Pitching on Star Wars day at Nationals Park, this will be the 7th time in Stephen Strasburg‘s career that he has faced his hometown team from San Diego. Strasburg attended San Diego State University where his coach was none other than the greatest Padre—Tony Gwynn. When Strasburg was a youngster, he donned a Gwynn Padres jersey. Now Strasburg hopes to improve upon his career 5-1 record against these Padres.
Strasburg is coming off a dominant pitching performance of 7 2/3 innings with 118 pitches. Luckily Strasburg is pitching on an extra day’s rest where his ERA has improved 0.36 compared to pitching on regular rest.
The Padres throw Clayton Richard who is a lefty who dominates lefty batters. Daniel Murphy is not in the starting line-up, and the Nationals will start only one lefty (Bryce Harper) as the switch-hitting Matt Wieters and Wilmer Difo will both hit from the right-side. Righties have an OPS this year against Richard of .838 versus .536 against lefties.
Many Nationals players donated their time this morning to do Little League appearances. This wasn’t a bunch of “no names” rather some of the biggest stars on the team were at Little League venues this morning including Max Scherzer, Ryan Zimmerman, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Matt Wieters. According to the Washington Nationals, there were 10 players who visited local youth baseball sites in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia this morning as a part of their Youth Baseball Uniform Program.
Just now: @Bharper3407 to Little Leaguers: "I don't care what they say. Winning is good…losing isn't fun. No participation trophies."
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) May 27, 2017
Bryce Harper has given similar speeches to young players before, and this video from 2012 when Bryce was a rookie is a classic!
Thanks @treavturner @Nationals @TalkNats2 pic.twitter.com/EO0c2cQvP7
— JH (@jhewitt11) May 27, 2017
Enhanced photo from Heather Zimmerman
Speaking of appearances, Jude Oz will be appearing at the June 22nd P-Nats game. It is a scheduled off-day for the Nats so please get out there and cheer her on as she will throw out the 1st pitch!
While the Nationals are playing, Dusty Baker will be attending his son Darren’s high school graduation. Will Dusty do like some of us and have earphones in while listening to C&D on the MLB App?
San Diego Padres at Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC
1st Pitch: 4:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN, FOX Sports San Diego, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® XM 188 Sirius 145 (Internet 869)
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Trea Turner SS
- Jayson Werth LF
- Bryce Harper RF
- Ryan Zimmerman 1B
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Matt Wieters C
- Michael Taylor CF
- Wilmer Difo 2B
- Stephen Strasburg RHP
