Nationals vs Mariners Pick: Nats Send MLB K Leader Gore to Face M’s (May 29)

• Our Nationals vs Mariners pick analyzes Washington sending MLB K leader Mackenzie Gore to the mound against M’s 2020 6th overall pick Emerson Hancock
• Seattle is staying just ahead of the Astros in the AL West
• Washington is in 4th place in the NL East, slightly in front of the last-place Marlins

Nats’ Gore is Teetering on Stardom

The Nats acquired Mackenzie Gore from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade. His development is no surprise given that the Padres saw fit to take him 3rd overall in the draft. Still, he has the potential to be a Cy Young Award winner if he can garner more command, reducing his pitch counts.

He currently leads the majors in strikeouts. But for a 3.2 inning outing two starts ago against the Orioles, he has pitched at least 5 innings in every start this season. He has thrown at least 6 innings in every start but three. Gore rebounded from that poor start in Baltimore by holding the Giants to 2 hits over 6 innings, striking out 9.

Against Gore, the Mariners’ J.P. Crawford is 2 for 3 with a home run. Donovan Solano is 2 for 3 with 2 singles. Rowdy Tellez is 1 for 2 with a single. Cal Raleigh is 0 for 3.

The Nats’ James Wood is blossoming into a star very early in his career with an OPS over .900 and a likely All-Star berth. Cal Abrams is also playing well.

M’s Pitching Injuries Mean Hancock Needs to Step Up

Emerson Hancock has been slow to develop, particularly for someone who was drafted before current stars Garrett Crochet and Pete Crow-Armstrong. In 23 big league starts over two-plus seasons, he has a -0.9 bWAR, a 5.14 ERA, and has allowed 128 hits in 112 innings.

This season, he has given up 53 hits in 39.1 innings, but that mostly stems from two atrocious starts. In his first start this season, he surrendered 6 earned runs in 0.2 innings against the Tigers. On May 12, the Yankees knocked him around for 7 runs and 8 hits in 5 innings. He gave up 3 homers.

Hancock’s last start was solid. He threw 6 innings and gave up 3 earned runs in a victory over the 2nd place Astros.

Nathaniel Lowe is the only Nats hitter Hancock has faced. He’s 2 for 5 with 2 singles and an RBI.

Seattle has rebounded from its early-season offensive woes. Raleigh is leading the AL in home runs. Crawford has been good offensively and defensively with an OPS approaching .750. Julio Rodriguez’s batting average is inching upward, as are his power numbers. Polanco has an OPS of nearly .900.

Nationals vs Mariners Pick: Gore Will Hold Down the M’s

Although the Nats have struggled this season to the point where articles are being written questioning their strategies and if they will ever spend money to try and win again, Gore is a foundational piece. Hancock has struggled giving the Nats the clear advantage on the mound. They will win the game.