47 Gio Gonzalez SP

Gonzalez threw 5.1 innings in Tuesday's win over the Mets, allowing two runs on eight hits while recording five strikeouts and two walks.

Gonzalez didn't allow a run through four, and in the fifth he got tagged for a sacrifice fly by Asdrubal Cabrera and an RBI groundout by Yoenis Cespedes. He was lifted in the sixth at 97 pitches after having given up a couple of singles. Overall, Gonzalez was effective, and in each of his four starts this year he's gone at least five innings and hasn't allowed more than two earned runs. The lefty is allowing a fair number of hits and walks (hence the 1.52 WHIP), but he's so far limiting the run damage. He'll square off with the Giants in San Francisco on his next start.

Gonzalez (1-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out seven across five innings to take the loss Thursday against the Rockies.

Gonzalez allowed his first home run of the season and this was also his first start in which he allowed multiple runs. Despite those negatives, the outing was far from a disaster as he allowed only two earned runs and struck out seven. He continues to walk batters at a high rate, meaning he'll often be pitching out of jams, but he showed the ability to perform well even given that last season.

Gonzalez tossed 5.1 innings in a no decision Saturday against the Mets, allowing one run on six hits and three walks while striking out six batters.

It was Gonzalez's second straight start in which he allowed just a single run. He now has a 1.59 ERA with 13 strikeouts and four walks in 11.1 innings. The 32-year-old lefty recorded a 2.96 ERA last year in 201 innings, though his 4.24 xFIP indicated that he got rather lucky. Through his first two starts this year, he has a 3.20 xFIP, striking out more batters per inning than he did last season while walking fewer. It's a promising start to the year for Gonzalez, who will next take the hill Thursday at home against the Rockies.

Gonzalez (1-0) held Cincinnati to just one run on five hits and a walk with seven strikeouts through six innings to earn the win Sunday.

Gonzalez picked up right where he left off in 2017. He was sharp, with 17 first pitch strikes, and nasty enough to induce 12 whiffs in 91 pitches. Gonzalez had arguably the best season of his career last year, when he posted a sub-3.00 ERA and sub-1.20 WHIP for the first time in five years. Even if he winds up regressing a bit in 2018, Gonzalez should be a reliable source of strikeouts, as he has posted at least an 8.0 K/9 in every season since 2011.

Gonzalez will start the third game of the season for the Nationals on Sunday.

Thursday's rainout bumps Max Scherzer back a day, but otherwise doesn't affect the Nats' rotation. Gonzalez is coming off his best statistical season since 2012, but his 3.97 FIP and declining fastball velocity in 2017 suggest he'll have a very hard time repeating last year's sub-3.00 ERA.