Tha Nationals are 5-23 in the first games of series, and of course one of those five wins is against the Astros. The Astros are 1-3 in games where they can reach .500.
Russ Ortiz
First of all, let's congratulate Russ on throwing 70IP already this season. Why is that important? Because 70IP is as many as Ortiz has thrown in the majors in one season since 2005.
That said, up until his last start @SF, Russ had managed to keep his ERA under 4.00 since June 4. Before the SF game, the ERA was at 3.36. Funny how 8ER in 5.2IP will invite your ERA to join 4.11 land.
Last three starts:
| Date-Opp | IP | H/ER | K:BB | GB/FB | Pit/Str |
| 6/23 vKC | 7 | 5/2 | 4:2 | 12/9 | 110/91 |
| 6/28 vDET | 7.1 | 6/2 | 5:0 | 9/11 | 91/62 |
| 7/4 @SF | 5.2 | 9/8 | 7:5 | 8/10 | 111/63 |
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 40x141, .284/.364/.404, 23K:16BB
vs Lefties: 30x122, .246/.357/.393, 31K:21BB
When swinging at the first pitch (24): .364/.391/.864, 5XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (146): .252/.324/.336, 39K:13BB
After First-Pitch Balls (137): .264/.394/.382, 15K:24BB
RISP: 14x60, .233/.304/.300, 15K:5BB
Runners on: 31x116, .267/.346/.379, 27K:13BB
2OwRISP: 9x31, .290/.389/.419, 11K:4BB
John Lannan
John Lannan is The Man. 6-5 on a team that is 24-58. Six wins, and the other starting pitchers for the Nationals have 11. Total. His ERA is a full run lower than the Nationals' SP2.
Lannan has faced the Astros once this season, on May 6 when the Nationals beat the Astros 9-4. Lannan's line: 6IP, 9H/3ER, 0K:2BB.
Last three starts:
| Date-Opp | IP | H/ER | K:BB | GB/FB | Pit/Str |
| 6/23 vBOS | 6.1 | 9/3 | 3:2 | 9/15 | 109/69 |
| 6/28 @BAL | 7.1 | 6/3 | 2:3 | 12/12 | 102/66 |
| 7/4 vATL | 8 | 9/3 | 1:1 | 17/11 | 98/65 |
It's been since May 31 that Lannan hasn't thrown a quality outing, and that includes starts at Yankee Stadium and against Boston. Last time out vs Atlanta, Lannan got 4 GIDPs. So he won't strike too many batters out, but he's had 10+ groundballs in 11 of his 17 starts.
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 71x292, .243/.312/.339, 25K:27BB
vs Lefties: 35x110, .318/.400/.627, 23K:11BB
When swinging at the first pitch (59): .364/.375/.564, 5XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (225): .261/.320/.391, 30K:14BB
After First-Pitch Balls (166): .229/.345/.400, 18K:24BB
RISP: 24x88, .273/.340/.443, 14K:8BB
Runners on: 46x174, .264/.323/.420, 23K:13BB
2OwRISP: 10x45, .222/.314/.311, 9K:5BB
