Nationals 7, Cubs 2

The biggest — really, the only — question from the Cubs’ 7-2 loss to the Nationals in Game 2 of their split doubleheader Saturday is: “Should Jeff Samardzija have been left in to pitch after the rain delay?” Shark did recover to strike out two of the next three hitters, sandwiched around Nate McLouth reaching base when he was hit by a pitch.

I’m not going to completely blame Samardzija for those runs, because all three singles bounced just out of the reach of Cubs fielders.

The season isn’t quite half over; Saturday’s second game was the 80th game of the year, with 82 to go, and the team’s 34-46 record puts them on pace for a 93-loss season, which would be the Cubs’ fourth straight of 90 or more defeats.

Lest you think I’m being too negative, there are certainly positives about this year, particularly the good seasons at the plate from Rizzo (though he went 0-for-7 in the doubleheader) and Starlin Castro, who had two more hits Saturday evening, including a double, which was his 36th extra-base hit of the year.

Castro is thus on pace for (about) 73 XBH; the last Cub to have that many was Derrek Lee, who had 73 in 2009, and there have been just 10 seasons since 1990 in which a Cub had 73 or more XBH.

We’ll have plenty here including the Heroes & Goats from both Saturday games, some more trade talk, as well as other features both today and Monday before the Cubs begin a 10-game road trip in Boston.