Washington Nationals (74-48) at Houston Astros (76-48) RHP Tanner Roark [9-8, 4.70] | RHP Charlie Morton [10-5, 3.69] Tue., Aug
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Washington Nationals (74-48) at Houston Astros (76-48) RHP Tanner Roark [9-8, 4.70] | RHP Charlie Morton [10-5, 3.69] Tue., Aug. 22 l 8:10 p.m. ET / 7:10 p.m. CT l Game #123 / Road #63 l Minute Maid Park l Houston, TX Television: MASN 2 l Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan & Nationals Radio Network Standing: 74-48, 1st place, National League East • Home: 35-25 • Road: 39-23 • Streak: W1 • Last Five: 3-2 • Last Ten: 7-3 NATIONALS NEWS OPPONENT BACK AT IT HOUSTON ASTROS Following a day off on Monday, the Washington Nationals will open a three-game series The Nationals and Astros will face each other just three times during the 2017 regular sea- against the Houston Astros on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park...This series pits two of son...Both clubs make their spring training home at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in baseball’s best records against each other...The Astros (76-48, .613) currently have the sec- West Palm Beach, FL...3B Anthony Rendon is a native of Houston, TX and attended Lamar ond-best record in Major League Baseball (tops in the American League), while the Nationals High School and Rice University...He is 9-for-19 (.474) with four doubles, two homers and (74-48, .607) boast the third-best record in MLB (second in the National League)... seven RBI in four games against his hometown club...RHP Matt Albers is a 2001 graduate • Additionally, these two clubs sit atop MLB in runs/game with Houston leading the way at of Clements (TX) High School - approximately 20 miles from downtown Houston - and was 5.64 runs/game and Washington second at 5.30 runs/game. selected by HOU in the 23rd round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft out of San Jacinto (TX) • The Nationals are 8-9 (.471) in interleague play this season. Junior College...Pitching Coach Mike Maddux capped off his 15-year Major League playing • The Nationals are 39-23 (.629) on the road this year, the third-best road mark in MLB and career by spending the 2000 season with the Houston Astros...He retired during the season the second-best in the National League. and joined the organization as Double-A Round Rock’s pitching coach (2000-02)...First Base Coach Davey Lopes played in 84 games for the Astros in 1986-87. GIO STAYS HOT Prior to Monday’s day off, the Nationals capped a four-game weekend series with a 4-1 win THE SERIES over the Padres on Sunday...LHP Gio Gonzalez held the Padres to one unearned run on five The Nationals enter this series having won eight straight and 12 of their last 13 games against hits with eight strikeouts and one walk in 6.2 innings of work. the Astros...Since they began playing in 2005, there have only been four sweeps in the series, • According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Gonzalez has won his last four starts, in which he’s all turned in by Washington. recorded a 0.33 ERA (1 ER/27.0 IP)...The only other pitchers in Expos/Nationals history to post an ERA below 0.50 over four straight starts within one season, all wins, are Charlie 2017 / BY THE NUMBERS Lea (0.28 in 1981), Pedro Martinez (0.30 in 1997) and Javier Vazquez (0.28 in 2001). 2017 W-L .....................................................................................0-0 (0-0 in D.C., 0-0 in HOU) Streak (since 2012) ........................................................................................................ Won 8 IT STARTS WITH STARTERS... Aggregate Score / 2017 ...........................................................................Nationals 0, Astros 0 Washington’s starting pitching staff has posted a 1.96 ERA (15 ER/69.0 IP) in their last 11 Home Runs Hit / 2017 ..............................................................................Nationals 0, Astros 0 starts, dating to Aug. 9 vs. Miami...That 1.96 ERA leads Major League Baseball and is more than a run better than the next-best National League clubs, the San Diego Padres (3.44) and ALL-TIME SERIES / BY THE NUMBERS Chicago Cubs (3.51), over this stretch of games. W-L / Nationals (2005-present) ........................................................................................34-26 • On the season, Washington’s starters rank among NL staffs in opp. AVG (1st, .229), opp. W-L / Home (2005-present) ..............................................................................................19-10 OBP (2nd, .297), opp. SLG (2nd, .383), strikeouts (2nd, 765), and ERA (2nd, 3.53). W-L / Nationals Park (2008-present) ..................................................................................13-5 • The Nationals boast three starters ranked in the top 7 in ERA in the NL: RHP Max Scherzer W-L / Away (2005-present) ...............................................................................................15-16 (2nd, 2.25), LHP Gio Gonzalez (3rd, 2.39), & RHP Stephen Strasburg (7th, 3.24). W-L / Franchise (Expos/Nationals) ...............................................................................205-243 ...BUT RELIEF IS THERE 2017 AGAINST THE ASTROS DATE RESULT WIN-LOSS-SV TOG DATE RESULT WIN-LOSS-SV TOG Since Aug. 6 at Chicago, Washington’s bullpen has pitched to a 1.55 ERA (7 ER/40.2 IP) with 8/22@ 40 strikeouts, 11 walks and an opposing batting average of just .133 (18-for-135)...Nationals 8/23@ relievers have allowed just two home runs during this stretch. 8/24@ • The Nationals lead Major League Baseball with a 1.55 ERA and .133 opp AVG during this TRANSACTIONS AND DISABLED LIST 14-game stretch. 8/15... Recalled C Pedro Severino from Triple-A Syracuse...Optioned RHP A.J. Cole to Syracuse. • New additions LHP Sean Doolittle (11-for-11 in SVO), RHP Ryan Madson (9 G, 2-0, 0.00 8/16... Selected the contract of OF Alejandro De Aza from Triple-A Syracuse...Placed OF Brian Goodwin on ERA, 13 SO, 1 BB and 5 holds) and RHP Brandon Kintzler (10 G, 2-0, 0.90 ERA, 7 SO, 4 the 10-day disabled list with a left groin strain...Transferred SS Trea Turner to the 60-day DL. hits and 5 holds) have helped solidify Washington’s ‘pen since their arrivals. 8/17... Returned from rehab and reinstated RHP Shawn Kelley from the 10-day disabled list...Placed RHP Ryan Madson on the 10-day disabled list with a right finger sprain. 8/18... Placed RHP Max Scherzer on the 10-day disabled list with left neck inflammation (retro to 8/15). DINGER DROUGHT 8/19... Returned from rehab and reinstated RHP Stephen Strasburg from the 10-day disabled list. Over their last 11 games, Mike Maddux’s pitching staff has allowed just eight home runs, the DISABLED LIST fewest in Major League Baseball during this stretch...The starting staff has surrendered six PLAYER INJURY 10/60 DL PLACED / RETRO REINSTATED #GAMES Adam Eaton L. Knee Strain 60 April 29 99 home runs, while the bullpen has allowed two. Jayson Werth L. Foot Contusion 60 June 5 / June 4 68 Koda Glover Lower Back Stiffness 60 June 11 61 Trea Turner R Wrist Fracture 60 June 30 43 LEADING MEN Joe Ross R. Elbow Sprain 60 July 14 / July 11 34 Ryan Raburn L. Trapezius Strain 10 July 26 / July 23 26 Washington’s offense leads the National League in multiple statistical categories, including: Stephen Drew L. Abdominal Strain 10 July 29 / July 26 24 SLG (.465) and OPS (.800) ...The Nationals rank second in the NL in AVG (.271), extra-base Enny Romero L. Forearm Strain 10 Aug.4 / Aug. 3 16 Bryce Harper Hyperextended L knee 10 Aug. 13 8 hits (438), runs (647) and are third in OBP (.337) and home runs (178). Brian Goodwin L. Groin Strain 10 Aug. 16 / Aug. 14 6 • RF Bryce Harper (3rd, .326), 2B Daniel Murphy (4th, .325) and 1B Ryan Zimmerman Ryan Madson R. Finger Sprain 10 Aug. 17 / Aug. 14 6 Trea Turner R. Hamstring Strain 10 April 10 / April 9 April 21 10 (11th, .310) occupy three of the top 11 spots in NL batting average. Koda Glover L. Hip Impingement 10 April 26 May 12 14 Shawn Kelley Lower Back Strain 10 May 5 / May 2 May 12 9 • Zimmerman (T4th, 29) and Harper (T4th, 29) each rank in the top four in homers in the NL. Stephen Drew R. Hamstring Strain 10 April 12 May 29 41 Jose Marmolejos L. Forearm Strain 60 Feb. 24 June 1 52 Joe Blanton R Shoulder Inflammation 10 May 17 June 11 21 THIS IS HOWIE DO IT Sammy Solis L. Elbow Inflammation 60 April 19 July 1 65 Nationals OF Howie Kendrick has made a strong impression here in Washington...Since be- Chris Heisey R Biceps Rupture 10 May 24 July 7 40 Michael A. Taylor R. Oblique Strain 10 July 7 Aug. 13 29 ing acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on July 28, Kendrick has hit .344 (21-for-61), with Shawn Kelley R Trapezius Strain 10 June 18 / June 17 Aug. 17 51 Chris Heisey L Groin Strain 10 July 23 5 four doubles, five home runs, 13 RBI, four walks, one stolen base, and 10 runs scored...He Stephen Strasburg R. Elbow nerve impingement 10 July 27 / July 24 Aug. 19 23 has a .656 SLG and a 1.040 OPS as a member of the Nationals. • He opened up Friday night’s game at San Diego with his second career leadoff home run DUSTY BAKER and first since June 19, 2010 at CHI (Ted Lilly) as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. Nationals manager Dusty Baker was named the sixth field manager in Nationals history on Nov. 3, 2015. A three-time N.L. Manager of the Year (1993, 1997, 2000), and a finalist in 2016, 10 X 19 Baker’s clubs have won 90 games or more on nine occasions.