Help Us Odalis Perez...You're Our Only Hope...

30-year old lefty "Opening Night" Odalis Perez, who gets the Sunday start for the Washington Nationals, is (0-3) with a 4.35 ERA in 4 starts and 20.2 IP this season for DC, and against the Florida Marlins, Perez has pitched in 10 games, 7 as a starter, and he's (2-2) with a 4.03 ERA in his ten-year MLB career. Marlins' lefty Scott Olsen, at 24-years old, is four years into his own career, and in that time, he's accumulated a (25-26) record and a 4.77 ERA in one relief appearance and 71 starts for the Marlins. Against DC, Olsen's (4-3) in 9 career starts, giving up 36 walks and 54 hits in 51.0 IP against the Nationals. So far in '08, Olsen's (2-0) with a  3.05 ERA, and against Washington back on 4/9/08 Olsen pitched 7.2 innings, allowing 4 hits, 3 ER, and 4 walks in a 10-4 Florida win. 

Nationals' #'s Against Olsen...

Ronnie Belliard - 7 for 16, .438 AVG, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI's, 3 walks. 

Cristian Guzman - 4 for 7, .571 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI. 

Wily Mo MO MO Pena! - 3 for 3, 1.000 AVG, 2 HR's and 3 RBI's. 

The Flat-Brimmed Closer Watch...

Chad Cordero was topping out around 87 mph last night. The Flat-Brimmed Closer came on for the Nationals in the seventh, after Florida had taken the lead over DC, and though Cordero gave up a single, with runners on first and third, Cordero got a grounder from Cody Ross to hold Washington close, though they eventually lost. 

Random #'s and ?'s...

Nick Johnson leads the Nationals with 12 RBI's after 18 games in '08. Johnson, Cristian Guzman and Ryan Zimmerman are each tied for team lead with 2 HR's each. Nick Johnson's 7 doubles are tops in DC. Nick Johnson's .419 OBP leads Washington, followed by Lastings Milledge, a bit behind Johnson at .350 OBP. Right-handed hurler Tim Redding leads the team with 3 wins and he's also got only ERA under 4.00 amongst the Nationals' starters. 

1:05 PM EST for the Sunday finale in Florida. The Nationals have a shot at winning the road series, and at least they've insured they're not getting swept, now how's about winning this series?