Photo by Steve Mears for TalkNats
The Washington Nationals have lost five of six games in the past week, and the starting pitching has been the key issue for this team in this span. Maybe it was not a good idea to pitch Erick Fedde with no tune-up game after he came off of the IL, because the team had Patrick Corbin available to pitch last night on regular rest.
In the third game of this series, both teams should be fairly familiar with each other. The finale is tomorrow in this four game series. The Padres are starting righty Chris Paddack in this game. Only three Nats players have faced him before.
Nats vs Paddack
Lineups are not posted as of the time of this writing, we will see what manager Dave Martinez pencils up for this one. It could be more of the same as we saw the last two nights. This lineup has been scoring runs although they blew a golden opportunity last night early in a 0-0 with a send of Starlin Castro from first base to try to score on a double with just one out.
The value of scoring early and putting pressure on opposing pitchers with pitch count and runners on the bases are a reason to err on the side of caution for a team that lacks team speed. Of course the team the Nats are facing has speed to burn, and they push the envelope. Usually it is more about smart baserunning and especially you can see teams that the Nats face, rarely send runners to be thrown out several feet before the base.
Washington Nationals vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium: Petco Park, San Diego, California
1st Pitch: 10:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, Bally Sports San Diego, MLB Network out-of-area only, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
1. Alcides Escobar – 2B
2. Trea Turner – SS
3. Juan Soto – RF
4. Josh Bell – 1B
5. Starlin Castro – 3B
6. Yan Gomes – C
7. Josh Harrison – LF
8. Victor Robles – CF
9. Erick Fedde – RHP
