Nationals at Diamondbacks
Stephen Strasburg aims to avenge last month's loss to Arizona when the Washington Nationals visit the Diamondbacks on Saturday in the third contest of a four-game set. Strasburg allowed a season-worst five runs in 6 1/3 innings while suffering a 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks on April 27.
Strasburg will be looking to pitch the Nationals to their third straight win in the series as well as their 12th victory in their past 14 contests. Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon each hit solo homers on Friday as Washington posted a 3-1 victory. Arizona has dropped three straight games and six of its past nine after getting off to a splendid 21-8 start. Standout first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has gone 23 games without a homer and is just 3-for-38 with 14 strikeouts in 10 games in May.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS1, MASN (Washington), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (4-3, 3.52 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Troy Scribner (2017: 2-1, 4.18)
Strasburg has recorded back-to-back victories after going 0-2 over his previous three turns. The 29-year-old defeated the San Diego Padres in his last outing when he gave up three runs and six hits over seven innings. Strasburg is 4-3 with a 3.59 ERA in 10 career starts against the Diamondbacks and has experienced difficulties with A.J. Pollock (5-for-9, one homer) and David Peralta (4-for-10, one homer).
Scribner will be recalled prior to Saturday's game to make his fifth career start - the other four coming last season for the Los Angeles Angels. The 26-year-old is 2-1 with a 5.68 ERA in five starts at Triple A-Reno and has struck out 24 in 25 1/3 innings. "I'm anxious to show everybody what I can do," Scribner told reporters, "and hopefully I can show them why I belong here and can stay here to help the team."
WALK-OFFS
1. Peralta homered for the Diamondbacks' only run on Friday and is 8-for-22 with two homers during a five-game hitting streak.
2. Washington placed C Matt Wieters (hamstring) on the 10-day disabled list, transferred CF Adam Eaton (ankle) to the 60-day DL and recalled C Spencer Kieboom from Triple-A Syracuse.
3. Arizona recalled Jake Barrett from Triple-A Reno and optioned fellow RHP Silvino Bracho to the same affiliate.