Nationals at Giants
The San Francisco Giants appeared to be a legitimate contender for the postseason in late July, but they've been a different team thus far this month. San Francisco attempts to avoid a three-game sweep when it hosts the Washington Nationals on Wednesday afternoon for the finale of their series.
The Giants won six of seven heading into the All-Star break and 16 of 21 to wrap up July, but have begun August by dropping five of their first six contests. Pablo Sandoval went 2-for-3 with an RBI on Tuesday as San Francisco, which is 3 1/2 games behind Philadelphia for the second wild-card spot in the National League, dropped a 5-3 decision for its third straight setback. Washington possesses the first wild card as it improved to 3-2 on its nine-game road trip behind six solid innings from Anibal Sanchez and a 3-for-4 performance at the plate by Kurt Suzuki, who recorded a homer and three RBIs. Suzuki has gone 5-for-11 in three games during the Nationals' trek while Anthony Rendon has collected 25 RBIs over his last 21 contests.
TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Joe Ross (1-3, 8.10 ERA) vs. Giants RH Shaun Anderson (3-3, 5.08)
Ross took the loss in three consecutive appearances - one start - before posting a victory at Arizona on Friday, when he allowed one hit and five walks in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. It was the 26-year-old Californian's first major-league victory since July 4, 2017, although he made only five starts between triumphs. Ross suffered the loss in his only career turn versus the Giants as he yielded four runs and six hits in four frames at San Francisco on Aug. 16, 2015.
Anderson's winless streak reached six starts on Friday as he permitted three runs and eight hits over five innings in a no-decision at Colorado. The 24-year-old rookie from Florida hasn't won since June 28, when he limited Arizona to two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 frames. Anderson, who never has faced Washington, worked fewer than six innings in each of his last seven outings and 11 of 15 overall this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals SS Trea Turner has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games after belting a solo homer on Tuesday.
2. San Francisco recalled Williams Jerez and Conner Menez - who started and yielded five runs over six innings on Tuesday - from Triple-A Sacramento, optioned fellow LHP Sam Selman to the River Cats and designated 2B Joe Panik, who batted .235 with three homers and 27 RBIs in 103 games this season, for assignment.
3. Washington signed 3B Asdrubal Cabrera, who hit .229 with five homers and 21 RBIs in 49 games with the club in 2014, optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Double-A Harrisburg and designated RHP Kyle Barraclough for assignment.