Lane Thomas will be looking to extend his 20-game on-base streak as the Washington Nationals (21-28) host the San Diego Padres (22-27) at Nationals Park on Thursday with the three-game series in the balance. The Nationals leveled the series 1-1 after winning 5-3 on Wednesday.
Starter Trevor Williams got the win, allowing three runs on three hits over 5.2 innings, and Kyle Finnegan picked up his 10th save with a scoreless ninth.
Alex Call went 2 for 4 with a double, two runs, and two RBIs in the win. Rougned Odor was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs for the Padres. Ha-Seong Kim added a solo home run.
ON THE MOUND
Blake Snell (1-6, 5.40 ERA) is slated for the start for San Diego. The LHP allowed six runs over four innings in his last start, a 6-1 home defeat against the Red Sox on Friday. He took the loss, yielding five hits while striking out five and walking two.
Snell is making his first appearance against the Nationals this season. Over two starts against the Nationals in 2022, Snell was 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA over 11 innings. He had 17 strikeouts and two walks. Right-hander Jake Irvin (1-2, 5.50 ERA) will toe the rubber for Washington.
It’s his first appearance of the season against the Padres. In his last start on Friday, Irvin took the loss at home against the Tigers. He threw 2.2 innings and gave up six runs (4 ER) on five hits, striking out one and walking four in the 8-6 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, San Diego has averaged 4.0 runs a game, equal to their season average. Against righties like Irvin this season, the Padres have a .669 OPS. Juan Soto is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a 1.032 OPS in 112 at-bats.
Washington is averaging 5.2 runs per game in the last five, up from 4.1 for the season, with an improved slash line (.304/.331/.503). The Nats have a .793 OPS against southpaws in 2023. With a 1.054 OPS over 56 at-bats, Thomas has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
San Diego is 10-12 in road games in 2023, scoring 3.8 runs per game while allowing 4.2 runs. Washington has gone 11-16 at Nationals Park this season, averaging 3.6 runs per game while surrendering 4.9. In the last 10 meetings at Nationals Park, San Diego is 6-4 with an average scoreline of 8.4-4.8.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Padres are fourth in the NL West, eight games behind the division-leading Dodgers. The Nationals are fifth in the NL East, nine games behind the Braves.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
SD Padres (-190)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
