Pirates at Nationals
Former MVP Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals may be starting to find their top form as they vie for a four-game sweep against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday afternoon. Harper has homered twice and knocked in six runs in his last two games while the Nationals have won four straight contests, outscoring their opponents 27-10 in that stretch, and can reach .500 for the first time since April 20 with a win.
Matt Adams also remained hot with his third homer in two days in Washington’s 9-3 triumph on Wednesday, and the first baseman has gone 11-for-20 with four blasts and 11 RBIs over a six-game span to raise his batting average to .316. Newcomer Jeremy Hellickson will try to extend the winning streak and earn his first victory for the Nationals while Pittsburgh counters with Trevor Williams, who is off to the best start of his career. The Pirates had won five straight games before visiting Washington, where they have been outscored 24-9 in the first three games of the series. Francisco Cervelli may get a day off with an afternoon game coming after a night contest, but the veteran catcher’s bat may be needed as he is 7-for-16 during a five-game hitting streak - including a solo homer on Wednesday.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (4-1, 2.29 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 4.11)
Williams has yielded fewer than three runs in all six trips to the mound this year - including the one on Saturday, when he limited St. Louis to two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings for his fourth win. The 26-year-old Arizona State product has worked exactly six frames in five of his starts and did not give up more than four hits in those outings. Williams, who owns a 1.50 ERA in three road starts in 2018, made a relief appearance against Washington in 2016 and gave up one run on a hit and two walks while retiring two batters.
Hellickson has given his team a chance to win in each of his first three starts, allowing a total of seven runs, but has not lasted more than 5 2/3 innings in any of them. The 31-year-old native of Iowa, who is 69-69 in 207 career appearances (200 starts), has permitted 15 hits - seven for extra bases - over 15 1/3 frames this season. Gregory Polanco is 4-for-11 with a homer versus Hellickson, who is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA in five career games against the Pirates.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh SS Jordy Mercer went 0-for-4 on Wednesday to end his eight-game hitting streak.
2. Washington INF Wilmer Difo is 8-for-14 with a homer and three RBIs during his five-game hitting streak.
3. Pirates OF Corey Dickerson recorded two RBIs in Wednesday’s loss and is 14-for-39 with three homers in his last 11 contests.