SAN DIEGO - Hello from Petco Park, where it's a spectacularly perfect day. Shocking, I know, considering we're in San Diego.
The Nationals open a seven-game road trip with the first of four here against the Padres, the undercard I suppose for next week's series in Houston against an excellent Astros club. The Padres are not excellent; they rank last in the majors, scoring 3.88 runs per game, and 23rd in the majors, allowing 5.08 runs per game.
The Nats, of course, have boasted the National League's most productive lineup all season, but it should be noted that their production has dropped off of late. They've scored an average of only 3.2 runs in their last five games, which just happen to coincide with Bryce Harper's injury. Small sample size, obviously, but it is going to be tough to make up for Harper's loss, however long it is.
Edwin Jackson, who made 13 starts for the Padres last season, gets the ball tonight. I'd say he'll be motivated against his former team, but even Jackson admits he's pitched for so many teams over the years that he's motivated against all of them.
Update: The Nats have placed reliever Ryan Madson on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained finger and activated reliever Shawn Kelley from the 10-day DL.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at SAN DIEGO PADRES
Where: Petco Park
Gametime: 10:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, XM 185/869, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 70 degrees, wind 8 mph in from left field
NATIONALS (71-47)
RF Howie Kendrick
SS Wilmer Difo
2B Daniel Murphy
1B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Adam Lind
3B Anthony Rendon
C Matt Wieters
CF Michael A. Taylor
RHP Edwin Jackson
PADRES (54-66)
CF Manuel Margot
2B Carlos Asuaje
LF Jose Pirela
SS Yangervis Solarte
1B Wil Myers
3B Cory Spangenberg
RF Hunter Renfroe
C Austin Hedges
RHP Jhoulys Chacin
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