Game Preview: Nationals look to close out homestand with a series win in rubber match vs. Athletics

The Washington Nationals complete a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics today. Today's game will also complete a six-game homestand that also featured three games with the Reds

by The Nats Report Newsroom

Updated September 01, 2022

Washington D.C. - The Washington Nationals complete a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics today. Today's game will also complete a six-game homestand that also featured three games with the Reds (1–2).

If Washington wins today, the Nationals will have taken the only two series the Athletics have ever played in Washington D.C. against the Nationals. The Athletics franchise has not won a series in Washington D.C. since the Kansas City Athletics took two out of three from the Washington Senators on July 14–15, 1961. The A’s swept a doubleheader on the 14th.

After today’s game, the Nationals will head out on the road for a 10-day, 10-game road trip to New York (NL) for three games, and St. Louis for four games, Nationals will play their first 2023 Spring Training game on Feb. 25 at the Cardinals and Philadelphia for three games.

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Game Notes

Since joining the Nationals on August 1, Ildemaro Vargas is hitting .325 with four doubles, three home runs, and eight RBI in 23 games. All three of his home runs with Washington have given the Nationals the lead and proved to be game-winning runs.
In 24 games since making his Major League debut on Aug. 2, Joey Meneses is hitting .333 (31-for-93) with six doubles, six home runs, 11 RBI, four walks, and 16 runs scored. He's hit safely in 21 of the 24 games. His 31 hits through his first 24 games are the most by any rookie through his first 24 games in Nationals history (2005-pres.) ahead of Anthony Rendon (30 in 2013). Meneses doubled three times on Tuesday night against Oakland, becoming the first rookie for the Nationals to double three times in a game.
Over his last three starts, Aníbal Sánchez has allowed just two runs on six hits in 16.1 innings. While he has only been credited with one win, the Nationals are 3-0 in those starts. He has held opponents to a .120 average against and posted a 0.80 WHIP.