Nationals at Diamondbacks
The Washington Nationals gained ground in the National League East and climbed into a wild-card spot thanks to a stellar effort from their pitching staff in the opener of their nine-game road trip. They hope for a similar performance on Saturday as they continue their three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Joe Ross and four relievers combined on a one-hitter while Juan Soto continued his power surge with a solo shot on Friday as Washington posted a 3-0 victory in the series opener to pull even with the Chicago Cubs for the NL wild-card berths while moving within six games of division-leading Atlanta. The 20-year-old Soto has gone deep in three consecutive contests and four of his last five after enduring an 11-game drought. The Diamondbacks fell 4 1/2 games behind in the wild-card race as their only hit on Friday was an infield single by starting pitcher Alex Young - the first hit of his career. Arizona has lost five of its last eight at home and gone 8-11 overall since the All-Star break.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (14-4, 3.26 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (9-7, 3.91)
Strasburg finally is displaying the talent Washington felt he possessed when it selected him with the first overall pick in the 2009 draft. The 31-year-old Californian, who went 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA, 44 strikeouts and seven walks over 31 2/3 innings in July, won his seventh straight start on Sunday as he limited the Los Angeles Dodgerss to one run and two hits over seven frames. Strasburg fell to 5-4 with a 3.89 ERA in 12 career starts against Arizona on June 15, when he surrendered six runs and nine hits (four homers) in five frames versus the club.
Ray won his first four starts of July before losing at Miami on Sunday despite giving up three runs - two earned - in six innings. The 27-year-old Tennessean matched a season high by registering 11 strikeouts in the setback and did not issue a walk for the first time this campaign. Ray has yet to defeat the Nationals in his career as he dropped to 0-5 with a 6.52 ERA in six starts when he yielded five runs and as many hits over six innings in Washington on June 14.
WALK-OFFS
1. Soto has recorded 21 homers and 71 RBIs in 99 games this season after registering 22 and 70, respectively, in 116 contests as a rookie last year.
2. Arizona All-Star 2B Ketel Marte walked twice on Friday but was held without a hit for a season high-tying third straight game.
3. Washington sent RHP Justin Miller outright to Triple-A Fresno and designated LHP Tony Sipp for assignment.