Wire Taps: Nationals drop NLDS opener to Dodgers; Stephen Strasburg on short rest tonight; Nats’ bullpen issues + more...

“Oh, they’re good, they’re really good,” Davey Martinez told reporters after the Nationals lost their fifth game to the Dodgers in eight matchups this season.

“That’s why they have been in the postseason so many years in a row,” Martinez added, then he noted, “We didn’t play very well today.”

Patrick Corbin struggled with walks. The Nationals struggled against Walker Buehler. They have a chance to even things up tonight.

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Nats drop Game 1 to Dodgers:

Davey Martinez needs to be more aggressive with bullpen in Game 2 - (MASN)
"Given the way his team lost 6-0 to the Dodgers, Martinez might have no choice but to treat tonight’s Game 2 more like the elimination game he managed earlier this week."

Nationals bats are silent in Game 1 shutout loss - (MASN)
"Soto’s clutch hit during Tuesday night’s emotional wild card win over the Brewers aside, this team has done nothing at the plate this week. In 17 offensive innings, the Nats have scored four runs on six hits and four walks."

In NLDS Game 1, L.A. capitalizes on Nats’ lack of a third bullpen arm - (WaPost)
"The Washington Nationals could get through the wild-card game by hiding their bullpen, but the National League Division Series is different."

The Nats picked wrong time to show the worst of themselves in Game 1 of NLDS - (WaPost)
"So much for the popular conceit of a 'pressure-tested' Washington Nationals team that had to battle all season to become a wild card."

7 walks, 2 errors, quiet bats add up to G1 loss - (MLB.com)
”Nationals pitchers issued seven walks, collected as many hits as they made errors (two) and saw their middle relievers exposed once their starter left the game, all adding up to a 1-0 series deficit.”

LOVERRO: Game 1 dominated by Dodgers - (Washington Times)
”On Thursday, though, it looked, early, as though he would have rather been just about anywhere else.”

Corbin vs Buehler:

Dodgers’ Walker Buehler delivers when called upon - (WaPost)
"The Nationals, so exuberant as they celebrated their wild-card win two days earlier, were doomed by quiet bats early and overwhelmed by the Dodgers’ offense late."

Corbin's gritty start provides silver lining - (MLB.com)
"Corbin craved more opportunities to pitch in October, which played into his decision to sign a six-year, $140 million contract with the Nationals this past offseason."

Nats' bullpen struggles arise again in Game 1 - (MLB.com)
"Left-hander Patrick Corbin did his part by holding the Dodgers to two runs (one earned) over six innings in his postseason debut, but Washington’s relievers later faltered..."

Strasburg starts tonight in LA:

After relief outing, Strasburg will start Game 2 (Nats fall 6-0) - (MASN)
"Strasburg shrugged this off as nothing excessively out of the ordinary for him."

Strasburg to start for Nats in Game 2 of NLDS - (MLB.com)
"But Strasburg woke up Thursday morning and sought out Martinez and pitching coach Paul Menhart to tell them he wanted the ball."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Trea Turner says Washington Nationals are trying too hard -- 'Have a little bit more fun' - (ESPN)
"Against Walker Buehler and a trio of relievers, the Nats managed just two hits, including a second-inning single by Juan Soto and a ninth-inning double by Turner."

The Dodgers' postseason hopes start with Walker Buehler - (Yahoo!Sports)
"If this is going to work, if the Dodgers are to win 10 more times before everybody goes home, then it starts with Buehler."

MLB playoffs 2019: Three takeaways from Dodgers' Game 1 NLDS win over Nationals - (Sporting News)
"Los Angeles is out in front 1-0 in the NLDS for the third straight year and fourth time in the last six seasons."

Who Needs Bryce Harper When You’ve Got Juan Soto? - (FiveThirtyEight)
"How do you survive the loss of Bryce Harper, a player billed as a once-in-a-generation talent? You develop an even better once-in-a-generation talent. (So maybe that’s 'twice-in-a-generation'?)"

Nationals’ Offense Disappears, Desperation Rises During Game 1 Loss To Dodgers - (Forbes)
"Facing 25-year-old Walker Buehler, the Nationals lineup was rendered wildly ineffective."