Padres at Nationals
The Washington Nationals got a jolt from their latest teenage sensation and will try to build off the momentum of a series-opening victory over the visiting San Diego Padres when the teams continue a three-game series Tuesday. The franchise that brought up Bryce Harper six years ago when he was 19 did the same for Juan Soto this weekend, and the rookie slugged a three-run homer on the first pitch he saw in his first career start.
The blast sparked a 10-2 win over the Padres on Monday night as the Nationals snapped a three-game slide. Harper also went deep and Mark Reynolds smacked a pair of home runs to give him four long balls in his first six games with Washington. Franmil Reyes also launched the first home run of his career to provide all the offense for San Diego, which had won a season high-tying three in a row prior to the loss. Jeremy Hellickson dominated the Padres on the road earlier in the year and will try for a similar effort opposite San Diego rookie Eric Lauer on Tuesday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Lauer (1-2, 8.14 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 2.20)
Since tossing six scoreless innings to pick up his first career win three turns ago, Lauer has been tagged for 10 runs and 13 hits across seven innings over his last two outings. He is 0-1 with a 9.24 ERA in his first three road starts, giving up 19 hits and nine walks in 12 2/3 frames. Right-handed hitters are batting .389 with five home runs in 72 at-bats against the 22-year-old Lauer.
Hellickson is 1-0 over his last three starts while allowing one run and eight hits in 17 1/3 dominant innings. Included in that run was the outing at San Diego on May 8 in which the veteran yielded two hits and struck out eight in 6 2/3 scoreless frames. Despite that outstanding result, the 31-year-old has a 5.80 ERA in nine career starts versus the Padres.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals SS Trea Turner has three doubles and a home run during a three-game hitting streak.
2. The Padres recalled LHP Tyler Webb from Triple-A El Paso and optioned IF Carlos Asuaje to El Paso.
3. Washington placed RHP Ryan Madson (pectoral) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled LHP Tim Collins, who worked a scoreless inning in Monday's win.