Photo by Rudi Riet.

Photo by Rudi Riet.

It’s upon us at last! Another bout of playoff baseball. Will this be the year we trade our disappointment for bragging rights? Who knows! Here’s what we do know:

Nats Face Off Against Cubs

Last year, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. To repeat that, they’ll have to begin by beating our beloved Nats in a best of five series.

Here’s the schedule:

Game 1: Oct. 6, 7:31 p.m., home game
Game 2: Oct. 7, 5:38 p.m., home game
Game 3: Oct. 9, 4 p.m., in Chicago
Game 4: Oct. 10, 5:30 p.m., in Chicago
Game 5: Oct. 12, 5:30 p.m., home game

Majority Whip Steve Scalise Is Throwing Out The First Pitch

When an email from The Nationals on Thursday said that there’d be “a special guest” to throw out the first ceremonial pitch, the guessing games began. Could it be President Donald Trump, who declined an invitation to throw the first pitch of the season? Nope.

USA Today reports that it’ll be Steve Scalise, the House majority whip who was critically injured in a shooting at a baseball field in Alexandria in June while practicing for the Congressional Baseball Game. He returned to the Capitol late last month.

After That, Strasburg Pitches On Friday

After Scalise, Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg takes to the mound for Game 1. He’s got a 15-4 record this season.

Here’s the full line-up on Friday, per the Nats:

The D.C. team has announced that Gio Gonzalez will pitch for Game 2. Max Scherzer, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury, is slated to start Game 3.

No (Word On) Late-Night Metro Service

Earlier this week, we wrote about how the Nationals have to give Metro a heads-up and pony up a $100,000 deposit per hour that they keep the system open. So far, no dice. That isn’t exactly surprising—the Nats haven’t paid to keep Metro open late in previous years, and the deposit wasn’t as steep then.

Here’s how the team suggests getting yourself to the park:

The Mayor’s Got Some High “Steaks” Riding On The Game

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will be making the “Plaaaaay baaalllll!” announcement on Friday night. But for her, the pressure doesn’t end when she gives up the mic. She made a “friendly wager” over sausages with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

If the Nats beat the Cubs, Emanuel will send Bowser sausage from Publican Quality Meats, prime bone-in ribeye steaks from Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, and two growlers of Vice District Brewing Co’s Habitual beer. If the Nats lose, Bowser will ship some Ben’s Chili Bowl half-smokes and DC Brau over to the Windy City.

The Nats Would Love To Win The World Series

File this one under “duh.” The Washington Post interviewed some key Nats players and staffers and found that they’re really hoping to bring the championship home to D.C.

“It would mean the world to me personally, and I really feel it would mean a lot to the city specifically,” General Manager Mike Rizzo told The Post. “For D.C. to win a World Series, and finally get this cloud of failures out of here would pick up the entire city, and every other sport in the city.”

When asked what it would mean to him to win, fan-favorite outfielder Jayson Werth said it simply: “Everything.”

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