Diamondbacks at Nationals
Patrick Corbin's remarkable start has been one of the primary catalysts in the Arizona Diamondbacks' early-season run, but much of it has taken place at home. The dominant left-hander will try to find road success for the first time when he starts the middle contest of a three-game series at the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
Corbin is 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA at home but gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings in his lone road outing - a 5-4 loss at San Francisco on April 10. His team improved to an National League-best 18-7 with a 5-4 victory in the series opener Friday night. A.J. Pollock went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored as Arizona survived being outhit 11-6 by the Nationals, who are 1-5 in their last six games and fell to 3-8 at home with the defeat. They left 10 runners on base Friday, all in the first five innings.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1, FS Arizona, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (4-0, 1.89 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 4.50)
Corbin has struck out at least eight batters in each of his first five starts and fanned 11 in a win over San Diego on Sunday. Each of his opponents thus far have been from the National League West and the 28-year-old has held them to a .140 average. Bryce Harper is 3-for-7 with two doubles and a walk against Corbin, who is 1-1 with a 5.31 ERA in four career starts against Washington.
Hellickson is making his third start since joining the Nationals' rotation, his first at home in a Washington uniform and the 200th of his career. He allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. The Iowa native, who won nine games with Arizona in 2015, is 0-3 with a 5.32 ERA in four career starts against the Diamondbacks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona can clinch a ninth straight series win to begin the season with a victory Saturday or in Sunday's finale.
2. Nationals 2B Howie Kendrick hit a two-run homer Friday and is 8-for-17 during a five-game hitting streak.
3. The Diamondbacks' bullpen allowed one hit and struck out seven in four scoreless innings in the series opener.