The Nationals’ schedule has been pretty wonky to begin this season. They’ve played 28 road games, only 17 home games. They’ve played 20 interleague games, only 10 intradivision games. The good news: They’re back home after a tough, 2-7 road trip. But they’re back to facing American League teams all week, with the Twins here for three and then the Mariners coming to town this weekend.
A Nats lineup that did sort of break out for five runs Sunday in Philadelphia (only three of those runs coming early, when the game was still close) will see a sort of familiar face tonight in Pablo López. The former Marlins right-hander is in his second season in Minnesota and comes into this start with a 4-3 record and 3.93 ERA. The Nats faced López on a cold night at Target Field last year and got to him for five runs in four innings.
The Twins will be seeing Mitchell Parker for the first time. The rookie left-hander continues to exceed expectations in his first month-plus in the big leagues, and he still hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start up here. He’ll try to hold down a Twins lineup that ranks in the middle of the pack in the AL so far in most offensive categories.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. MINNESOTA TWINS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 88.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, wind 6 mph right field to left field
NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
RF Eddie Rosario
LF Jesse Winker
DH Joey Meneses
2B Luis García Jr.
3B Nick Senzel
1B Joey Gallo
C Keibert Ruiz
CF Jacob Young
LHP Mitchell Parker
TWINS
DH Ryan Jeffers
SS Carolos Correa
RF Manuel Margot
3B Jose Miranda
CF Byron Buxton
LF Willi Castro
2B Kyle Farmer
1B Carlos Santana
C Christian Vázquez
RHP Pablo López