MILWAUKEE – One more. There is only one more game to play before the Nationals head into the desperately-needed All-Star break.
This week has not been easy for the boys in curly W caps. The front office shakeup. The managerial change. Having lost seven of their last eight games, yesterday in spectacularly heartbreaking fashion. But there is one more game they need to battle through before they can finally rest for a couple of days.
Jake Irvin will try to be the stopper against the Brewers. And much like his team as a whole, he really needs to finish the first half on a strong note. Although his record is better than it was at this point last year (7-4 vs. 7-8), the rest of his numbers are worse. His ERA is over a run higher (from 3.49 to 4.78) and his WHIP is about 200 points higher (from 1.112 to 1.306). He also leads the National League with 22 home runs surrendered after giving up 14 in the first half last year. A strong outing against this potent Brewers offense would be a good step toward a strong second half.
The Nats offense, on the other hand, will have to face another tough starting pitcher in Freddy Peralta. The right-hander was selected to the All-Star Game, but obviously will not pitch. So he will be full-go this afternoon in his first-half finale. Peralta is 10-4 with a 2.74 ERA and 1.086 WHIP over 19 starts, and he’s given up more than three earned runs in a start only once this year.
A small roster move this morning: The Nats recalled right-hander Andry Lara from Double-A Harrisburg to take the roster spot of Shinnosuke Ogasawara, who was optioned to Triple-A Rochester after yesterday's game.
And a programming note: The MLB Draft starts tonight with the Nationals owning the No. 1 overall pick. Join myself and Amy Jennings for our live draft coverage leading up to and through the selection on the MASN Nationals YouTube channel and Facebook page!
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Where: American Family Field
Gametime: 2:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, DC 87.7 (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 79 degrees, wind 5 mph from right to left field
NATIONALS
TBA
RHP Jake Irvin
BREWERS
RF Sal Frelick
DH William Contreras
LF Christian Yelich
CF Jackson Chourio
2B Brice Turang
1B Jake Bauers
SS Andruw Monasterio
C Eric Haase
3B Anthony Seigler
RHP Freddy Peralta