Re: MLB The Show 23 Franchise Mode Discussion
2024 Washington Nationals
Chicago Cubs (11-27) vs Washington Nationals (19-19)
Game One: Justin Steele vs Lucas Giolito
Washington once again used the long ball, taking the lead in the second when Gleyber Torres hit a solo home run. Lucas Giolito was strong for two innings, but then gave up two runs in the third and a run in the fourth. The Cubs were finding all the empty spaces all over the diamond, but Giolito rebounded and would give the Nats six innings, giving up the three runs on a total of eleven hits. Zach Davies would come on in relief and give up a run when Seiya Suzuki doubled, but Washington rebounded when Mitch Haniger hit a two run home run to make it a one run ballgame. Victor Arano would give up a key run in the ninth when Miguel Sano singled to score Suzuki, who doubled with two outs. Chicago would bring in Scott Barlow with a two run lead, and he would immediately give up a solo home run to Gleyber Torres to start the ninth, but Barlow would strike out Lane Thomas before Brady House hit a looping single to center. The Nationals gambled and replaced catcher Wilmer Perez with Anthony Rizzo, who has been ice cold at the plate. He would work the count full, and then hit a walk off home run that just made it over the wall in left center for an absolutely shocking come from behind win.
Game Two: Adbert Alzolay vs Josiah Gray
Josiah Gray gave up back to back home runs in the first to Jackie Dailey (a 21 year old that the Cubs are very excited about) and Miguel Sano. Brandon Nimmo would lead off the bottom of the first with a double and score when Luis Garcia singled. Dailey would double in the third and Cano would follow that up with a base hit, and then David Bote would hit a two run home run in the fourth to put Chicago up 5-1. Josiah Gray would be done after the fourth and the Nationals would call upon their fifth starter, Cade Cavalli, to give them multiple innings of relief. CJ Abrams hit his first home run since 2022 in the bottom of the fifth, and Alzolay, despite pitching well, would leave after 5.1 innings. Luis Gil, the former Yankees prospect, would come on in relief and give up a two run home run to red-hot Mitch Haniger to make it a 5-4 game, but Jackie Dailey would continue his career day, hitting a three run home run in the seventh. Cavalli would load the bases in the eighth and David Bote would drive in a run with a sac fly, sending Cavalli to the showers. He gave the Nats 3.1 innings, but gave up four runs on five hits, walking two and striking out four. The Cubs would manufacture their tenth run in the top of the ninth, and the Nationals would end the game without any rally.
Game Three: Chris Bassitt vs Stephen Strasburg
After giving up base hits to Luis Garcia and Anthony Rizzo, Bassitt hung a curveball to Mitch Haniger; the last person in baseball you want to leave a hanger to. That resulted in Haniger’s 20th home run of the season, and he is just on a historic tear now. The Nats would also get solo home runs from Gleyber Torres and Brandon Nimmo in the sixth. Stephen Strasburg went seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits, walking one and striking out five. Chicago would manufacture a run in the eighth, when Pete Crow-Armstrong, in his MLB debut, hit an RBI single. He also stole second and was thrown out attempting to steal third earlier in the game.
The Nationals (21-20) continue to use their power bats to win games. Their pitching remains suspect, but Strasburg’s strong return to the rotation is cause for optimism. The rotation has been shuffled following Strasburg’s injury & the use of Cade Cavalli out of the bullpen over the weekend. Felipe Escalona will now slide in between Strasburg and MacKenzie Gore, followed by Lucas Giolito and Josiah Gray.
Washington will stay at home and welcome the New York Mets (20-21) for three games.
Chicago Cubs (11-27) vs Washington Nationals (19-19)
Game One: Justin Steele vs Lucas Giolito
Washington once again used the long ball, taking the lead in the second when Gleyber Torres hit a solo home run. Lucas Giolito was strong for two innings, but then gave up two runs in the third and a run in the fourth. The Cubs were finding all the empty spaces all over the diamond, but Giolito rebounded and would give the Nats six innings, giving up the three runs on a total of eleven hits. Zach Davies would come on in relief and give up a run when Seiya Suzuki doubled, but Washington rebounded when Mitch Haniger hit a two run home run to make it a one run ballgame. Victor Arano would give up a key run in the ninth when Miguel Sano singled to score Suzuki, who doubled with two outs. Chicago would bring in Scott Barlow with a two run lead, and he would immediately give up a solo home run to Gleyber Torres to start the ninth, but Barlow would strike out Lane Thomas before Brady House hit a looping single to center. The Nationals gambled and replaced catcher Wilmer Perez with Anthony Rizzo, who has been ice cold at the plate. He would work the count full, and then hit a walk off home run that just made it over the wall in left center for an absolutely shocking come from behind win.
Game Two: Adbert Alzolay vs Josiah Gray
Josiah Gray gave up back to back home runs in the first to Jackie Dailey (a 21 year old that the Cubs are very excited about) and Miguel Sano. Brandon Nimmo would lead off the bottom of the first with a double and score when Luis Garcia singled. Dailey would double in the third and Cano would follow that up with a base hit, and then David Bote would hit a two run home run in the fourth to put Chicago up 5-1. Josiah Gray would be done after the fourth and the Nationals would call upon their fifth starter, Cade Cavalli, to give them multiple innings of relief. CJ Abrams hit his first home run since 2022 in the bottom of the fifth, and Alzolay, despite pitching well, would leave after 5.1 innings. Luis Gil, the former Yankees prospect, would come on in relief and give up a two run home run to red-hot Mitch Haniger to make it a 5-4 game, but Jackie Dailey would continue his career day, hitting a three run home run in the seventh. Cavalli would load the bases in the eighth and David Bote would drive in a run with a sac fly, sending Cavalli to the showers. He gave the Nats 3.1 innings, but gave up four runs on five hits, walking two and striking out four. The Cubs would manufacture their tenth run in the top of the ninth, and the Nationals would end the game without any rally.
Game Three: Chris Bassitt vs Stephen Strasburg
After giving up base hits to Luis Garcia and Anthony Rizzo, Bassitt hung a curveball to Mitch Haniger; the last person in baseball you want to leave a hanger to. That resulted in Haniger’s 20th home run of the season, and he is just on a historic tear now. The Nats would also get solo home runs from Gleyber Torres and Brandon Nimmo in the sixth. Stephen Strasburg went seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits, walking one and striking out five. Chicago would manufacture a run in the eighth, when Pete Crow-Armstrong, in his MLB debut, hit an RBI single. He also stole second and was thrown out attempting to steal third earlier in the game.
The Nationals (21-20) continue to use their power bats to win games. Their pitching remains suspect, but Strasburg’s strong return to the rotation is cause for optimism. The rotation has been shuffled following Strasburg’s injury & the use of Cade Cavalli out of the bullpen over the weekend. Felipe Escalona will now slide in between Strasburg and MacKenzie Gore, followed by Lucas Giolito and Josiah Gray.
Washington will stay at home and welcome the New York Mets (20-21) for three games.
Comment