center field
Bryce Harper vs. Jon Jay
Harper posted a historic rookie season for a teenager, and more importantly for the Nationals, is on a tear heading into the playoffs. Over his past 34 games, he is hitting .341 with 10 home runs. His impact, however, goes beyond the stat line. He’s an aggressive base runner who will easily stretch a single into a double. His ability to steal bases may be neutralized by Molina’s stellar arm. Jay is a stellar center fielder, too, with good range. He is a good leadoff hitter with a .373 on-base percentage and hits for average.
right field
Jayson Werth vs. Carlos Beltran
Beltran, at 35, is still a dangerous power hitter. After bouncing between the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants last season, he signed as a free agent with the Cardinals and smashed 32 home runs, drove in 97 runs and played 151 games. Beltran has the edge defensively with 10 assists from right field. Werth returned from a broken wrist in August and morphed into one of the game’s best leadoff hitters with his ability to work counts, foul off pitches and get on base. Had he not missed 75 games he would be in the top five in the majors with 4.37 pitches seen per plate appearance.
bench
Lombardozzi, Moore, Bernadina, Tracy vs. M. Carpenter, Schumaker, Cruz
The silver lining to all the injuries to the Nationals’ regular players is that they returned, and all the players who filled in built experience. With everyone back, Steve Lombardozzi (.273 batting average), Tyler Moore (10 home runs) and Roger Bernadina (.777 OPS) are versatile options off the bench. Pinch-hitter extraordinaire Chad Tracy is tied for second in the majors with 11 pinch-hit RBI despite missing 55 games because of injury. Curiously enough, Tracy is tied with the Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter, one of the best players in the NL who doesn’t start regularly. Infielder Skip Schumaker and catcher Tony Cruz are strong fill-ins.
bullpen
Storen and Co. vs. Motte, Boggs, Rzepczynski
Nationals relievers posted a 3.23 ERA despite the second-largest workload in the NL. Drew Storen has pitched only half the season season because of an elbow injury, and it may be a blessing in disguise during the playoffs. The Cardinals’ bullpen is the relative weakness of their pitching staff. They posted a 3.90 ERA, 20th in the majors. Fireballing closer Jason Motte tied the NL lead with 42 saves, and righty Mitchell Boggs had a strong season with a 2.21 ERA over 78 games. But left-handed hitters are hitting .255 against their lone lefty specialist, Marc Rzepczynski.
Game 1 starters
Gio Gonzalez vs. Adam Wainwright
The benefit of not having to play the one-game wild card game is that Gio Gonzalez can pitch the opening game of the series and possibly start twice. Gonzalez led the majors with 21 wins, allowed the second fewest hits per inning (6.73) and was second in the NL to Stephen Strasburg in strikeouts per nine innings (9.35). His strength: lefties are hitting .199 against him and righties hitting .231. Adam Wainwright, a dominating right-hander before hurting his elbow, is in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. He struggled in the first half and posted a 3.28 ERA in the second half.
Game 2 starters
Jordan Zimmermann vs. Jaime Garcia
Jordan Zimmermann was nearly unhittable for stretches of the season and then stumbled in August and early September. The culprit was pitching on longer rest than normal, which could be a factor in this start after a week off. Zimmermann found a groove over his final five starts, posting a 2.61 ERA. Jaime Garcia, who dealt with injury from June to mid-August, is a capable left-hander but susceptible to right-handed hitters. His home ERA is more than two runs lower than on the road. He posted a 2.10 ERA over his last four starts.
game 3 starters
Edwin Jackson vs. Chris Carpenter
Edwin Jackson was tapped for his spot not only because of his postseason experience (two World Series, including a ring) but because the Cardinals feature a right-handed heavy roster. Jackson, who can be inconsistent, will be opposed by another postseason veteran, Chris Carpenter, who pitched in the Cardinals’ 2006 and 2011 World Series championships. He has made only three starts this season after returning from a major shoulder injury. Carpenter is a career 9-2 with a 3.05 ERA in 15 postseason starts. Jackson is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA over seven postseason games, four of them starts.
game 4 starters
Ross Detwiler vs. Kyle Lohse
Ross Detwiler, like the rest of the Nationals rotation except for Edwin Jackson, will be making his first postseason start. The left-hander had the best season of his career, mastering how to use his sinker and fastball en route to a 10-win, 3.40 ERA season. He has never pitched this much in the majors and his final two starts of the season were subpar. Kyle Lohse, who started the one-game wild card game, is also a groundout pitcher. The right-hander, at 34, also posted the best season of his career, finishing with a 2.86 ERA.
managers
Davey Johnson vs. Mike Matheney
The Nationals are the sixth team Johnson has taken to the postseason, while this is the first season in Matheny’s managing career. Johnson’s impact has been felt not only in-game but off the field, where players have fed off of his confidence and trust his baseball mind. Come playoff time, Johnson is a shrewd tactician who is willing to tinker with game situations to take advantage of matchups. Matheny, a former Gold Glove catcher, often jokes about his lack of managerial experience. Johnson has edge over Matheny, with a sharp acumen and feel for needed moves.
— James Wagner
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