Jordan Zimmermann, the Washington Nationals' NLDS Game 2 starter, lasted just three innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. That might be a quick hook in other contexts, but he's already lasted longer than Jaime Garcia, whom the Cardinals pulled after two. Zimmermann allowed five runs in three innings, allowing seven hits and an Allen Craig home run; through three-and-a-half, the Nationals trailed by a score of 5-1.
In Zimmermann's defense, he also has the Nationals' only RBI. Zimmermann's always been known for his command, but that didn't play as a virtue in this off-kilter NLDS; meanwhile, Sunday's Nats starter, Gio Gonzalez, allowed two runs while throwing a no-hitter because his command was so bad, and the Nationals won anyway. Sometimes it doesn't pay to be the good guy, apparently.
Zimmermann was replaced on the mound by Craig Stammen, who's unlikely to go deep into the game after facing eight batters on Sunday. The Cardinals went with regular season starter Lance Lynn in replacement of Garcia; he's thrown two scoreless innings and struck out four. Stammen allowed a home run on his third pitch of the afternoon to Cardinals second baseman Daniel Descalso, who had four regular season home runs.
It's increasingly looking like this will be a weird one—the Cardinals now lead 6-1, with both starters gone and each bullpens set to go two-thirds of the game.