Padres at Nationals
The Washington Nationals bid for their first victory in eight days on Monday when they open a three-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres. The Nationals (24-21) had won 13 of 15 before seeing one game suspended and two more postponed due to Mother Nature, then getting unceremoniously swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Trea Turner launched a two-run shot in the third inning of Sunday's 7-2 setback to increase his eight-game total to eight hits - including three homers - and seven runs scored for Washington since going 1-for-10 in a three-game set against San Diego. Bryce Harper went 1-for-10 with five strikeouts in the weekend series versus the Dodgers but hopes to rebound versus Monday starter Robbie Erlin, against whom he is 4-for-4 with five RBIs in a small sample size. San Diego (20-28) benefited from a four-run ninth inning to record a series victory with Sunday's 8-5 triumph over Pittsburgh. Freddy Galvis has 10 hits and six runs scored during his last seven games overall for the Padres, although he went 1-for-11 in the previous set against Washington and is 11-for-45 versus Monday starter Gio Gonzalez.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Robbie Erlin (1-2, 3.46 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (4-2, 2.36)
With left-hander Joey Lucchesi nursing a hip injury, Erlin will be ushered into making his second spot start this season after recording four consecutive scoreless outings in which he allowed a total of four hits while striking out four. The 27-year-old, who has been limited to just one inning since last Monday, permitted six runs in three frames in his lone previous start against the Dodgers on April 16. In addition to Harper, Erlin has been tormented by Anthony Rendon (4-for-6, homer) and the current crop of Nationals (10-for-16, two homers, 11 RBIs).
Gonzalez was saddled with the first of his two straight no-decisions on May 9 despite allowing one run on five hits over six innings against San Diego. The 32-year-old received the same fate six days later, although he issued four walks to drive up his pitch count (111) against the New York Yankees in a suspended game. Eric Hosmer is 5-for-10 with two homers in his career versus Gonzalez, although the southpaw owns a 3-2 mark with a 3.21 ERA in seven career appearances against San Diego despite allowing the Padres to bat .299 against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Diego 3B Christian Villanueva has six hits - including three homers - and six RBIs with three runs scored in his last four games.
2. Rendon is mired in a 2-for-23 stretch in his last seven contests since going 5-for-12 with three extra-base hits against the Padres.
3. San Diego LF Jose Pirela, who has hit safely in 11 of his last 14 games, went 4-for-9 in the previous series versus the Nationals.