The Nats losing streak is at 4 games, and while that is disappointing, the Nationals still maintain a healthy 7.0 game lead in the NL East. Tonight the Nationals send Max Scherzer to the mound as their starter and Ace. The Orioles placed Chris Tillman on the DL and will go back to the struggling Ubaldo Jimenez as their starter.
The Nationals offense came alive last night mounting a comeback that was almost of historical proportions as the Nats were down 10-3 in the 9th and scored 5 runs with the tying runs on base and the winning run in the batter’s box with only 1 out. Ryan Zimmerman grounded into a game ending doubleplay, and while Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos continue to struggle, Trea Turner and others are getting it done.
This losing streak is more about the pitching and defensive mistakes and offensively there is a lack of hitting with runners-in-scoring-position.
Today is a new day. With that, Wilson Ramos gets a much needed day-off, and probably needs two days in a row. Stephen Strasburg played catch in the outfield this afternoon which certainly is a good sign after F.P. Santangelo said two days ago in an interview on 106.7 FM radio, “I think [Strasburg’s] elbow is tender. I think there’s no doubt. I’ve watched Stephen Strasburg walk around the clubhouse and his right arm is kind of at a 45 [degree angle] and his left arm is perfectly straight.”
The Nationals could have their new reliever Marc Rzepczynski available as he is en route to Washington, D.C., and if he is activated by game time, the Nationals will have to make a corresponding roster move off of the active 25 man roster.
Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles
Stadium: Nats Park, Washington, DC
1st Pitch: 7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN, MASN2-Orioles , MLB.tv
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Trea Turner CF
- Jayson Werth LF
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- Bryce Harper RF
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Danny Espinosa SS
- Jose Lobaton C
- Max Scherzer RHP
