Good Morning Washington Nationals Fan,

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around Major League Baseball for today, October 9, 2023.

This is Richard filling in for Haden this Monday morning. I hope that you had a great weekend.

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Leading today’s Morning Briefing: MLB Postseason

NLDS and ALDS kicked off this weekend and will continue this week, here are some brief highlights from the games that were played over the weekend:

Phillies vs. Braves: Braves held scoreless in a home game for the first time since 2021.
(Phillies lead series 1-0)

The Braves opened thier 2023 postseason with a 3-0 loss against the Phillies in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday night in Atlanta, despite Atlanta spending the majority of the regular season producing historic offensive numbers. The Braves were shut out at home for the first time since August 28, 2021. WOW!

The Braves will send LHP Max Fried to the mound tonight. The Braves veteran has a 2.55 ERA while making just 14 starts this season. Fried missed a lot of April with a left hamstring strain, then spent three months on the injured list because of a left forearm strain. However, he limited the Phillies to one run over five innings in his one start against them on Sept. 12.

The Phillies will send RHP Zack Wheller to the mound in hopes of taking a 2-0 lead in the series. Wheeler went 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three starts against Atlanta this season. He is 6-3 with a 2.46 ERA in 14 starts against the Braves since he joined the Phillies in 2020, including the postseason.

Next game: Tonight, 6 p.m ET; TBS

Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers: Kershaw rocked in the first inning
(Diamondbacks lead series 1-0)

Clayton Kershaw allowed six runs and recorded just one out in the 11-2 loss against the D-backs in Saturday’s Game 1 of the NLDS, perhaps the worst start of his career. He became the first pitcher in postseason history to allow five or more runs before recording an out.

The Dodgers will look to tie up the series tonight as they send rookie Bobby Miller to the mound for a “must-win” for the team. The Diamondbacks will send their ace Zac Gallen to the mound in hopes of taking a commanding 2-0 series lead.

Next game: Tonight, 9 p.m. ET; TBS

Twins vs. Astros: Former Astro Carlos Correa provides a much-needed spark
 (Series tied)

Former Houston Astro Carlos Correa provided two critical at-bats that led the Twins to tie up the series in Houston. Correa tied David Justice for third in American League/National League history in postseason RBIs with an RBI double and two-run single that powered the Twins to their 6-2 victory over the Astros in the pivotal Game 2 of the AL Division Series on Sunday night at Minute Maid Park. This postseason, Correa has gone 3-4 with two doubles a single, a walk, and three RBIs, making him 8-for-15 across the Twins' first four games of the 2023 postseason.

Rangers vs. Orioles: Rangers rocking in Baltimore.
(Rangers lead series 2-0)

The series now shifts to Texas as the Rangers beat up the Orioles over the weekend, winning both games in Baltimore. Saturday night’s game was a bit closer than yesterday’s game where the Rangers cruised to a 11-8 win. Rangers’ Mitch Garver who made his post-season debut at DH delivered in a big spot with a 419-foot grand slam in the third inning. The grand slam gave Texas an early 9-2 lead on Sunday. The series now shifts to Texas with the Rangers up 2-0.

The latest on the Nats Report

In case you missed any of our stories from the past week, I am including them here.

2023: A Nationals Year in Review via JJ

More on Doolittle and his retirement via Jeremy

Thoughts on the Nationals approach to free agency

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