Game Details

San Diego Padres (52-50) vs. Washington Nationals (47-53)
Pitching Matchup: RHP Randy Vásquez (2-5; 4.57 ERA) vs. LHP DJ Herz (1-3; 5.17 ERA)
Date: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 | 6:45 p.m. ET | Game: #101 | Home Game: #48
Records: Home Record: 23-24 | Month Record: 8-9
Location: Nationals Park | Washington D.C.

Game storylines and notes

The Washington Nationals welcome the visiting San Diego Padres for a three-game series. The Nationals will send LHP DJ Herz (1-3; 5.17 ERA) to the mound, and the San Diego Padres will send RHP Randy Vásquez (2-5; 4.57 ERA).

Last time out.

On Sunday afternoon, the Washington Nationals completed a three-game sweep of the Reds thanks to a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom 8th-inning by James Wood, leading the team to a 5-2. With yesterday's win, the Nationals got their third series sweep of the season and sweep at Nationals Park. Their first of the season was back on June 14-16 against the Miami Marlins.

James Wood finished 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's Game. Wood has also hit safely in five of his last six games with the Nationals, and over these six games, Wood has a homerun, six RBI, a stolen base, and three runs scored.
Shortstop CJ Abrams went 1-for-4 with a single and has reached base safely in eight of his last nine games.
The winning pitcher of record was RHP Robert Garica and he now has a 2-3 record. RHP Kyle Finnegan earned his career-high 28th save and has not allowed a hit over his last five appearances.

What's Happening with the Nationals?

Sunday's win over Cincinnati was Washington's 100th game of the season. Washington's 47-53 (.470) record at the 100game mark is a six-win improvement over its 41-59 (.410) record at the same mark last season.
The Nationals have won five of their last six games and two straight series dating back to their series victory over Milwaukee before the All-Star break. Additionally, Sunday's come-back win was the team's 27th comeback win of the season, tied for the most in Major League Baseball.
The Nationals are also 7-11 against N.L. West teams are 31-34 against the N.L.

It's all about the treads.

The Washington Nationals have the following record while wearing:

White Script Nationals: 7-11
White Pullover: 2-3
City Connect: 9-4
Blue: 8-10
Road Gray: 20-25
42: 1-0

Closing Time.

RHP Kyle Finnegan ranks second in the National League (3rd in MLB) with 28 saves, matching his career-high of 28 in 2023. Finnegan allowed just six hits (1 XBH) in 37 at-bats over his last 11 games (.162 opponents' average), with four of the six hits coming in one outing.
Finnegan leads Major League Baseball in opponents' batting average (.076) at home (min. 15.0 home IP) and is 10th in the NL in opponents average overall this season (.182).

YOUNG at Heart.

According to Baseball Savant, Jacob Young is tied for first in Major League Baseball with 12 runs prevented and is tied for second with 13 outs above average. Young is second among MLB rookies and ranks fourth in the National League with 24 stolen bases.

I wish that I had Jessie's girl.

Jesse Winker ranks fourth in MLB (1st in the NL) in on-base percentage (.420) and sixth in the NL in batting average (.307) since May 25. On the season, Winker leads the Nationals and ranks seventh in the NL with 51 walks and eighth in on-base percentage (.380).

Hey, DJ, play that music.

LHP DJ Herz's 13 strikeouts were the most by a Nationals pitcher this season and the most since Max Scherzer struck out 14 on May 8, 2021, against the New York Yankees.
Herz’s strikeouts were the second-most by a rookie pitcher in Nationals history, behind only Stephen Strasburg’s 14 on June 8, 2010, vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Lastly, Herz's 13 strikeouts are also the second-most by a rookie pitcher and most by a lefthanded rookie in MLB this season.

All Aboard the LANE Train.

During the streak, Lane Thomas has reached base safely in 19 straight games, posting a .365 on-base percentage (20 H, 3 HBP, 8 BB). It is the longest streak by a Nationals player this season and the second-longest streak of his career behind his 26-game streak in 2023.

Now pitching for the Washington Nationals: LHP DJ Herz.

LHP DJ Herz enters tonight's game against the San Diego Padres with a 1-3 record and a 5.17 ERA in his seven starts this season with the team before being optioned on July 8.

Herz has pitched 31.1 innings with 41 strikeouts has a 1.40 WHIP and made one start for Triple-A Rochester, tossing 3.1 innings on July 14 at Worcester (BOS).

In Herz's last outing earlier this month on July 7th against the St. Louis Cardinals, the south-paw.

at Nats Park. Herz has recorded 27 strikeouts at home and allowed just two walks over his last three home starts. Herz has pitched to a 2.81 ERA (5 ER/16.0 IP) with a .190 opponents’ average (11-for-58) over this stretch.

vs. San Diego Padres
Regular Season: 1 GP, 3.1 IP, 0-1 W-L, 0 SV, 10.80 ERA, 1 SO, 2 BB

Oppo Research: San Diego Padres

The Friars

The Padres are coming off a 2-1 win against the Cleveland Garudians yesterday. RHP Michael King lead the way to the win by pitching 7.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out six.

RHP Randy Vásquez (2-5; 4.57 ERA) will get his first career start against the Washington Nationals.

Randy made his MLB debut against the Padres on May 26, 2023, at Yankee Stadium.

Unless otherwise noted, all times listed are in the Eastern USA Time Zone.

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Stats provided by Baseball-Reference, the Washington Nationals and MLB.com unless otherwise noted. The Nats Report isn’t responsible for the accuracy of the stats provided.

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