White Sox at Nationals
The Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals will be the last teams to dip their toes in the interleague waters on Tuesday when they play the opener of their two-game series in the nation's capital. The White Sox are riding the momentum of a successful 6-1 homestand while the Nationals have answered a season-high five-game losing skid by winning seven of their last nine contests.
"Everybody's been hoping to see the talent these guys have come to fruition. They're starting to scratch the surface," manager Rick Renteria said of his Chicago club that has pulled into a tie for second place in the American League Central. Tim Anderson homered and drove in both runs during Sunday's 2-0 win over Cleveland to improve to 21-for-59 since May 12. While Washington remains in fourth place in the National League East, it has reduced its deficit to seven games after erupting for 59 runs during its last nine contests. Anthony Rendon is 12-for-32 with eight RBIs and 10 runs scored in that stretch after collecting three hits in Sunday's 4-1 win over Cincinnati.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (3-5, 6.20 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (5-3, 3.19)
Lopez looks to turn the corner after surrendering eight homers and recording a 6.35 ERA in May when he takes the mound against a Washington club with which he began his major league career. "It's going to be emotional for me," the 25-year-old Dominican said through an interpreter, via the Chicago Tribune. "They were the team that signed me and gave me the chance to play at this level." Lopez, who has yet to face the Nationals, owns an 0-3 mark and 7.78 ERA in four starts on the road while allowing the opposition to bat .345 against him.
Strasburg improved to 2-0 in his last three starts on Tuesday after permitting two runs on five hits in seven innings of a 5-4 win at Atlanta. The 30-year-old struck out 11 batters for the third time in eight trips to the mound to raise his season total to 98, which trails only teammate Max Scherzer (117) for the most in the National League. Yonder Alonso is just 3-for-14 against Strasburg, who will face the White Sox for the first time since fanning 10 over seven innings in a 2-1 loss on June 18, 2010.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington OF Juan Soto has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games.
2. Chicago 1B Jose Abreu is 3-for-30 with 12 strikeouts in his last eight contests.
3. Nationals RF Adam Eaton, who is 1-for-16 in his last five games, was acquired from the White Sox in the Lucas Giolito/Lopez deal on Dec. 7, 2016.