Rockies at Nationals (Game 2)
Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner should have plenty of chances to continue his dominance of the Colorado Rockies' pitching staff when the teams play a day-night doubleheader Wednesday in the nation's capital. Turner recorded his second career cycle - both against the Rockies - to lead the Nationals to an 11-1 win in the Tuesday's series opener.
The former first-round pick is batting .386 with five home runs, four triples and seven doubles in 18 career games against Colorado. Washington remained atop the National League wild-card standings with Tuesday's win, its 11th in the last 14 games at home. The Nationals will give the ball to Erick Fedde in the matinee Wednesday followed by Patrick Corbin, while the struggling Rockies turn to Jon Gray and then Kyle Freeland. Colorado has dropped seven of eight and 14 of 17, and it has given up at least eight runs in eight of its last 10 contests.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (2-7, 7.62 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Patrick Corbin (7-5, 3.40)
Freeland returned from the minors earlier this month and has since made two starts, allowing five runs in four innings both times. A 17-game winner a year ago, the Denver native is 0-4 over his last nine starts. Turner has a triple and a double in six career at-bats against Freeland, who is 2-0 in three previous starts versus Washington.
Corbin has allowed three runs or fewer in six straight starts after giving up two in five frames in a no-decision at Atlanta on Friday. He picked up a win at Colorado on April 23, yielding two earned runs over six innings. Nolan Arenado is 12-for-44 with six extra-base hits against the 30-year-old Corbin, who has a 4.73 ERA in 22 career matchups (21 starts) versus the Rockies.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals ace RHP Max Scherzer (shoulder) is expected to come off the injured list Thursday and start the series finale for the hosts.
2. The Rockies selected the contract of 1B Yonder Alonso from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned RHP Yency Almonte to Albuquerque.
3. The Nationals placed 1B Ryan Zimmerman (foot) on the 10-day injured list.