After one of their more impressive wins of the season, the Washington Nationals open a four-game home series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
The Nationals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2 on Sunday to salvage the finale of the three-game series, while the Cubs lost their third straight, 4-3 to the Miami Marlins.
Chicago left-hander Drew Smyly (2-1, 3.21 ERA) opposes left-hander MacKenzie Gore (3-1, 3.00) in the series opener.
Smyly has been a solid performer early in his second season with the Cubs. After being hammered for seven runs — six earned — in his first outing of the season, Smyly is 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA over his past four starts.
Last time out, Smyly allowed two runs on four hits over five innings of a no-decision against the San Diego Padres. He struck out four and walked one while throwing 89 pitches. The two runs came on three hits and a walk in the fourth.
“I wish I could have gone longer,” Smyly said, “but the fourth inning was a little taxing.”
Smyly is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in eight games, including six starts, in his career versus the Nationals.
The 24-year-old Gore struck out 10 batters in six innings of a win over the Mets on April 26. He allowed a run on four hits and two walks in bouncing back from his only loss.
“When he can pound the strike zone and use his fastball to throw strike one, he is going to be what he was today — very effective,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He has a lot of movement on his ball. But I’m also proud of him just going out there and trusting his fastball, keeping the ball down and using it.”
Gore lost his only career start against the Cubs, allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings in a game last season.
Chicago travels to Washington after losing three straight games by one run. The Cubs are 3-7 since winning four straight and 10 of 13.
Cody Bellinger homered for a second straight game and had two RBIs, while Dansby Swanson recorded two hits with an RBI on Sunday. The Cubs were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
The 27-year-old Bellinger, signed as a free agent in the offseason, finished April hitting .297 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs.
“He’s a guy that’s going to be a reason for our success,” Cubs manager David Ross said, “if he keeps swinging the bat the way he is.”
Chicago’s Nico Hoerner singled in the seventh inning to extend his consecutive games on base streak to 25.
Coming off a brutal 16-1 loss in the second game of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, Washington erupted for seven runs in the first three innings on Sunday.
Joey Meneses had four hits, Jeimer Candelario and Victor Robles each had an early two-run double and Luis Garcia delivered a two-run single to back the strong pitching of Josiah Gray.
“We were being a little bit more aggressive. Pittsburgh, they pound the zone and we had to be ready,” Martinez said. “The bats were nice, they were crisp this game and we had some good swings.”
–Field Level Media
