do and what he’s trying to accomplish.”

“He’s a student. He pays attention to the details,” Martinez added. “You know, I listen to my players before I give my opinion, but it’s great to communicate with him in particular because he knows what he’s trying to do.”

In promoting Cruz to the top of the lineup, Martinez said he would eventually consider moving C.J. Abrams back to the leadoff spot if he can turn things around after struggling at the plate for an extended period after being in the leadoff spot for most of the season.

“I spoke to him before sending the players out,” Martinez said before making the move.

“He’s good with that. And like I said, once he starts getting on base and getting walks, we want him back there. But he’s got to slow down a little bit. He’s just swinging so hard.”

When asked about Cruz, Abrams and the top of the lineup, Nationals general manager and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo told Audacy Sports Junkies on Wednesday that he hasn’t put much thought into who’s batting where in the lineup at this point.

Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images

“…we’re not really thinking about where the guys are hitting at this point,” Rizzo said, adding that the team is “…just trying to figure out their strengths and weaknesses as hitters.”

“Going into next year, I think lineup construction is going to be key,” he said. “So I think we’ve got to figure out who can hit where and what it takes to make this lineup the most dangerous.”

Who would ideally be at the top of the batting order?

“Ultimately, both of those guys will be batting at or near the top of the lineup,” Rizzo explained.

“And I think this year’s lineup is going to be even more dynamic than ever before.”