Royals at Nationals
The Washington Nationals' turnaround that began a little over a month ago largely coincides with the beginning of another vintage stretch of dominance by ace Max Scherzer. The three-time Cy Young Award winner looks to keep his surge going while helping the Nationals bounce back from a rare loss when he takes the hill Saturday in the second contest of a three-game series with the visiting Kansas City Royals.
Scherzer was outstanding in six starts in June, helping Washington climb into the race in both the National League East and the wild card while going 18-8. The Nationals also won their first three games in July before falling 7-4 in 11 innings to the Royals in the series opener Friday night. Adalberto Mondesi's RBI single in the 11th snapped a 4-4 tie and Kansas City added two more while ending a four-game slide. The Royals had 12 hits and drew five walks in the series opener and will hope for some semblance of support in Saturday's contest for starter Glenn Sparkman.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, MASN2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Glenn Sparkman (2-4, 5.09 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (8-5, 2.43)
Sparkman defeated the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins with seven strong innings June 20 at home but has since hit a rough patch with back-to-back rocky outings on the road. He first gave up five runs in 5 2/3 innings at Cleveland on June 25 before getting knocked around for eight runs and nine hits -- three homers -- in just three frames at Toronto. The Texas native, who is 0-5 with an 8.22 ERA in his career on the road, will be making his first career interleague start.
Scherzer finished May at 2-5 with a 3.26 ERA before going 6-0 with a 1.00 mark in June, capping it with eight outstanding innings and 14 strikeouts in a win at Detroit. He posted at least 10 strikeouts in five of his six outings last month while walking just four -- none in 16 innings over his last two starts. The Missouri native is 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA in 21 career matchups with the Royals but has had his issues with Kansas City veteran Alex Gordon, who is 14-for-39 with three homers and nine walks against Scherzer.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mondesi also recorded his MLB-leading ninth triple Friday night.
2. Nationals SS Trea Turner has multiple hits in seven of his last 12 contests.
3. Washington has homered in a franchise-record 19 straight games.