As we rumble into the first weekend of the MLB Playoffs following a host of phenomenal weekday games, the Washington Nationals are desperate for a win this evening against the San Francisco Giants to ensure their postseason trip does not end in depressing fashion for the second time in three seasons.
Game 2 of the NLDS, broadcasted on FOX Sports 1, pits one title-hungry and suddenly antsy team against another franchise that is anything but deprived of recent postseason success.
Game Time: Saturday, October 4th at 5:37 PM ET
Where: Nationals Park
Television Broadcast: FOX Sports 1
Series: Cardinals lead 1-0
Starting Pitchers:
San Francisco Giants – Tim Hudson
Season stats: W-L record of 9-13, 3.57 ERA
Washington Nationals – Jordan Zimmermann
Season stats: W-L record of 14-5, 2.66 ERA
Betting odds for Game 2:
Spread: Nationals (-1.5)/Giants (+1.5)
Over/Under: 7
Overview:
Washington Nationals fans waited two very long years to see their golden boy Stephen Strasburg take the mound in the NLDS following the highly scrutinized rest debacle of 2012. While the Nationals semi-ace (Jordan Zimmermann is technically their ace) only allowed one earned run in five innings, his counterpart in Jake Peavy ultimately prevailed as the winning pitcher in a one-run ballgame on Friday night in Game 1.
With their other ace set to take the mound in a borderline must-win Game 2, fresh off a incredible no-hitter on Sunday, the Giants will counter with playoff veteran Tim Hudson, who surprisingly only has one win in 10 postseason starts. In what could be another phenomenal low-scoring affair in the nation’s capital, Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth will look to add some sizzle to a suddenly nervous home crowd tonight before Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford can head back to the Bay Area up 2-nil.
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