Padres at Nationals
Juan Soto has played only two full games in the major leagues and the San Diego Padres already have seen enough of the Washington Nationals' star rookie. After hitting a three-run homer Monday night, Soto reached base in all four at-bats and scored the winning run Tuesday, putting Washington in position for a three-game sweep Wednesday versus the visiting Padres.
Soto was the first 19-year-old to homer in the majors since Bryce Harper in 2012, and joined his teammate as the only teenagers with three walks in a game since Robin Yount in 1975. Harper is 4-for-8 in the series and has homered in each game to boost his National League-leading total to 15. Erick Fedde, a first-round draft pick in 2014 and rated Washington's No. 4 prospect, is expected to be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to face Padres right-hander Tyson Ross in the series finale. Second baseman José Pirela collected two hits in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to extend his hitting streak to five for San Diego, which fell to 3-3 on its 10-game road trip.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tyson Ross (3-3, 3.35 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Erick Fedde (2017: 0-1, 9.39)
Ross ended a five-start winless drought last time out at Pittsburgh, overcoming a season-worst four walks to limit the Pirates to two runs and five hits over six innings. It marked the eighth time in nine outings in which Ross has pitched at least six innings this season and was his sixth quality start. Matt Adams is 5-for-9 with a homer and four RBIs off Ross, who is 2-2 with a 5.34 ERA against Washington.
Fedde made his first three major-league starts for the Nationals a year ago and was hit hard in each of them, giving up 16 runs and 25 hits over 15 1/3 innings. He surrendered five homers in the final two starts, but has done a better job of staying away from the long ball this year. Fedde is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A Syracuse, striking out 42 and giving up zero homers in 41 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals CF Michael A. Taylor had a walk-off double and threw out a running at the plate in Tuesday's win.
2. Padres LF Franchy Cordero his a 449-foot homer Tuesday, which was only his fourth-longest blast of the season.
3. Nationals LHP Sean Doolittle has 33 strikeouts versus three walks in 20 2/3 innings after fanning the side Tuesday.