Game #159 is Patrick Corbin's final start for the Nats

The Washington Nationals simply can't score runs. The offensive slump is now at three shutouts in a row. Their scoreless streak stands at 31 innings. At the same time, the Nats' starting pitching only allowed the Royals one run in this series.

Today's starter, Patrick Corbin, will make his final start for the Washington Nationals in this save game of the series. What could be better for Corbin than with the opportunity to throw a gem in the Nats' win? Corbin signed a six-year contract with the Nationals before the 2019 season and, along with Tanner Rainey, they are the only two remaining players from the Nats' 2019 World Series team.

Including today's game and the postseason, Corbin will start his 173rd varsity game with the Nats today. But it was his relief appearance in Game 7 of the World Series that gave him a win that Nats fans will remember most. Those 3.0 scoreless innings in early relief from Max Scherzer to keep the deficit at 2-0 until Howie Kendrick's heroics made the difference. Corbin's checkered record in a Nats jersey can be viewed from several perspectives – but the Nats don't win a World Series without Corbin. That $140 million contract is likely money the Nats were happy to pay up front. Always a Nats' World Series champion.

Nats World Series manager Dave Martinez celebrates his milestone 60th birthday today. He would love this 70th win today. The Nats need to go 3-1 to surpass their 2023 win total, and that's looking very bleak right now.

The Nats are underdogs today and are +140 to win on the money line. This means that if you bet $100, you would win $140. Bet $10.00 and you win $14.00.

Nats manager Dave Martinez used five relievers last night, and unfortunately Eduardo Salazar threw only 8 pitches and gave up two runs to increase the 1-0 deficit to 3-0. That was the end result.

Here's a look at the matchups:

1. Thursday: Patrick Corbin vs. Royals
2. Friday: Trevor Williams vs. Phillies
3. Saturday: MacKenzie Gore vs. Phillies
4. Sunday: Jake Irvin vs. Phillies (last game of the season)

Your best Washington Nationals on the FanGraphs' WAR leaderboard has MacKenzie Gore in the lead with 2.9 and just ahead of Luis Garcia Jr. at +2.7. Jacob Young is +2.5. CJ Abrams, whose season is over, is at +1.8 WAR. There are 29 Nats players in positive WAR, another 6.

The Nats' starting pitchers have one combined ERA of 4.41 and 24th in the MLB.

This is how they rank:

No. 5 starter: Patrick Corbin 5.58
No. 4 starter: Mitchell Parker 4.29
No. 3 starter: Jake Irvin 4.22
No. 2 starter: DJ Herz 4.16
No. 1 starter: MacKenzie Gore 4.04

WAshington Nationals against Kansas City Royals

Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
1. Rope length: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2
Radio: 106.7 The Fan Radio and via the MLB app; In Spanish on DC 87.7 FM and La Pantera 100.7 FM/1220 AM. Tune into channel 180 on Sirius/XM for the home broadcast and the away team will be online only.

The list is subject to change (without prior notice):

TalkNats celebrates the 5th and 100th anniversary of the World Series victories by providing game-by-game recaps.

Game 159:

The Nationals won on September 26th. at home against the Phillies, which increased the Nats record to 90-69. The Nats were in second place in the NL East that day. But you already knew that. Box score/rankings
The Senators' regular season ended at Game 154 on September 30th. away against the Boston Red Sox, resulting in a record of 92-62. The Senators finished in first place and ahead of the Yankees. Box score/rankings

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