SAN FRANCISCO – After a wild weekend in Arizona, what’s in store for the Nationals here in San Francisco? Oracle Park isn’t exactly a home run haven, so they may not want to count on hitting ninth-inning bombs again this week. But with all the room out there in the gaps, this could be a big series for doubles and triples.
Jake Irvin takes the ball for his second career start, having acquitted himself well in his debut against the Cubs. Irvin will need to be a bit more efficient this time around and try to avoid the four walks he issued last time out. He would also do well not to plunk the Giants’ leadoff man on his very first pitch.
The Nationals go up against veteran right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, who has been quite good so far this season. He enters 3-1 with a 2.13 ERA and a ridiculous 30-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in six starts. He tossed eight scoreless innings in Houston last time out, which of course is no small feat.
As Davey Martinez revealed after Sunday’s game, the Nats have made a roster move: Victor Robles officially was placed on the 10-day injured list today with back spasms, with utility man Jake Alu promoted from Triple-A Rochester for the first time in his career. With Robles sidelined, expect to see a lot of Alex Call in center field and Stone Garrett in left field, but we’ll see if Alu or Ildemaro Vargas get any time in the outfield as well.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Where: Oracle Park
Gametime: 9:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 57 degrees, wind 14 mph out to center field
NATIONALS
RF Lane Thomas
2B Luis García
C Keibert Ruiz
DH Joey Meneses
3B Jeimer Candelario
1B Dominic Smith
CF Alex Call
SS CJ Abrams
LF Stone Garrett
RHP Jake Irvin
GIANTS
1B LaMonte Wade Jr.
SS Thairo Estrada
DH Joc Pederson
3B J.D. Davis
RF Michael Conforto
LF Mitch Haniger
C Blake Sabol
2B Brett Wisely
CF Cal Stevenson
RHP Anthony DeSclafani