The Los Angeles Dodgers are on a roll and are looking to take that momentum to our Nation’s Capitol.
After getting no-hit by the Chicago Cubs last Thursday, the Dodgers have gone on a six-game winning streak. They beat the Cubs the remaining three games of that series, and then edged out the San Francisco Giants in two games to gain some spots in the highly contested NL West. The Dodgers now sit at 49-31, 1.5 games out of first, while holding the second-best record in the National League. The San Diego Padres are still close with a record of 49-33, 2.5 games out of first place.
The Dodgers will need to continue their hot ways if they hope to keep pace in the division. The Giants are set to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks for a three-game series in Phoenix, and the Padres will finish up a series with the Cincinnati Reds before heading to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies.
The Boys in Blue will have a tough task ahead of them, both with concern to the team they’re facing and the weather.
The Nationals have won 14 of their last 17 games. Kyle Schwarber has been nearly impossible to stop, as he has been hitting home runs with abandon. He has 25 so far on the season, with 16 of those coming in the month of June. Since June 12, he has more home runs than 10 major league teams.
Trea Turner is still doing Trea Turner things, leading the team in batting average, hits, runs, and stolen bases. He hit for the cycle in Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He did jam his finger sliding into the third to complete the cycle, though. The club says he is day-to-day.
The Nationals of course have phenom Juan Soto, who hit his first homer at Nats stadium Wednesday after being on the injured list earlier this season. His left hamstring cramped up in Wednesday’s game.
The weather for Thursday is looking like there will have to be a double header on Saturday, which gives a little advantage to both teams. Tony Gonsolin, the probably Thursday starter, will have another day of rest, and with him not being completely stretched out yet, give the bullpen less innings to cover. It also allows for Turner and Soto another day of rest before testing out their injuries.
Probable starting pitchers are Thursday, Gonsolin and Patrick Corbin, who is 5-6 on the season with a 5.33 ERA. Friday will see Julio Urías and Max Scherzer. The fiery right hander for the Nationals is 7-4 with a 2.14 ERA and a 0.85 whip. Saturday will be Clayton Kershaw and Paolo Espino. Also a right hander, Espino is 2-2 with a 2.02 ERA in 18 games so far this season. And Sunday’s breakfast and baseball game is slated to be Trevor Bauer going against Joe Ross. Ross is 5-7 on the year with a 4.02 ERA. Bauer could be facing an administrative leave due to sexual assault allegations, leaving the Dodgers with another possible bullpen game situation.
Game times are 4:05 for Thursday and Friday, 4:15 for Saturday’s game, and 8:05 am PT for Sunday’s Fourth of July game.