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Washington Nationals: 5 keys to victory in Wild Card Game

By Joshua Sadlock

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Nationals Park on September 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Nationals Park on September 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 10: Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Minnesota Twins on September 10, 2019 at the Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Nationals 5-0. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 10: Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Minnesota Twins on September 10, 2019 at the Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Nationals 5-0. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

4. Score early

Everyone thought the Brewers were done after Christian Yelich went down with a fractured kneecap, but they remarkably found a way to close out the season on an 18-5 run that was 18-2 at one point before they blew their chance to win the NL Central by getting swept in the final weekend of the season. Milwaukee is the proverbial “hot team” or “team of destiny” entering October, but the Nationals will have a chance to put an end to that on their own terms. Washington enters the playoffs almost as hot as Milwaukee, having ended the year on an eight-game winning streak.

Momentum and emotions play a huge role in a one-game playoff like this one, especially when a team like the Brewers, who feel they have to win it all for Yelich, is involved. The Nationals have home field advantage and need to take it to the Brewers early to get their crowd engaged and rowdy.

The Nationals lineup features a huge spark plug at the top in Trea Turner and the first inning has been one of their most productive innings all year. The Nationals hit .300/.361/.499 in the first inning and scored 109 runs with 29 home runs. Turner stole 35 bases on the season, 11 of them in the first inning.

Getting off to an aggressive start in the first inning should put the Nationals on the path to victory. The Brewers will be on their heels and Scherzer will be pitching from the front. Scoring early is always important, but its value is amplified in a game like this.

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