Tonight is the third game in this four game series against the Padres in San Diego, and the Nats won last night with a traditional mix of team balance. Dusty Baker was able to win without using Felipe Rivero or Shawn Kelley in the bullpen. Tonight, Dusty Baker hopes he can get at least 7 innings of a gem from Max Scherzer who starts tonight.
Tonight’s late game will feature right-handed pitcher Colin Rea for the Padres. Rea debuted last year for the Padres and came up through their system as a 12th round pick in 2011 out of Indiana State. Rea currently has a 5.37 ERA and has really struggled with his mechanics and was pulled in his last start in the 3rd inning after giving up 6 runs to the Marlins.
In Rea’s 3 starts in June, his ERA has been 8.40, and Rea has struggled with consistency. No Nationals’ players have ever faced Rea before. Here is some scouting on him: he has reverse splits as righties hit him better than lefties, and he struggles throwing out of the stretch to a .376 OBP.
Rea throws a sinker and a 4-seamer in the same proportions. His fastball sits at 93mph and he throws a cutter at 89. He will throw a few curveballs and changeups. The problem with Rea is locating the sinker which ends up out of the zone too often. His location misses will get hit hard or turn into walks.
Here is Max Scherzer’s stats against the Padres:
Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres
Stadium: Petco Park, San Diego, CA
1st Pitch: 10:10pm EDT
TV: MASN, FSSD-San Diego FOX Deportes, MLB.tv
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Ben Revere LF
- Michael Taylor CF
- Bryce Harper RF
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Wilson Ramos C
- Stephen Drew 3B
- Danny Espinosa SS
- Max Scherzer RHP
