Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth make an ideal combination in line-up for Washington Nationals-MLB
The Washington Nationals boast quality hitters at the top of their line-up. Both Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth are capable of ensuring an initial run-rampage for the team which can be as effective as ensuring their wins.
Despite the fact they could not avoid witnessing their side getting swept by the Atlanta Braves in the recently concluded series, they are likely to deliver splendid performances ahead.
Ever since Werth came back from injury, he has shown consistency in terms of connecting hits. He smacks home-runs in the beginning of the innings and takes the Nationals to a lead right at the start of the game. He, along with Bryce Harper becomes such a
formidable offensive force for the opponents that stopping them during the playoffs will not be easy.
Werth is carrying out the leadoff job right now which can easily be considered averse to the credentials he actually possesses. He is known for striking mammoth home-runs and more often than not a batter with such power comes late in the innings.
However, the Nationals have the luxury of having Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche who can ensure late innings offensive fireworks for the team. This can explain why Werth is being used at the top.
Before Werth joined the line-up, Ian Desmond and Steve Lombardozzi did the leadoff job. However, he snatched this role from them immediately after he was available for the Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson.
“It just works,” Werth said. “Our lineup is really balanced. I always like guys to lead off that have high OBPs [on-base percentages]. It doesn’t make sense to me to put a guy at the top of the lineup just because he’s fast. Be fast at the bottom of the
lineup. You don’t get on base, but you’re fast?”
As far as Harper is concerned, the issues which he earlier had with his patience at the plate have almost been worked out by him now. In the last couple of weeks, he has struck a series of home-runs and productive hits.
It will be interesting to see as to what Harper and Werth can do for the Nationals in the crucial games ahead.
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