ANAHEIM, Calif. – Hello from the Big A and the final leg of this three-city Southern California swing for the Nationals. They lost two of three in Los Angeles. They lost two of three in San Diego. They really hope not to lose two of three here against an Angels team that is playing good baseball and has reached the .500 mark but just learned today manager Ron Washington will miss the remainder of the season while on medical leave. Bench coach Ray Montgomery takes over managerial duties.
The Nationals were shut out Wednesday by the Padres, so they’ll be looking to bounce back offensively against Jose Soriano. The right-hander has a good ERA (3.39) but so-so peripherals (1.419 WHIP, 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings, 4.2 walks per nine innings). That final number needs to be implanted in the Nats’ brains. They did not draw one walk during Wednesday’s loss. They have to show more patience tonight.
On the mound, Jake Irvin is coming off a really solid start at Dodger Stadium (two runs, seven strikeouts, zero walks) in 5 1/3 innings. He makes his first career start against the Angels, so this will be the first time he ever faces Mike Trout (and vice versa).
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Where: Angel Stadium
Gametime: 9:38 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 74 degrees, wind 8 mph out to center field
NATIONALS
Lineup TBA
RHP Jake Irvin
ANGELS
3B Luis Rengifo
1B Nolan Schanuel
DH Mike Trout
LF Taylor Ward
CF Jo Adell
C Logan O’Hoppe
RF Lamonte Wade Jr.
2B Christian Moore
SS Kevin Newman
RHP Jose Soriano