Game Preview: Washington Nationals close out the road trip today against the Seattle Mariners

The Washington Nationals look to close out the road trip with a win in Game 2 at the Mariners on Wednesday, August 24, 2022.

by The Nats Report Newsroom

Updated August 24, 2022

Seattle, WA Today, Wednesday, August 24, 2022, the Washington Nationals will close their road trip by facing the Seattle Mariners in an afternoon game. The Washington Nationals will send RHP Aníbal Sánchez to the mound to face the Mariners. Aníbal Sánchez has yet to win a game this season for the Nationals and has an ERA of 6.43.

Following the game, the Washington Nationals will travel home and enjoy a day off on Thursday before welcoming the Cincinnati Reds to Nationals Park on Friday night. Although they were swept in D.C. in a July 13 doubleheader, the Nationals are 13-5 all-time (2005-pres.) against the Mariners, including a 5-2 record in Seattle.

Game Notes

RHP Aníbal Sánchez faces the Seattle Mariners for the first time since June 19, 2017, in Seattle. Aníbal Sánchez is 3-0 with a 3.82 ERA in seven games (five starts). Aníbal Sánchez had his best start of the season, allowing one earned run on one hit with four strikeouts and two walks in 5.0 innings of work on Aug. 18 at San Diego. The lone hit was a solo home run by Manny Machado. It was his second consecutive start against the Padres.

In 18 games since making his Major League debut on Aug. 2, Joey Meneses is hitting .329 (23-for-70) with two doubles, six home runs, eight RBI, three walks, and 12 runs scored. His 23 hits through his first 18 games are the most by any rookie through his first 18 games in Nationals history (2005-pres.), ahead of Anthony Rendon (22 in 2013). Meneses has hit safely in 11 straight games and recorded five straight multi-hit efforts from Aug. 9-14. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only Ryan Zimmerman (17 G, 2006) and Steve Lombardozzi (13 G, 2013) recorded longer streaks as rookies with Washington. The streak was snapped on Aug. 18 in San Diego.

Keibert Ruiz ranks second in Major League Baseball with 17 caught stealing behind Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto (20). Ruiz has picked off four runners at first base, tied for the most in Major League Baseball with Colorado's Elias Diaz. The four pickoffs are tied for the most in a single season in Nationals history (2005-pres.) With Brian Schneider in 2005.

A Nationals starting pitcher has not been credited with a win since Josiah Gray on July 6 at Philadelphia - a span of 40 games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 40 straight games played without earning a win by a starting pitcher is the longest such streak in Major League Baseball history.