Nats not concerned about sweepless streak

Nationals fans are aware of it. It may even bother them a little. But doesn’t seem to have an effect on the players and coaching staff in the clubhouse.

The Nationals have not swept a three-game series since June 14-16, 2021 against the Pirates. They have not swept a series in their last 96 attempts, expanding the longest streak of series without a sweep in major league history after surpassing the 89 straight series without a sweep by the Philadelphia Athletics from 1914-1917, per STATS.

Today, they have a chance to sweep the Giants after winning the first two games by a combined score of 15-4. But for the Nats, it’s just another chance to win a ballgame.

“Nah,” manager Davey Martinez said when asked if the team thinks about their sweepless streak during his pregame meeting with the media. “Like I said, we try to be where our feet are. Try to go about our business, go 1-0 today. What I can tell you is these guys will come out today and they'll compete. They'll play hard. If everything aligns, we'll come out, we'll win and it's just another victory for us.”

Jake Irvin and Josiah Gray led the Nats to their first two victories this weekend, pitching a combined 13 ⅔ innings and allowing four runs.

Now it’s MacKenzie Gore’s turn as he looks to bounce back from giving up five runs in 6 ⅓ innings in his first start back from the All-Star break.

Does the young left-hander feel any added pressure to follow his fellow young starters with a strong outing?

“I don't think it's pressure,” Martinez said. “I think he thinks, 'Oh, man, those two guys went out and did really well. I want to go out and repeat that.' Just go out there and just have fun. Like I said, for him, it's about attacking the strike zone. We know he can do it. He's just got to go out there, relax and attack the strike zone. He's a good guy to have out there, trying to try to win a game day, so I'm excited about him going out there and competing.”

The Giants are using left-hander Scott Alexander (6-0, 3.04 ERA and 1.013 WHIP in 31 appearances, one start) as an opener in a bullpen game today. It’s tough to matchup and settle in against a group of relievers like the Nats lineup did to Alex Wood and Logan Webb the last two games. But it does present an interesting opportunity for the Nats’ red-hot offense to finally bring out the brooms.