Game 59: Padres at Nats

Foster Griffin and the Nationals look to bounce back from Friday night's loss and get back over .500 this afternoon

Friday night’s series opener felt a lot more like a Nationals game from a month ago than a Nationals game from recent weeks. The offense did enough, though it could’ve done more. But the pitching staff kept giving up runs to the Padres, who ultimately took the lead late and hung on to win, 7-5.

On paper, today’s game looks like a much better pitching matchup, with Foster Griffin facing Michael King.

Griffin enjoyed a really nice bounce back in his last start, when he shut out the Braves over six innings. That was especially encouraging given his uncharacteristic struggles the previous two times on the mound, and the fact he was facing Atlanta for the second time this season. The Padres, of course, have never seen the left-hander, and Ramon Laureano is the only player on the roster who has ever taken an at-bat against him.

King has quietly been one of baseball’s most consistently effective starters for several years now, owner of a career 3.19 ERA, having lowered that number to 2.76 in 11 starts so far this season. The right-hander doesn’t give up many hits, but he has walked more than four batters per nine innings, so this might be a day for patience from the Nats lineup. And then there’s thing interesting connection: King and Blake Butera were teammates at Boston College in 2014-15.

SAN DIEGO PADRES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Sunny, 71 degrees, wind 15 mph in from left

PADRES
2B Fernando Tatis Jr.
LF Gavin Sheets
DH Miguel Andujar
3B Manny Machado
CF Jackson Merrill
SS Xander Bogaerts
1B Ty France
RF Ramón Laureano
C Rodolfo Durán

RHP Michael King

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

LHP Foster Griffin