SAN DIEGO - The Nationals have been a much more productive team against left-handers this season than right-handers. Against lefties, they're batting a collective .287 with an .851 OPS, both second-best in the National League (behind the Diamondbacks). Against righties, they're batting a collective .237 with a .710 OPS, both 12th in the NL (behind a whole bunch of teams).
So this weekend's series against the Padres, who are starting at least three lefties (Saturday's starter is still TBA), should favor the visitors. And for one inning Thursday night, it did. The Nats busted out for four quick runs against Joey Lucchesi. But then they went stone cold silent after that. So now they'll attempt to not only get off to another hot start against tonight's southpaw (Nick Margevicius) but to sustain it throughout the game.
On the mound, the Nationals will hope for another quality start out of Erick Fedde, who has been pretty good since joining the rotation late last month (three runs allowed in 14 innings). The next step for Fedde, of course, is to start pitching deeper in games. He has yet to go more than five innings or throw more than 85 pitches. Tonight would be a great time to extend both of those numbers and help take some pressure off the Nats bullpen.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at SAN DIEGO PADRES
Where: Petco Park
Gametime: 10:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 65 degrees, wind 7 mph left field to right field
NATIONALS (28-34)
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
1B Howie Kendrick
2B Brian Dozier
CF Victor Robles
C Yan Gomes
RHP Erick Fedde
PADRES (32-31)
SS Fernando Tatis Jr.
CF Wil Myers
3B Manny Machado
1B Eric Hosmer
RF Franmil Reyes
LF Josh Naylor
C Austin Hedges
LHP Nick Margevicius
2B Greg Garcia
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