Nationals game blog: Nats need former Diamondback Max Scherzer to be their stopper tonight

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

August 04, 2015, 1:55pm

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The Nationals and Diamondbacks play Game 2 of their four-game series tonight at Nationals Park. This is the game blog. You've come to the right place.

The Nationals have lost four in a row, their longest losing streak since they dropped six dating back to April 27.

They need Max Scherzer to be their stopper tonight. He is 11-8 with a 2.22 ERA. This is his third meeting against his former team. Scherzer is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in a pair of starts versus Arizona.

Scherzer is 4-5 with a 2.70 ERA at home in nine starts this season, including a no-hitter against the Pirates June 20.

The Diamondbacks counter with left-hander Patrick Corbin (2-3, 3.21 ERA), who missed the 2014 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Arizona has won seven of their last nine games, and Corbin won his last start July 29 at Seattle, going six innings, allowing three hits, one run, two walks and struck out six. He is 1-1 with 4.26 ERA in three starts against the Nationals.

His only win against the Nats came on August 12, 2012 in Phoenix 7-4, beating lefty Ross Detwiler. He struck out seven and walked none, allowing four hits over seven innings and just two runs.

Diamondbacks starting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is hitting .160.

Nationals pitching staff has a 3.03 ERA at home, good for fourth-best in the National League.

Trivia: Who hit the first grand slam in Nationals history?