Good Morning Washington Nationals Fans,

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, August 9, 2022.

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Upcoming Nationals schedule:

• Tuesday, August 9, 2022: Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs; 8:05 p.m. EDT
• Wednesday, August 10, 2022: Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs; 2:20 p.m. EDT
• Thursday, August 11, 2022: DAY OFF
• Friday, August 12, 2022: San Diego Padres vs. Washington Nationals; 7:05 p.m. EDT
• Saturday, August 13, 2022: San Diego Padres vs. Washington Nationals; 7:05 p.m. EDT

Leading the Morning Briefing: Cubs defeat the Nationals 3-6 in the series opener. Last night the Washington Nationals dropped their sixth game in a row in a 3-6 series opener loss.

The Chicago Cubs' 27-year-old right-hander Keegan Thompson pitched six innings and only gave up one run on five hits. Keegan Thompson has a 2.40 ERA this season at Wrigley Field! For the Nationals, RHP Aníbal Sánchez pitched five innings giving up four runs on seven hits. Sánchez has yet to win a game this season, and his ERA is now 7.56.

Luke Voit started the night with a 17-game on-base streak going, over which he had 18 hits, six walks, three HBPs, and a .400 OBP, and the new Nationals’ 1B/DH was 6-for-13 (for a .462 AVG), with one home run, two walks, a hit by pitch, and two runs scored since he came over from San Diego.

Voit extended his on-base streak last night when he got a 1-1 fastball he could handle and hit it 421 feet to right-center for his second home run since joining the Nats.

The Nationals are now 36-75. The Nationals will continue their series against the Cubs tonight, where RHP Paolo Espino will be on the mound for Washington Nationals.

Up next…

The Nationals will face the Chicago Cubs for the first time this season. They will face the team again for a three-game series at Nationals Park on August 15-17.

Pitching Matchups

Tuesday, August. 9, 2022, at Chicago Cubs 8:05 p.m. (RHP Paolo Espino (0-4, 4.20) RHP Marcus Stroman (3-5, 4.00) )

RHP Paolo Espino will make his fourth career appearance (third start) against Chicago (NL) and third appearance at Wrigley Field.

He is 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA in his career against the Cubs.

Wednesday., August 10, 2022, at Chicago Cubs 2:20 p.m. (RHP Josiah Gray (7-8, 4.92) LHP Justin Steele (4-7, 3.67) )

Josiah Gray will make his first career start against the Chicago Cubs.