Nationals at Padres
With one former No. 1 overall pick injured and another set to return, the Washington Nationals will open a seven-game road trip with the first of four on Thursday night against the San Diego Padres. Washington lost star outfielder Bryce Harper to a deep knee bruise but right-hander Stephen Strasburg is expected to rejoin the rotation this weekend.
The Nationals, who hold a 13 1/2-game in the National League East, capped a 6-3 homestand with a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Ryan Zimmerman accounted for both runs with his 28th homer and has enjoyed success against scheduled Padres starter Jhoulys Chacin, going 6-for-18 with a pair of blasts and five RBIs. San Diego opened its seven-game homestand by completing a three-game sweep of majors-worst Philadelphia, winning the series finale 3-0 on Wednesday. Padres first baseman Wil Myers, who was 0-for-9 in his previous three games, went 2-for-2 and added a rarity by stealing three bases in one inning in the victory.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FSN San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (3-2, 3.86 ERA) vs. Padres RH Jhoulys Chacin (11-8, 4.06)
Jackson's signing has turned out to be a shrewd move by the Nationals, who are 3-2 in his five starts since he was inserted into an injury-plagued rotation last month. He registered his third quality start with Washington by limiting San Francisco to one run on five hits over six innings last time out. Jackson surrendered five homers in his first two starts but has yielded only two in the last three turns.
Chacin rebounded from a rocky outing in a loss at Cincinnati to hold the rampaging Los Angeles Dodgers to one run and four hits over five innings in a no-decision last time out. Prior to the setback versus the Reds, he was 5-0 during a six-start span while giving up a combined eight runs. Chacin did not factor in the decision at Washington on May 28, allowing three runs on eight hits across 4 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals SS Wilmer Difo has hit safely in 11 straight games.
2. Padres RHP Jered Weaver announced his retirement on Wednesday.
3. Nationals RHP Ryan Madson is dealing with a finger injury that is being evaluated, manager Dusty Baker told reporters.