Game 19: Nats at Pirates
The Nationals seek a four-game split and a 5-2 road trip this afternoon in Pittsburgh. They also reacquired Richard Lovelady from the Mets.
PITTSBURGH – It’s the final day of the road trip, and regardless of today’s result it will still have to be considered a good road trip for the Nationals, who enter their series finale with the Pirates having already gone 4-2. Of course, 5-2 feels a lot better than 4-3, so there’s plenty of motivation to try to leave town with one more win and a four-game split with a tough opponent.
It’s Foster Griffin on the mound for the Nats, looking to continue his strong return to the majors after three successful years in Japan. The left-hander has already faced the Phillies, Dodgers and Brewers and emerged with a 2-0 record, 1.76 ERA and 1.109 WHIP. He once again will be facing a lineup that’s never seen him before, hoping unfamiliarity plays to his advantage.
None of the Nationals have faced Braxton Ashcraft, either, so both starting pitchers are in a good position entering the game. The Pittsburgh right-hander is off to a strong start himself, having posted a 2.12 ERA, 1.000 WHIP and 20 strikeouts in 17 innings so far this season.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Where: PNC Park
Gametime: 12:35 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees, wind 15 mph right to left
NATIONALS
RF James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
3B Brady House
LF Daylen Lile
SS CJ Abrams
CF Jacob Young
DH Jorbit Vivas
C Drew Millas
2B Nasim Nuñez
LHP Foster Griffin
PIRATES
RF Jake Mangum
3B Nick Gonzales
CF Oneil Cruz
DH Marcell Ozuna
1B Nick Yorke
2B Brandon Lowe
C Joey Bart
SS Konnor Griffin
LF Billy Cook
RHP Braxton Ashcraft
NATS REACQUIRE LOVELADY
Richard Lovelady is returning to the Nationals after they acquired the left-hander from the Mets for cash, the club announced this morning.
It’s been a strange journey for Lovelady, who was designated for assignment by the Mets in January and claimed off waivers by the Nationals. After beginning spring training in West Palm Beach, he was DFA’d again and claimed back by the Mets, who put him on their Opening Day roster. But New York DFA’d him last weekend after six appearances that included a 3.68 ERA and 1.636 WHIP, leaving him in roster limbo until the Nats reacquired him today.
Lovelady, 30, will join the Nationals bullpen in D.C. this weekend, giving them another left-hander. They’ll need to remove someone else from the active 26-man roster before officially adding him. They cleared a spot on the 40-man roster today by transferring left-hander Ken Waldichuk (who may be headed for Tommy John surgery) to the 60-day IL.
Terrible news about Waldichuck. I know he wasn’t the most effective reliever for us, but he’s a regular guy just trying to live his childhood dream of playing major league ball and he’s headed for the long TJ recovery process for the second time in three years. Wish nothing but the best for him. Glad we re-acquired the all-name team staple Dick Lovelady too
The Nats need an upgrade at catcher badly. Sam Huff is likely going to get DFA-ed by the Orioles in the next 2 weeks, he would be a huge upgrade. I wish Toboni & company would utilize waivers more aggressively to improve the bullpen, replace Mikolas & improve defense at 1b and catcher.