Another (three) day(s), another series win for the Diamondbacks, who head to the vitriolic cesspool home to everyone’s favorite ‘Pitter – you know the one—and *glances wearily at one of the many laminated SnakePit Rule Charts plastered on the walls utilized by Big Brother Jim to keep the flock in check* uh, figures of the political variety. They’re fresh off their 8th straight series win to begin the 2018 season, the first team to accomplish the feat since the ‘01 Mariners (who were good) and the first NL team since the 1977 Dodgers (no compliment for you). Their offense has been rolling as of late, scoring 19 in a three-game set against the Phillies while conceding a cool 11.

The Washington Nationals are a good team. You wouldn’t gleam that from their performance to start the season, however. Aside from perrenial MVP candidate Bryce Harper and that Max Scherzer guy, this squad is playing some really, really mediocre baseball. They’re primed to break out at any moment, though, and, fresh off of a 15-2 romp of the Giants, this could be the series that happens.

Starting Pitching Matchups

Game 1: RHP Zack Godley (3-1, 3.09) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (2-2, 2.97)

Advantage - D-backs

Game 2: LHP Patrick Corbin (4-0, 1.89) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 4.50)

Advantage - D-backs

Game 3: LHP Robbie Ray (2-0, 5.13) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 3.04)

Advantage – Nationals

Bryce Harper is Good at Baseball

Hot take, I know, but there’s no reason to gussy over the facts. Bryce Harper is at the beginning of what could very well be his second NL MVP season. Through 25 games, Bryce is hitting .260 with 8 homers, 19(!) RBI, and an OPS of 1.045. Not bad for a 25 year old, eh?

Ryan Zimmerman, Not so Much

This guy is supposed to rival the God Emperor himself, which, first of all how DARE you, and second, nah. I know slow starts are a thing, but coming off career year, Zimmerman has comparatively been… pretty bad. Little plate discipline (19 strikeouts to 7 walks), a quiet bat (a .188 batting average in 80 AB’s), and the bitter hate of one of the only sports fandoms more punished than Arizona's have all seen Zimmerman lose a lot of the sheen he seemed to carry about last year. We'll see if this is the series where he bounces back.

Prediction

If there ever was a series where taking 1 out of 3 would be a victory, it would be this one. Granted, missing out on history (9 straight series wins to start a season is a pretty big deal) would suck, so I'm desperately hoping for 2 out of 3.