Nationals at Diamondbacks
The slumping Bryce Harper received a night off to refresh but will be back in the starting lineup when the Washington Nationals visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday for the opener of their four-game series. Harper sat out Wednesday's 2-1 setback against San Diego after matching his career-worst stretch of 19 straight hitless at-bats.
Harper, who is batting just .230, played in each of Washington's first 37 games before manager Dave Martinez broached the idea of a mental day off, which meant no batting practice as well. "I'm a big believer in rest," Martinez told reporters. "I've been wanting to give him a day off. He's just so good. It's hard." Despite Wednesday's loss, the Nationals have won nine of their last 11 games as they enter the series versus the Diamondbacks, who had a three-game winning streak halted with Wednesday's 6-3 road loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Arizona star Paul Goldschmidt is mired in a 21-game homerless drought and his bloop RBI-single on Wednesday leaves him 2-for-29 with one RBI in May.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (2-3, 3.65 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (3-2, 4.10)
Roark matched his season high of nine strikeouts in his last turn against Philadelphia but allowed three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings to take the loss. The 31-year-old has given up six or fewer hits in all seven of his starts while holding opposing batters to a .203 average. Roark is 2-2 with a 3.02 ERA in nine career appearances (six starts) versus Arizona and has fared well against David Peralta (1-for-10).
Greinke settled for a no-decision against Houston in his last turn despite giving up one run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings. The 34-year-old walked a season-worst two batters but has issued just six free passes while striking out 47 in 41 2/3 frames. Greinke has thrived against Washington, posting a 5-1 record and 1.49 ERA in seven career starts, and has kept Harper in the ballpark in a small sample size (1-for-4, two strikeouts, two walks).
WALK-OFFS
1. The Diamondbacks took two of three from the host Nationals from April 27-29.
2. Washington OF/1B Matt Adams is 11-for-29 with seven homers and 14 RBIs this month.
3. Arizona INF Daniel Descalso is 5-for-9 with a homer, three RBIs, three doubles and two walks over his last four games.