Game 103: Nats at Rockies

The Nationals need a win in today's finale at Coors Field to head home above the .500 mark heading into a critical stretch of the season

DENVER – Would it be inappropriate to refer to today’s series finale as a must-win game for the Nationals? Sure, one game on July 22 isn’t going to make or break a season. But a win today ensures a 4-2 road trip and a winning record overall as the Nats head home. A loss ensures a 3-3 road trip against a couple of subpar opponents and a losing record overall as they head home. Given everything that’s at stake between now and the Aug. 3 trade deadline, it feels like this really is must-win territory for the Nats.

They’ve got Cade Cavalli on the mound, and the right-hander has been on a nice roll here for about a month: Over his last five starts, he’s got a 2.96 ERA and 37 strikeouts to only four walks across 27 1/3 innings. The Nationals certainly could use Cavalli at his best this afternoon in a tough pitchers’ park.

They’ll also look to keep up what they’ve done at the plate, scoring seven runs in each of the series’ first two games. Today they face an unknown entity in Rockies right-hander Gabriel Hughes, a first-round pick in 2022 making only his fourth career MLB appearance (third start). Hughes has been solid to date, with a 3.14 ERA across 14 1/3 innings.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at COLORADO ROCKIES
Where: Coors Field
Gametime: 3:10 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 90 degrees, wind 7 mph in from right

NATIONALS
RF James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
DH José Tena
SS CJ Abrams
CF Dylan Crews
LF Daylen Lile
C Keibert Ruiz
3B Jorbit Vivas
2B Nasim Nuñez

RHP Cade Cavalli

ROCKIES
RF Jake McCarthy
LF Mickey Moniak
DH Hunter Goodman
1B TJ Rumfield
CF Cole Carrigg
3B Kyle Karros
SS Willi Castro
2B Edouard Julien
C Brett Sullivan

RHP Gabriel Hughes