Nats' Offense Thrives, Pitching Flounders

On April 15, the Washington Nationals are living a split reality this season, with their

offense firing on all cylinders sitting forth in weighted.

Runs created plus at 117 and fourth, and wins above replacement at 3.6.

But their pitching staff is in the basement, second to last and earned run average at 6.08

and dead last with negative 2.5.

Fielding independent wins above replacement, dragging the whole team down.

Studies to Ken Wattachuk and Cole Henry have only made things worse for a rotation and

bullpen already short on bright spots, aside from Foster.

Griffin's solid MLB return.

Help might be on the way soon for the starters, with Top Prospect Luis Peralas and reliable

Riley Cornelio, eyeing promotions in the coming months.

Fans are feeling the pain as this pitching mess threatens to sink what could be a playoff

push.

But there's hope brewing in the minors were relievers, are stepping up big time.

The gnats desperately need fresh arms to stabilize late innings and turn games around.

Take Zach Penrod, the 28-year-old lefty at Tribal A, whose change up and cutter have jumped

in quality, even if his fastball needs work.

Then there's Eddie Yeane, back from the pirate system, dominating with a 97-mile per-hour

sinker that barely gets hit hard and a sharper.

Slider wrecking up whiffs.

And don't sleep on Julian Tanghini, the 24-year-old rookie at High A, whose cut his walks in

half while pounding the strike zone and inducing, grounders at an elite clip.

If these guys keep cooking, they could crash the big lead bullpen by the second half of

the year, giving the gnats the relief punch to match there.

Bats and keep the dream alive.

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