Good Morning, Washington Nationals Fans,

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, April 18.

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Welcome to the Morning Briefing! Haden here. Let’s talk about this road trip.

Leading this Morning’s Briefing: Nats take game three of the series; finishing the road trip 5-4

The Nationals return home from their week-and-a-half road trip with a winning record. They took two of three from the LAD and SFG, thanks to stellar starting pitching. Nationals starters allowed just two home runs on the road trip, tied as the lowest in that span. When you combine that with some improved walk rates and ok strikeout numbers, there is a recipe for success.

The bullpen was also incredible, despite some blowups from Derek Law. Its 26.9 percent strikeout rate ranked eighth in the majors. They limited home runs and rarely issued a walk as a whole, making them one of the most productive bullpens over the last week and a half.

Offensively, it has pretty much been the CJ Abrams and Jesse Winker show, who were two of the hottest hitters in baseball over the past two weeks. The team desperately needs more production out of some key cogs in the lineup, specifically Joey Gallo, Lane Thomas, and Eddie Rosario, who had an OPS of .584, .521, and .372 respectively.

And it isn’t just one cold week for those players, who have been cold most of the season. While Gallo is expected to be streaky, like pretty much any high strikeout bat will be, Rosario and Thomas were expected to be stable presences in the lineup.

Well, the Nationals have the day to rest up with an off day. They will take on the Astros at home for their fifth anniversary of the World Series victory. Hopefully the home games go better this time around.

Down in the Minors

Featured Stories of the Day

Verlander makes 2024 debut on Friday via ESPN

Albies out with a toe fracture via ESPN

Red Sox Houck tosses fastest game in 14 years via MLB.com

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