The surprising Washington Nationals return home on Friday night to open a three-game series against the slumping San Diego Padres.
The Nationals moved above .500 for the first time since the opening week of the season during a 4-2 road trip when they earned series wins against the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Guardians. They are 10-6 since May 12.
After improving their road record to 19-12, the Nats now look to continue that success at home where they are 10-16.
The Padres have dropped four consecutive games after getting swept at home by the Philadelphia Phillies. After this three-game set in D.C., San Diego will seek some revenge when it plays three next week at Philadelphia.
Washington has been consistent offensively, led by James Wood. At the start of MLB play Thursday, the Nationals led the majors in runs (306) and doubles (110) while ranking among the top six in home runs (72), slugging percentage (.420), and OPS (.743).
“These guys just keep believing; they’re starting to figure out we have some good guys on the team,” Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “When you can go out and play the way we’ve played … you have to feel good about it.”
Wood shared second in the National League in home runs (15) and led the way in runs (50), walks (47), on-base percentage (.414) and OPS (.967).
Washington’s pitching has been part of the team’s surge as well. The Nationals had a 5.67 ERA through April 23. Since then, their ERA is 3.82 over the past 31 games, according to NatsJournal.com.
Offense has been hard to come by of late for the Padres, who have scored seven runs over their past five games while suffering a pair of 3-0 losses to the Phillies.
The Padres managed seven hits against Philadelphia pitching Wednesday and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
“Just not taking advantage of some of the opportunities we did have,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “There’s a little credit to their pitching, but also we’ve got to figure out a way to be better in those situations, runners in scoring position.”
Friday will be a homecoming of sorts for Stammen, who was drafted by the Nationals in 2005 and spent seven seasons pitching for the team.
Another former Nationals pitcher starts for the Padres as right-hander Lucas Giolito (2-0, 2.70 ERA) opposes Washington left-hander Andrew Alvarez.
Signed as a free agent on April 22, the 31-year-old Giolito has won both of his starts. He tossed five shutout innings against the A’s on Saturday on four hits and five walks with two strikeouts.
“I signed here to help the rotation and help this team win games, and I know how to win,” Giolito said. “No matter how I’m feeling, I know how to grind through an outing.”
Giolito was Washington’s first-round draft pick in 2012 and pitched a handful of games for the team before being traded to the Chicago White Sox. He has faced the Nationals once, earning a win over 7 2/3 innings last season while pitching for the Boston Red Sox.
Alvarez, who has been pitching in long relief, takes the rotation spot left vacant when Jake Irvin (shoulder) went on the Injured list. Alvarez has a 2.84 ERA over his four relief appearances.
–Field Level Media
