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Every week, across several sports, players around the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) shine in individual performance. Every Monday, I’d like to take a minute to highlight some of those performances, including what I view as the best performance and name that athlete the “DMV Star of the Week.”
This week’s DMV Star of the Week is Washington Nationals Pitcher Josiah Gray.
The 25-year-old right hander won his first two games of the season this past week in back-to-back dominant performances.
In two starts, Gray pitched 12 innings, allowing 1 run on 7 hits with 4 walks and 15 strikeouts.
In his first start of the week, the Nationals defeated the New York Mets 5-0 to secure a series win. On Sunday, it was a 7-2 victory over Pittsburgh.
Gray has a career ERA of 4.84 but is currently at 2.67 in six starts for Washington.
Prior to his first two wins this past week, Gray had three straight games of allowing two runs or less. The Nationals offense had failed to score in three straight games Gray had started coming into Monday’s win over the Mets.
Early in 2023, Gray is by far the best starting pitcher for Washington. In games that the Nationals score more than one run, Gray has not lost.
It’s a low bar, but the Nationals youngster is proving to be the ace of the pitching
staff in this young season.
The DMV saw four teams in action this past week, including the Washington Nationals, D.C. United, Washington Spirit and the D.C. Defenders XFL team
Here are some honorable mention performances for DMV Star of the Week:
D.C. United Forward Christian Benteke scored his fifth goal of the season on a bicycle kick in Saturday’s dominant 3-0 win over Charlotte
Washington Nationals second-baseman Luis Garcia had three 2 RBI games this past week, knocking in a pair of runs in wins over Pittsburgh and the New York Mets and a loss to the Mets
D.C. Defenders Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw for 258 yards and 2 touchdowns in Sunday’s 37-21 win over Seattle in the XFL North Championship Game
D.C. United Goalkeeper Tyler Miller kept a clean sheet in Saturdays’ 3-0 win, his third shutout in 2023
Washington Nationals Shortstop C.J. Abrams hit a grand slam home run in Thursday’s 9-8 loss to the New York Mets that put Washington in the lead at the time
Here’s what’s coming up this week in DMV Sports:
Washington Nationals (10-17, 5th in NL East, 8 GB)
5/1 vs. Chicago Cubs
5/2 vs. Chicago Cubs
5/3 vs. Chicago Cubs
5/4 vs. Chicago Cubs
5/5 @ Arizona
5/6 @ Arizona
5/7 @ Arizona
D.C. United: (4-2-4, 14 points, 8th in Eastern Conference)
5/6 @ Cincinnati
Washington Spirit: (2-3-0, 9 points, 4th in NWSL)
5/6 vs. San Diego
D.C. Defenders: (10-1 overall, 1st in XFL North)
5/13 vs. Arlington (XFL Championship Game)
*Denotes games I will be covering in-person
Notes:
The D.C. Defenders won the XFL North Championship game on Sunday at Audi Field 37-21 over Seattle, setting up a trip to the XFL Championship game on Saturday, May 13 against the Arlington Renegades in San Antonio, TX.