Let's toss around the old horsehide and chat about this upcoming scrap between the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates, shall we? It's like watching two old men fight over a parking space - you might not expect much, but it can get interesting real quick.
Let's hop on the pitcher's mound first: our tosser for the Nationals is Patrick Corbin, and have mercy... with an ERA of 5.51 and a WHIP of 1.54 this season, it's like he's serving up meatballs at an Italian wedding. Seems the strike zone is playing hide-and-seek with Patrick this year. On the flip side, on-deck for the Pirates is Jared Jones. Now this chap has been weaving some magic tricks with a respectable ERA of 3.97 and 9.6 K/9. It's like he's putting batters to bed with a bedtime story.
Taking a peek at the Nationals' batting line-up, we got Jose Tena and Jacob Young keeping the team afloat. Tena's batting average resting at .310 and Young with a .286, serving up some delightful dinks and dunks. But let's not forget about Andres Chaparro and Keibert Ruiz, though their averages are slightly lower, they've been cracking in critical runs. Now, I don't want to be a naysayer, but things look a bit dreary for Ruiz, last seen batting at .225.
Well, shiver me timbers, let's talk about the Pirates on deck. Oneil Cruz bending it like Beckham with a .321 average, topped with 13 RBIs and a staggering 10 stolen bases. Nick Gonzales, Andrew McCutchen, and Joey Bart aren't too shabby themselves, keeping the RBIs flowing and making some key plays.
Speaking of history, these old foes have had a seesaw battle, it's like watching a couple of kangaroos boxing. Last they met, the Nationals breezed past the Pirates with an 8-6 victory, but as my grandpappy used to say, "Yesterday's home runs don't win today's games". Taking a squiz at the recent win-loss record, both teams have had their high and lows, almost like a soap opera.
Considering the way Patrick's been tossing up cream puffs for Washington, and Jared's been making batters hear the lullabies for the Pirates, you may think it's a done deal. However, with the players on deck, it becomes a bit more intruding. Judging by their performance and some mystical calculations, I'd place my two bob on:
Albert's Prediction: Pittsburgh Pirates by 2