Nats Playoff Redemption Tour Continues

Three Quick Thoughts on Nats Run to the World Series

Stephen Strasburg began to silence some of his many critics when he weathered the flu and the brisk Chicago weather to beat the Chicago Cubs in Game 4 of the National League Division Series in 2017, as reported by Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post. After he landed on the injured list in June of the next year, Mark Townsend of YahooSports (along with others) was back on the narrative that Strasburg's "lack of durability has limited his true potential." Strasburg is 3-0 with 33 strikeouts through 22 innings pitched during this year's playoffs and everyone must admit he is living up to the potential that made him the number one pick in the 2009 MLB draft.

The Nats made it look easy sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series. That is good news right? Well...Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports that since MLB went to a seven-game LCS format, eight teams have secured a sweep to advance to the World Series prior to the Nats with only one of those teams going on to win the series. Maybe Washington pitchers Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez have experience to help the Nats figure it out -- they were both on the 2012 Detroit Tigers team that lost in the World Series to the San Francisco Giants after sweeping the New York Yankees in the ALCS.

After Washington won the National League Wild Card game, I was able to secure three tickets to Game 3 of the NLDS buying directly from the Nationals ticket office. They weren't even sold out. World Series tickets will run you approximately $800 for a standing-room-only seat. The HOTPO staff will cover the World Series from the HOTPO headquarters, but I bet we still manage to have some fun doing it that way.

During Game 3 of the NLCS at the HOTPO headquarters. It may look like the senior HOTPO staff writer getting chocked out by an 11 year old while a 13 year old laughs at the demise of the senior writer, but that is not the case. That's just people cheering local.

Let's do some picks!

NFL Week 7 Picks

I finally got back to good last week by going 9 of 15. This week is a tougher week of picks though. So I dug in and made sure I did research on these games.

When I looked up from my well-thought out picks that I was very proud of...I saw that I had five (FIVE!) road underdogs picked to win. That has to be statistical idiocy. But, I have put too much time into this to change now -- going to ride what I have below (I don't recommend you put money on these picks).

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (-17): Look at that line! No thinking or research required here. - BILLS

San Francisco 49ers (-9.5) at Washington Redskins: San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan was fired as the Washington offensive coordinator (along with his dear old dad Mike, who was the head coach) after the 2013 season. Kyle says he has "moved on" and the firing is "not an issue," according to Stephen Whyno of the Sacramento Bee. I don't believe that, but I do believe he is coming in with a better team and those players do not want to let him down in his return to D.C. - 49ERS

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts (-1): Chris Blystone of StampedeBlue.com thinks the Colts WR T.Y. Hilton, K Adam Vinatieri and defense will be the advantages that push the horseshoes to victory this weekend. For such a competitive matchup, I have to make an "emotional hedge" pick and go against my favorite team. - TEXANS

Minnesota Vikings (-1) at Detroit Lions: This another game between evenly matched teams. The Vikings RB Dalvin Cook makes their offense move and the Lions run defense is allowing 5.1 yard per carry and more than 100 yards per game, according to Eric J. Thompson of the DailyNorseman.com. - VIKINGS 

Jacksonville Jaguars (-3.5) at Cincinnati Bengals: Kind of surprised the line is this close. The 0-6 Bengals haven't started a season 0-7 since 2008. That streak of "excellence" ends this week. -JAGUARS

Los Angeles Rams (-3) at Atlanta Falcons: Both of these recent Super Bowl losers are on losing streaks; three straight for the Rams, and four in a row for the Falcons. So they are both facing systemic issues and coaches fix systems when they get out of alignment. I have more faith in Sean McVay of Los Angeles than Atlanta's Dan Quinn. - RAMS

Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants (-3): Hank Gola of the New York Daily News says Giants RB Saquon Barkley and TE Evan Engram will return this week from injury-related absences. Opposing quarterbacks average a 121.8 passer rating against the deficient Cardinals defense. - GIANTS

Oakland Raiders at Green Bay Packers (-5.5): The Raiders are tied with the two other teams for the 7th best rushing attack (4.9 yards per attempt) and tied with two others for 6th fewest turnovers. The Packers have the 10th worst rush defense (4.9 yards per attempt) and they are tied with three other teams for the 6th most turnovers created. Green Bay has been masking a deficient run defense by turning over their opponents, but now they face an excellent running team that doesn't turn the ball over. - RAIDERS

Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans (-2): If you like evenly matched games between two shitty teams, then this game is for you. Ryan Tannehill will start at quarterback for the Titans. We are done here, right? - CHARGERS 

*Just looked on StubHub, you can get a seat for this game at $35. My Gawd! The market says turn the channel. Or, holy smokes, NFL football for that cheap -- grab a friend and get there!

New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears (-3): The Saints may be missing all-world RB Alvin Kamara this weekend. Even with that, David Haugh of 670 The Score out of Chicago believes the Bears will lose because they can't move "the ball against a quality opponent." - SAINTS 

Baltimore Ravens at Seattle Seahawks (-3.5): Can't wait to see some of this game. I am going with the home team with the more experienced quarterback. - SEAHAWKS 

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (-3): The Cowboys 3-0 start is looking fraudulent after losing three straight games, but the Eagles didn't necessarily cover themselves in glory losing 38-20 last week in Minnesota. Both teams are dealing with injuries on the offensive line, defensive backfield and receiver corps. I will be looking for injury updates all the way up to game time for this evenly matched division battle and might change my pick. - EAGLES

New England Patriots (-9.5) at New York Jets: Look at that line! No thinking or research required here. - PATRIOTS 

Enjoy the games.