Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
The Washington Nationals have 14-games remaining and must go 3-11 to avoid losing 100-games this season. Today’s game is a salvage in this series with the Rockies. Can they figure out how to score runs, take a lead, and keep that lead to the end of a game? The team is now 5-12 this month. Losing used to be the exception here, and lately it has become too commonplace with finding new ways to lose.
Gray is pitching today. No, not Josiah Gray — it is Jon Gray going for Colorado. Go figure, the righty is actually worse on the road than at home in high altitude. His road 4.60 ERA and .801 OPS might be what the Nats need to tee off. The Nationals got bit by the BABIP bug in yesterday’s game as they were shutout even after putting a dozen runners on-base via eight hits, three walks, and an error.
The Nats have Paolo Espino on the mound today. Like Gray, he is good in his home park. Espino’s ERA in Nats Park this year is an impressive 3.56. Espino’s issue is third time through the opposing batting order where they have pounded him at a .917 OPS.
Now if only manager Dave Martinez can figure out how to get some positive output from his bullpen when he has a lead. In yesterday’s blowout he got a shutout from his bullpen including three scoreless frames from Sean Nolin and two from Ryne Harper. The lefty Nolin did what starter Patrick Corbin couldn’t do. Corbin gave up 5 earnies over 4.0 innings.
After the game, the Nats travel to Miami for a 3-game series.
Colorado Rockies vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 1:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, ATT SportsNet Rocky Mountains, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
1. Lane Thomas CF
2. Alcides Escobar SS
3. Juan Soto RF
4. Josh Bell 1B
5. Yadiel Hernandez LF
6. Carter Kieboom 3B
7. Keibert Ruiz C
8. Luis García 2B
9. Paolo Espino RHP
