Fernando Tatis Jr. will be looking to extend his 17-game on-base streak as the San Diego Padres (37-40) host the Washington Nationals (29-47) at Petco Park on Sunday with the three-game series even at 1-1.
The Nationals evened the series 1-1 after winning 2-0 on Saturday, their second head-to-head victory in five games this season. Starter Josiah Gray threw 5.1 scoreless innings – striking out six – to get the win, and Hunter Harvey picked up his fifth save with a scoreless ninth.
Lane Thomas was 3 for 4 with a solo home run in the win. Jeimer Candelario added a solo home run. Juan Soto’s on-base streak is now at 12 games as he went 1 for 2 with two walks for the Padres.
ON THE MOUND
MacKenzie Gore (3-6, 4.02 ERA) is set for the start for Washington. The LHP allowed five runs over six innings in his last start, a 9-3 road defeat against the Cardinals on Tuesday. He took the loss, scattering nine hits while striking out eight and walking two.
Gore has made one previous start against the Padres this season, a 7-4 home loss on May 23. He surrendered three runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings, striking out five and walking four. For San Diego, RHP Seth Lugo (3-3, 3.86 ERA) will toe the rubber.
It’s his first appearance of the season against the Nationals. Lugo made six appearances against the Nationals in 2022, all out of the bullpen, striking out seven and walking one over 6.1 innings (0-0, 0.00).
In his last start on Tuesday, Lugo took a no-decision on the road against the Giants. He threw five innings and gave up one run on three hits, striking out five and walking one in the 4-3 loss.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Washington has averaged only 2.8 runs a game, down from their season average of 4.1, thanks in part to a worse on-base performance (.284 vs .318).
Against righties like Lugo this season, the Nats have a .686 OPS. Candelario is the team’s strongest hitter against right-handers with a .873 OPS in 184 at-bats.
San Diego is averaging 5.6 runs per game in the last five, up from 4.3 for the season, with a better slash line (.282/.368/.447). The Padres have a .784 OPS against Southpaws in 2023, fourth highest in MLB. With a 1.134 OPS over 54 at-bats, Tatis Jr. has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Washington is 16-20 away from Nationals Park in 2023, scoring 4.6 runs per game while allowing 4.5 runs. San Diego has gone 20-21 at their home ballpark this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game while surrendering 3.6.
The teams have split their last 10 games at Petco Park, though Washington has the scoring advantage with an average final margin of 5.0-4.7.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Nationals are fifth in the NL East, 20 games behind the division-leading Braves. The Padres are fourth in the NL West, eight games behind the Diamondbacks.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
SD Padres -1.5 (+100)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
