Rockies at Nationals (Game 1)
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 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: 1:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (9-7, 4.11 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Erick Fedde (1-1, 3.50)
Gray allowed season highs of six runs and 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings against San Francisco last Wednesday in a loss. He is 0-2 with a 5.71 ERA in three starts this month after going 5-1 with a 2.65 mark in June. The University of Oklahoma product is 0-3 with an 8.20 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals.
Fedde returned from the minors last week and registered six solid innings at Baltimore, allowing a run and five hits. He has a 3.53 ERA in seven starts despite recording just 17 strikeouts and 15 walks in 35 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old will be very careful with Charlie Blackmon, who is an eye-popping 5-for-5 with a home run and a triple against Fedde.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals ace RHP Max Scherzer (shoulder) is expected to come off the injured list Thursday and start the series finale.
2. The Rockies selected the contract of 1B Yonder Alonso from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned RHP Yency Almonte to Albuquerque.
3. Washington placed 1B Ryan Zimmerman (foot) on the 10-day injured list.