The Nationals will try to avoid a third straight setback when they visit the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday for the second of a four-game, home-and-home series that switches to Washington on Wednesday.The Nationals had struggling ace Stephen Strasburg scheduled to go in Monday’s series opener but instead placed him on the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day and brought A.J. Cole back up from the minors to preside over a 4-3 loss.
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After pitching his worst start of the season in last outing Orioles starter Dylan Bundy was able to bounce back with a win pitching six innings only giving up two runs on three hits with four strikeouts, but did walk a season high four batters and hit a batter while throwing a career-high 94 pitches.
Washington also has the advantage of an 8 1/2-game lead in the National League East with only 39 games left in the regular season. He ended up going six innings, giving up two runs on three hits, striking out four and walking four to get the win. He missed 17 games with an upper back strain, from June 16-July 3.
Zach Britton worked a flawless ninth to earn his 38th save in 38 tries. The left-hander has not allowed an earned run in 43 games since May 5.
With Stephen Strasburg unexpectedly back on the disabled list with a right elbow injury, the Nats turned to Cole – he of just three career Major League Baseball outings – to face the homer-mashing Orioles at Camden Yards in the series opener in Baltimore.
Stephen Strasburg’s tired right elbow was stiff and in dire need of some rest, so the Washington Nationals put their winningest pitcher on the 15-day disabled list Monday.
The 24-year-old right-hander struck out eight and walked two.
Strasburg insisted he could have pitched through his elbow discomfort when he told Manager Dusty Baker about it Saturday, but the Nationals made a decision to play it safe with the pitcher they signed to a $175 million contract extension in May. After Rendon connected in the fourth, Baltimore took the lead for good in the bottom half. Chris Davis then doubled to right and Trumbo followed by launching his 38th homer to left-center, and the Orioles suddenly had a 4-2 lead.NOTES: The Orioles reinstated C Matt Wieters from the paternity list. But Washington’s offense, so potent recently, failed to produce when opportunities arose in a 4-3 loss.
Orioles: Schoop’s HR ties him with Roberto Alomar for most home runs in a season by an Orioles 2B since 1954.
Nationals: Baker expects Strasburg to spend the minimum time on the DL. “I had to convince him that the risk isn’t worth the gain right now”. “Hopefully he’ll be good in September and hopefully in October”. Joseph was batting.193 with no RBIs in 40 games. Seemingly, the Nationals could elect to call up a reliever to take replace Cole on the roster and promote another starter – perhaps Giolito – to pitch when Strasburg’s turn comes up again Saturday.
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Boston’s David Price held his old team scoreless for eight innings, leading the Red Sox past Tampa Bay 6-2 to draw level with Toronto for the AL East lead.
