Game 34: Brewers at Nats
Foster Griffin looks to beat Milwaukee again. Meanwhile, the Nationals have outrighted Cionel Pérez to Triple-A.
Well, the Nationals finally lost a game to the Brewers. Unfortunately, that also meant they lost another home game, their 11th loss in 14 games played in D.C. so far this season. It’s kind of unfathomable, to be honest. It certainly shouldn’t be sustainable, because this team is better than that (as we’ve seen on the road).
Perhaps the presence of their best starter on the mound this afternoon will help reverse their home fortunes. Yes, Foster Griffin has become their most-trusted pitcher through the season’s first month. The 30-year-old left-hander enters today with a 3-0 record, 2.67 ERA and 1.069 WHIP in six starts. And the Nats have won five of those six games.
Today does present a new challenge for Griffin: It’s the first time he’s faced an opponent twice. He already dominated the Brewers last month in Milwaukee, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning. How will he fare in the rematch? Will he have to adjust his gameplan, or do the Brewers have to prove they can score some runs off him before he needs to make any changes?
The Nats will happily face anybody other than Jacob Misiorowski today. They’ll get left-hander Kyle Harrison, who opposed Griffin in that matchup last month and gave up two runs in 4 1/3 innings. James Wood delivered the big two-run double off Harrison in that one.
There was a roster move today, and it’s a bit of a surprising one: The Nationals announced Cionel Pérez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester. Orlando Ribalta was recalled to take Pérez’s spot in the bullpen, but that also opens up a spot on the 40-man roster
I’m not covering today’s game in person, so you’re all on your own here. Can I trust everyone to police themselves and not throw any parties while I’m away? I’ll be back Sunday for the series finale.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 60 degrees, wind 9 mph left to right
BREWERS
CF Garrett Mitchell
2B Brice Turang
DH William Contreras
C Gary Sanchez
1B Jake Bauers
3B Luis Rengifo
LF Brandon Lockridge
RF Sal Frelick
SS Joey Ortiz
LHP Kyle Harrison
NATIONALS
LF James Wood
1B Curtis Mead
3B Brady House
SS CJ Abrams
CF Jacob Young
DH Daylen Lile
RF Joey Wiemer
2B Nasim Nuñez
C Keibert Ruiz
LHP Foster Griffin
I don’t know what the results will be, but I already appreciate the difference between Toboni and Rizzo. Paul is willing to make a move if he thinks something isn’t working. The most agonizing part of the late Rizzo/Davey era was just running the same people out there when it clearly wasn’t working. Definition of insanity.
Can't really promise about not throwing parties, especially if Nats are winning.. Which I think they desperately need to at home. LOL.. Enjoy your day off.