The Washington Nationals pitching staff is doing exactly what it should do: Dominate.
The numbers are staggering: Aníbal Sánchez started with a no-hit bid. Then Max Scherzer did the same to put the Nationals ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0.
In Game 3, it was Stephen Strasburg's turn and he was somehow just as good as the previous two. His final stats: Seven innings pitched, seven hits, one unearned run, 12 strikeouts.
In total, the three Nationals starters have thrown 21 2/3 innings, allowed nine hits, three walks, and stuck out 28 batters. Total runs? One. Earned runs? Zero.
Not for nothing, the much-maligned bullpen, which had the worst ERA of any bullpen in baseball in 2019, has pitched 5 1/3 innings and two hits and one earned run on a misplayed ball hit to Michael A. Taylor.
"Yesterday's game was so less stressful," JP Flaim said on The Sports Junkies Tuesday. "It's nice to bask in a sweep and domination. They're a better team than the Cardinals, it's not even close. They're just a better team."
Why was it nearly stress-free for Nats fans? Because the offspeed pitches from Strasburg were that ridiculous.
Stephen Strasburg, Ridiculous 88mph Changeup. -- pic.twitter.com/2zeh9N94KC
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 15, 2019Fiflthy.
Stephen Strasburg, Wicked 82mph Curveball. -- pic.twitter.com/iehBGQGJfX
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 15, 2019Sick nasty.
Stephen Strasburg now has a career 1.10 ERA in the postseason. --#CarryTheFreight pic.twitter.com/8OxYoAjUUE
— MLB (@MLB) October 15, 2019The key numbers: Nationals 8 Cardinals 1 and the most important numbers: Three games to zero.
The Washington Nationals, who at one time were languishing at 19-31, are now one win away from making their first World Series in franchise history.
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