Game Notes: April 21, 2021 (St. Louis Cardinals v. Washington Nationals)

Game Details

St. Louis Cardinals (8-9) v. Washington Nationals (6-9)
RHP Carlos Martinez (0-3, 7.80 ERA) v. RHP Max Scherzer (0-1, 2.37 ERA)
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 | 4:05 pm EDT | Game #16 | Home Game #10
Nationals Park, Washington D.C.
TV: MASN
Radio: 106.7 The fan
Sirius XM Radio: 898
Game Time Weather: Rain this early afternoon should be out of the area by game time, but remains something to monitor. After the rain clears, temps will dive into the mid to low 50's by the first pitch with winds picking up making it feel cooler.

Today in Nationals History:

2006 – After a two-hour, 18-minute rain delay at the start of the game, Alfonso Soriano blasted three home runs in Washington’s 7-3 home win vs. Atlanta. Soriano, thus, became the first National (2005-pres.) to hit three homers in a single game, and the first to hit more than one homer in a game at RFK Stadium.

2017 – The Nationals outlasted the Mets in an 11-inning affair that was sealed with a bases-loaded walk by newly-activated Trea Turner in the top of the 11th. The 4-3 win gave Washington its fifth win in a row. Bryce Harper homered off Matt Harvey in the first inning and Jose Lobaton hit one of his own off of him in the fifth inning.

Washington Nationals Game Story Line: Series Finale with the St. Louis Cardinals

Today, the Washington Nationals will wrap up their home stand and the series with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Nationals are looking for their second series win of the 2021 season. The first series win came against the St. Louis Cardinals when the Nationals recently visited them.

Yesterday's Game Recap

The Washington Nationals topped the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-2, setting up a rubber match between the two clubs on Wednesday afternoon. With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Nationals go-ahead run came on a bases-loaded walk for Yan Gomes.

Patrick Corbin tossed 6.0 shutout innings, after surrendering a double in the second inning off the bat of Austin Dean, Corbin went on to retire 13 of his last 14 batters faced.

Following the game, the Nationals will travel to New York where they will enjoy a day off before opening a five-game road trip on Friday night against the New York Mets.

Pitching Matchup

Max Scherzer

Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer is in search of his first win of the 2021 season. Despite impressive starts over the past few games, Scherzer has been unable to come away with a win. Hopefully, that all changes today when he faces his hometown team.

Carlos Martinez

Martinez has been hit by some luck at the start of this season and is looking for his first win as a starter since July 2018.

Today's GameNotes

Give him a Hand

Brad Hand has converted 23 consecutive save opportunities dating to Aug. 23, 2019.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it is the longest active streak of consecutive save opportunities converted.In these 23 save opportunities, Hand has pitched to a 0.39 ERA (1 ER/23.1 IP) with 29 strikeouts, four walks and a .139 opponents’ batting average (11-for-79). The one earned run came on July 28, 2020 vs. Chicago (AL).

In Trea We Trust

On Tuesday night, Trea Turner recorded his seventh multi-hit game of the season, That was Turner's seven multi-hit games rank third in the National League and are tied for fourth in Major League Baseball.

Game Lineups (Subject To Change without Notice)

Washington Nationals

Andrew Stevenson - RF
Josh Harrison - 2B
Trea Turner - SS
Josh Bell - 1B
Kyle Schwarber - RF
Starlin Castro - 3B
Alex Avila - C
Victor Robles - CF
Max Scherzer - P

St. Louis Cardinals

Tommy Edman - RF
Paul Goldschmidt - 1B
Nolan Arenado - 3B
Paul DeJong - SS
Dylan Carlson - CF
Matt Carpenter - 2B
Justin Williams - LF
Andrew Kizner - C
Carlos Martinez - P

Upcoming Washington Nationals Games:

Friday, April 23, 2021, Washington Nationals at New York Mets 7:10 pm EDT
Saturday, April 24, 2021, Washington Nationals at New York Mets 4:05 pm EDT
Sunday, April 25, 2021, Washington Nationals at New York Mets 1:05 pm EDT
Tuesday, April 27, 2021, Washington Nationals at Toronto Blue Jays 7:07 pm EDT

Upcoming Nationals starters for next series @ Mets: Erick Fedde, Joe Ross, Patrick Corbin