Nationals at Orioles
The Washington Nationals are rolling behind a pitching staff that is allowing an average of 2.3 runs over the last six games. The Baltimore Orioles, who host the Nationals in the opener of a three-game interleague series pitting Beltway rivals on Monday, don't need to see a pitching staff operating in high gear while their offense continues to sputter.
Washington opened its 10-game road trip by sweeping three from the Miami Marlins over the weekend, capped by a 5-2 win on Sunday, to improve to 17-8 on the road. While the Nationals' pitching staff is putting up consistent strong results, the offense got a boost on Sunday as star Bryce Harper broke out of a slump that saw him strikeout in five consecutive official at-bats bridging Saturday and Sunday by blasting his National League-leading 16th home run in the victory. The Orioles have a slugger to rival Harper in Manny Machado but are not getting much production from the rest of the lineup while scoring three or fewer runs in 10 of the last 12 games. Baltimore will try to find its collective swing on Monday against Washington left-hander Gio Gonzalez while countering with righty Alex Cobb.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Washington), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (5-2, 2.38 ERA) vs Orioles RH Alex Cobb (1-6, 7.32)
Gonzalez surrendered two or fewer earned runs in nine of his first 10 starts and is coming off a win over San Diego last Monday in which he allowed two runs and two hits in seven frames. The seven innings matched a season high for the Florida native, who issued 26 walks in 56 2/3 innings while striking out 60 in those first 10 turns. Gonzalez lost his lone start against Baltimore last season, getting ripped for six runs on seven hits - three homers - in six innings.
Cobb is still trying to find his footing with his new team and followed up his first win with another poor outing on Wednesday. The 30-year-old was ripped for six runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings to suffer the loss, ending a string of four straight starts allowing three or fewer earned runs. Cobb is making his first career appearance against Washington and is 9-4 with a 2.50 ERA in 16 interleague starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 1B Chris Davis is batting .156 and struck out at least once in each of his last 12 games.
2. Harper totaled 11 strikeouts in his last four games.
3. The teams split four meetings last season and will play six times in 2018.