Game 21: Giants at Nats

The Nationals need a better performance today from Cade Cavalli as they try to bounce back from Friday night's loss

It’s another beautiful spring day in the nation’s capital. Too bad the Nationals’ performance Friday night didn’t match the weather. Behind a dud from Zack Littell, they trailed the Giants by six runs early and couldn’t make up that deficit. So they’ll give it another shot today, hoping for much better results from Cade Cavalli.

Cavalli is coming off a dud of his own earlier this week in Pittsburgh, where he was pulled with a high pitch count in the bottom of the second. His primary issue: a lack of strikes. The right-hander acknowledged as much afterward and said he was determined to correct the problem with the coaching staff between starts. The Nats sorely need their young ace to make good on that today and produce some quality innings against a Giants lineup that broke out Friday night in uncharacteristic fashion.

Cavalli is going up against a fellow Oklahoman this afternoon in Adrian Houser, the veteran right-hander pitching for his fifth team in four seasons. Houser got a two-year, $22 million deal from San Francisco but is off to a rough start (0-2, 5.06 ERA, 20 hits allowed in 16 innings).

Blake Butera has another new-look lineup today: José Tena is batting third for the first time in his career, with CJ Abrams batting cleanup and Jacob Young behind him in the No. 5 spot.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Mostly sunny, 80 degrees, wind 12 mph out to left

GIANTS
SS Willy Adames
2B Luis Arraez
3B Matt Chapman
1B Rafael Devers
DH Casey Schmitt
RF Jung Hoo Lee
LF Heliot Ramos
CF Drew Gilbert
C Patrick Bailey

RHP Adrian Houser

NATIONALS
RF James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
DH José Tena
SS CJ Abrams
CF Jacob Young
LF Daylen Lile
2B Nasim Nuñez
3B Jorbit Vivas
C Drew Millas

RHP Cade Cavalli