Harper’s walkoff grand slam lifts Phils to sweep of Cubs
Harper’s slam caps rally in ninth and finishes sweep of Cubs >>
WASHINGTON >> Right now, 19-31 is just a distant memory for the Washington Nationals.
Even without Max Scherzer for all but one game over the past monthplus, even with recurring bullpen issues, even though they dug themselves quite a hole, the Nationals are suddenly 65-55 — 10 games over .500 for the first time in 14 months.
What’s more, they’re leading the NL wild-card standings as they head into Friday’s opener of a three-game series against one of the clubs chasing them for a playoff berth: the Milwaukee Brewers.
Winning the NL East presents more of a challenge, because Washington entered Thursday trailing the first-place Atlanta Braves by six games. The rivals play each other seven more times, though: four games at Atlanta on Sept. 5-8, and three at Washington on Sept. 13-15.
“Still a lot of work to be done. We need to keep our foot on the accelerator,” outfielder Adam Eaton said after hitting one of Washington’s three homers during a 10-run fifth inning Wednesday that propelled it to a 17-7 victory over the Reds, completing a three-game sweep.
“Milwaukee’s no slouch coming in here,” Eaton said. “So we have to play good baseball and continue it this weekend.”
And guess who might be able to provide some help? Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, who declared himself “good to go” after spending most of the last five weeks on the injured list.
Lefty Patrick Corbin (9-5, 3.41 ERA) is scheduled to start the series opener, but otherwise, Washington hasn’t announced its pitchers on Saturday or Sunday.
Could one of those games go to Scherzer, who said he doesn’t want any sort of rehab start in the minors? Manager Dave Martinez wouldn’t rule it out.