NL East Race Tightening as Nationals Face Padres
The National League East is tightening. On Saturday, the NL East leading Washington Nationals host the San Diego Padres.
The current line has Washington heavily favored at -300, with San Diego at +275 and the over/run total sitting on 7.5.
Entering this game, San Diego has a record of 42-55 overall and 19-30 on the road. The Padres are 4-6 over their past 10 games played. Washington on the season has a record of 57-40 overall and 30-19 at home. The Nationals are 6-4 over their past 10 games played.
Matt Kemp has been showing his power of late for San Diego with 6 home runs in his past 6 games. Kemp hit a home run on Friday night in the first inning to give San Diego at least one homer in 20 consecutive games. He added another during the fifth to help the Padres to a 5-3 win over the Nationals.
On Saturday, Kemp and his teammates will face Max Scherzer for Washington. Kemp during his career has 1 hit in 27 at bats versus Scherzer including 9 strikeouts. The win on Friday by San Diego broke a skid of four straight losses.
On Saturday, San Diego will send Edwin Jackson to the mound. The Padres right-hander is 1-1 with an ERA of 4.76. Washington will counter with Scherzer. The Nationals right-hander is 10-6 with an ERA of 2.94.
Last Sunday, Jackson had a no-hitter in the seventh inning in his debut with San Diego but gave up a home run. Nevertheless, he beat San Francisco despite issuing five walks.
Scherzer has a mark of 5-2 with an ERA of 1.61 and 81 Ks over his past nine starts. He struck out 10 Padres June 18, but did not get the decision in the game.
Washington has lost 4 of its past 5 games and has had its lead in the NL East cut to just 4 ½ games. A home run by Jayson Werth on Friday gave him 26 consecutive games of reaching base safely.
Washington second baseman Daniel Murphy homered on Friday. He has 5 home runs and 14 RBIs during his current hitting streak of nine games.
San Diego left fielder Alex Dickerson has just 2 hits in his past 19 at bats over six games.
Prediction: Scherzer has been throwing well and will silence the hot bats of the Padres. Lean on the Nationals in this one.
