The Morning Briefing: Shades of 2019 already in 2021

April 07, 2021 • Reading Time: 6 minutes

Good Morning, Washington Nationals Fans. Thank you for starting the day with us!

Today's Game time weather via Capital Sports Forecast: Mostly clear skies for game one with growing clouds as the evening approaches. Temps in the mid-70s for a high, dipping into the 60s near the end of game two. No rain expected."

Upcoming Games:

4/7/2021: Braves at Nationals 12:05 pm EST: (LHP Max Fried (0-0, 3.60 ERA, v. RHP Erick Fedde

4/7/2021: Braves at Nationals 4:05 pm EST (RHP Huascar Ynoa 0-0 vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg 0-0)

Today's Top Story: Starting the 2021 Season in a Comeback Fashion

When the Nationals went down 2-0 after one inning with Max Scherzer pitching, one could have thrown in the towel and just given the Washington Nationals a loss and chalk it up to COVID, or whatever you wanted to tell yourself why the Nationals would lose their 2021 season opener. However, in true 2019 Washington Nationals fashion, the Nationals ended up coming from behind to win on a Juan Soto RBI line drive in the bottom of the ninth.

The 2019 Nationals were defined by their ability to come from behind late, but the 2020 Nats went 0-24 when trailing after seven innings; however, in 2021, the Washington Nationals are now 1-0 coming from behind wins.

Some Highlights from the game:

  • Within less than 24 hours after signing with the Washington Nationals, Jonathan Lucroy had a very good game for himself. In his first game in a Washington Nationals uniform, Lucroy had two RBI's. In his first at-bat in Washington, Lucroy had a double, which scored Andrew Stevenson and Hernan Perez. It will be interesting to see how Dave Martinez will use Lucory moving forward when Gomes and Alex Avila return from COVID-19 protocols. One can make a quick argument that maybe the new platoon behind home plate should be Gomes and Lucroy. (More on that later in the week on the site)

  • During the game, Soto looked off-balance, and it wasn't until the bottom of the ninth that everything came together for the young Superstar. Honestly, there is something that this kid brings to the plate every time he steps into the batter box. Maybe it fitted that (hopefully) Soto, the new face of the franchise, had the game-winner as fans returned to the stadium for the first time since the magical 2019 year. Just maybe it makes sense that the only other player in Washington Nationals history to hit a walk-off for the Nationals on Opening Day since moving to Washington D.C. in 2005 was the former "face of the franchise," Ryan Zimmerman in 2008.

Today, the 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg will make his 2021 season debut at today's 4:05 pm EST game.

Podcast Alert: In the Clubhouse with the Nats Report

Heading to Nats Park today and need your Washington Nationals fix? I was hoping you could take a listen to my interview with Washington Nationals Pitching Prospect Jackson Rutledge. I had so much fun talking with the Nationals prospect, and I think you will also enjoy it!

Opening Series Washington Nationals Coverage

The Nats Report has you covered and will keep you in the loop on the latest information, lineups, analysis, and so much more. How we have you covered:

Make sure to subscribe to GameNotes, where I will get you ready for every Washington Nationals Game during the season. GameNotes gets sent out two three hours before a Washington Nationals game and has the latest injury updates, lineups, and storylines to focus on during the upcoming game, delivered right to your inbox!

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