The Nationals faced a tough enough challenge Tuesday night with Zack Greinke on the mound for the Dodgers. That they wound up having to face the Cy Young frontrunner without the services of Bryce Harper was downright unfair.
The absence of Harper from the Nationals’ lineup due to a sore left knee proved significant during the 5-0 loss in Los Angeles, but perhaps more so from a defensive standpoint than an offensive one. Then again, it might not have mattered how well the Nats played in the field; you still can’t win a game without scoring a run.