What better place to spend your 9th anniversary of your eminent MLB debut than in your hometown? Stephen Strasburg threw 14 strikeouts in one of the most anticipated MLB debuts in baseball history nine years ago in front of 40,315 fans, and one of the most raucous crowds ever to grace a game in Nationals Park. Every time Strasburg got to a 2-strike count the fans stood and cheered at the top of their lungs. Some thought that game was the precursor of what it would be like to play a post-season game at Nationals Park. and they were correct. That of course happened two years later. Today’s starter for the Nationals is Max Scherzer who almost certainly will have his spot in Cooperstown one day. He will get the start today for the Nationals in Stasburg’s hometown of San Diego. Scherzer also has the job of being the stopper today for his team that has lost two in a row.
Last night’s game ended in shock for the Nats who were an out away from a 4-3 come-from -behind win, and quickly went 180° to a blown-save loss. Baseball will rip your heart out sometimes, and last night was one of those games. All you can do is try to win tonight and turn the page.
The Padres will start their third lefty pitcher in as many nights as they go with Eric Lauer. Most of the Nats have faced Lauer before with Yan Gomes, Juan Soto, and Trea Turner having the most success. Lauer has struggled on his second time through the batting order as well as in night games.
Washington Nationals at San Diego Padres
Stadium: Petco Park, San Diego, California
1st Pitch: 10:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN, FOX Sports – San Diego, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
