Padres at Nationals
The San Diego Padres may have upgraded the batting order with more star power, but their pitching staff has made the biggest improvement as they prepare to open a three-game series at the Washington Nationals on Friday night. San Diego has allowed six total runs during a three-game winning streak and entered Thursday sixth in the majors in team ERA (3.54) after finishing 21st last season.
“These guys are throwing the ball well,” Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “It’s time for us to get the bats going, that’s for sure. But we’re winning for now, so we’ll take it.” Matt Strahm will try to continue the success for the Padres’ mound staff when he takes the ball in the series opener against three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, who was pounded for seven runs over 5 1/3 innings to lose his last start at Miami. The Nationals have dropped four of their last six games after a 9-5 setback against Colorado on Wednesday, but could have leading hitter Anthony Rendon (.371 batting average, six homers, 18 RBIs) back in the lineup after the third baseman missed the last four contests with a left elbow contusion. Outfielder Adam Eaton takes a 10-game hitting streak into Friday’s matchup for Washington, totaling 17 hits in 44 at-bats during the run.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Matt Strahm (0-2, 3.05 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (1-3, 4.45)
Strahm has been outstanding in his last three starts without being rewarded with a victory, allowing three runs (two earned) on 11 hits over 18 innings combined. The 27-year-old North Dakota native limited Cincinnati to one run on two hits with five strikeouts across eight frames without a decision last Friday in a 3-2 home loss. Matt Adams homered in his lone at-bat versus Strahm, who gave up four runs over 2 1/3 innings in two outings against Washington in 2018.
Scherzer reportedly tweaked the intercostal muscle in his left rib cage while dodging a foul ball in the dugout last weekend, but is expected to ready for a start Friday. The 34-year-old Missouri native has managed a 1-1 record in his last three starts despite permitting 14 runs (13 earned) on 26 hits across 19 2/3 innings with 23 strikeouts. Wil Myers is 4-for-13 with a pair of homers against Scherzer, who is 3-2 with a 2.34 ERA in nine career outings versus the Padres.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington 1B Ryan Zimmerman, who is 5-for-11 in his last three games, missed Wednesday’s contest with a heel injury and is day-to-day.
2. San Diego INF/OF Jose Pirela (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday and INF Ty France was recalled from Triple-A El Paso.
3. The Nationals won four of six meetings last season and have taken five of the last seven overall.