Nationals at Cubs
The Washington Nationals are running away with victories during their latest hot stretch and they'll seek a fourth consecutive rout when they play the host Chicago Cubs on Saturday in the second of a three-game set. The Nationals took the series opener 9-3 on Friday for their 10th win in the last 12 games - six of which have come by at least six runs.
Juan Soto went 3-for-4 with a home run and four runs scored in Friday's victory as Washington, which has outscored opponents 27-5 during its three-game winning streak, strengthened its hold on the top wild card spot in the National League and remained within six games of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. The Cubs had won five in a row before starter Jon Lester was hit hard and their offense managed only one hit through the first eight innings Friday. They hold down the second wild card and are one-half game behind the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the NL Central. Jose Quintana, who has won seven straight decisions, gets the nod Saturday for Chicago while Joe Ross takes the hill for the Nationals after leaving his previous start due to injury.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Washington), NBCS Chicago (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Joe Ross (3-3, 5.48 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (11-7, 3.91)
Ross departed in the fourth inning Monday in Pittsburgh after taking a comebacker off his left leg, but he was deemed good to go after a bullpen session Thursday. The 26-year-old is 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA in four starts this month while holding opponents to a .164 batting average. Anthony Rizzo is 5-for-11 with two doubles versus Ross, who is 0-2 with a 3.42 ERA in his career against the Cubs.
Quintana is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in four August starts after spinning seven scoreless frames against Pittsburgh his last time out in the MLB Little League Classic. He has 33 strikeouts against only one walk during the dominant month while limiting opponents to 19 hits in 26 innings. The Nationals are the only team in the majors that the 30-year-old Quintana has yet to face in the regular season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rizzo is 8-for-15 with seven RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.
2. Nationals CF Victor Robles has four hits, four runs, three RBIs, three walks and two steals over his last three games.
3. The series between the teams is knotted at 49 wins apiece since the Nationals' franchise moved to Washington before the 2005 season.