Rockies at Nationals
The Washington Nationals were unable to get a four-game series going with the Colorado Rockies on Monday due to rain in the nation's capital, but the day was not a complete wash. Nationals ace Max Scherzer, who is sidelined due to shoulder inflammation, was able to squeeze in an important bullpen session before the rainout as he eyes a return perhaps later in the week.
"I did the full routine," Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, told reporters Monday. "Everything feels good. Ball's coming out of my hand exactly the way it should feel like at 100 percent. I've been wanting the ball, so hopefully I can pitch here really soon." Stephen Strasburg has won five straight starts for Washington and will try to keep the run going when he gets the nod Tuesday opposite rookie Peter Lambert for Colorado. The Nationals have exchanged wins and losses over the last eight games and entered the week atop the National League wild-card standings by a half-game over Milwaukee and a game up on St. Louis and Philadelphia. Washington and Colorado will play a day-night doubleheader Wednesday before the finale of the four-game series Thursday afternoon.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Peter Lambert (2-1, 6.06 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (12-4, 3.52)
Lambert posted his second quality start in seven tries since joining the rotation last month after allowing two runs in six innings against San Francisco last Tuesday. He is winless over his last five outings while giving up 22 runs in 23 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old will be making his third career start on the road, where he is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA.
Strasburg's winning streak has given him the NL lead in victories, although he failed to finish six innings his last time out for just the fourth time all year. He gave up three runs and eight hits with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings at Atlanta after posting back-to-back scoreless outings in his previous two turns. Charlie Blackmon is 7-for-17 with four doubles and a home run against Strasburg, who owns a 4.07 ERA in 10 career starts versus Colorado.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado has won each of the last four series with Washington, going 9-4 in that span.
2. The Rockies snapped a six-game slide with an 8-4 win at the New York Yankees on Sunday.
3. Nationals LF Juan Soto is 2-for-17 with five strikeouts over his last five games.