Series Preview: Pirates at Nationals

The Pirates (73-85) will conclude their season by giving Bryce Harper four games worth of action to prepare for the postseason.

The Nationals have clinched their second straight National League East championship and their fourth in six years. They’re 14-11 in September and have won six of 10, having dropped their last two in a three-game series in Philadelphia this week.

Season Series: 2-1 Pirates

May 16: Nationals 8, Pirates 4

May 17: Pirates 6, Nationals 1

May 18: Pirates 10, Nationals 4

Schedule

Thursday, 7:05 p.m. - Ivan Nova (11-14, 4.14 ERA) vs. Edwin Jackson (5-6, 5.40), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Friday, 7:05 p.m. - Gerrit Cole (12-11, 4.23) vs. Stephen Strasburg (14-4, 2.63), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Saturday, 7:05 p.m. - Jameson Taillon (8-7, 4.62) vs. Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.55), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Sunday, 3:05 p.m. - TBD vs. Gio Gonzalez (15-8, 2.75), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Nationals

95-63 (94-64 Pythag, 5.06 RS/G, 4.13 RA/G)

Offense

Bryce Harper (.324/.419/.611, 29 HR) returned to action on Tuesday after missing more than a month with a significant bone bruise and calf strain in his left leg. Anthony Rendon (.300/.401/.532, 24 HR) is the kind of guy that will get a lot more national/casual-fan recognition if the Nats made a deep playoff run. Michael Taylor (.270/.316/.476, 17 HR) is skinny.

Pitching

Washington shored up its notoriously leaky bullpen with Sean Doolittle (9.31 K/9, 2.48 BB/9), Ryan Madson (13.02 K/9, 1.45 BB/9 in 18 IP with the Nats) and Brandon Kintzler (4.24 K/9, 1.54 BB/9, 60.8 GB% in 23 1-3 IP with the Nats).

Outlook

The Nationals are set to face the Cubs in the National League Division Series, so, whatever they need in preparation for that, I hope the Pirates can provide it.