Yankees at Nationals
Washington Nationals rookie Juan Soto launched a titanic blast to highlight his two-homer performance in last week's encounter with the New York Yankees. The 19-year-old Soto will get another look at the visiting Yankees (46-21) on Monday when the clubs resume a suspended game from May 15 that was tied at 3 in the sixth inning before playing a full contest as a result of a postponement from May 16.
Soto, who was playing with Double-A Harrisburg during that May series, would love to recapture the form from prior to this past weekend's series sweep at the hands of Toronto, against which he went 2-for-13 with six strikeouts. Fellow outfielder Bryce Harper is mired in a 1-for-20 stretch with eight strikeouts in his last six games for the Nationals (37-31) and is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his career versus Sonny Gray, who will start Monday's latter contest. Aaron Hicks belted his second homer of New York's four-game series versus Tampa Bay, but its bid for a four-game sweep was averted by Sunday's 3-1 loss. While neither team divulged the starting pitcher for the suspended game, Washington's Erick Fredde will oppose Gray in the rematch of Wednesday's tilt in the Bronx.
TV: 5:05 p.m. ET (suspended game), MLB Network, YES (New York), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Sonny Gray (4-4, 4.98 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Erick Fedde (0-1, 5.91)
Gray has yet to record a decision while posting a 4.74 ERA in three career encounters versus Washington, including his four-run, seven-hit performance in five innings in last week's meeting. The 28-year-old served up a three-run homer to Soto in the fourth inning and struck out just one batter, his lowest total since a 3 1/3-frame stint versus Toronto on April 20. Trea Turner (3-for-5) and Adam Eaton (4-for-11) have gotten their licks in on Gray, although Harper is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Fedde will get his second straight look at the Yankees after surrendering two homers and four runs total over five innings on Wednesday. The 2014 first-round pick will make his sixth major-league start and third this season as he pitches in place of injured fireballer Stephen Strasburg. Fedde posted a 3-2 mark with a 4.76 ERA in 11 starts with Triple-A Syracuse before getting recalled last week prior to the last meeting with New York.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York SS Didi Gregorius, who had six hits versus Tampa Bay over the weekend, belted two homers against Washington in a 3-0 win on Tuesday.
2. Nationals CF Michael A. Taylor went 5-for-7 with four stolen bases and two runs scored in his last two games.
3. Yankees OF Giancarlo Stanton had three singles in Wednesday's loss to Washington and also had a hit and run scored in the suspended game.