Nats game blog: Max Scherzer seeks third straight quality start as he takes on Orioles

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

September 23, 2015, 12:45pm

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The Nationals have been unable to gain ground this season when presented with opportunity from the Mets. It seems that almost every time the Mets are idle, the Nationals have lost the game they play that day. So instead of gaining a 1/2 game, they lose that 1/2 game.

And ever since they lost their division lead in early August, when the Mets have lost or look like they will lose, the Nationals have not been able to win their game that same day.

Max Scherzer red sidebar.png Last night, the Mets went down 4-1 early against the Braves. But the Nationals also faced a deficit of 2-0 early against the Orioles. When the Braves held their lead, the Nationals instead got into a bigger hole and fell behind 4-1. Atlanta ended up winning 6-2. The Nationals fell 4-1. The Mets lead remains 6 1/2 games, but the tragic number has reached six.

Tonight, right-hander Max Scherzer takes on right-hander Chris Tillman as the Nationals and Orioles tangle in Game 2. Scherzer has allowed only two earned runs in his last two starts, a span of 15 innings. He is 4-1 with a 3.59 ERA in his career against the Orioles.

Tillman is 9-11 with a 5.19 ERA. He has lost four straight decisions and has not won a game since August 17 against Oakland. He is 0-0 with a 4.37 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals. On July 10 at Camden Yards, Tillman allowed an RBI double by Tyler Moore and RBI single from Michael A. Taylor as the Nationals built a 2-1 lead. Orioles eventually won the game 3-2.

The seasons series is even at 2-2.