A couple of National League teams playing for next year open up a series between the chalked lines in the nation’s capital. The Chicago Cubs are on the road as they play the first game of a three-game series with the Washington Nationals Monday night. Chicago closed a three-game road set with the Reds Sunday afternoon looking for a sweep. The Cubs earned a 7-2 triumph Saturday night in the middle game of the series. Washington played the rubber game of a three-game series at home with San Diego Sunday afternoon. The Nationals picked up a 4-3 triumph in Saturday’s contest. This article was published prior to the conclusion of either team’s contests Sunday afternoon. In the first series between the teams, Chicago took two of three at home August 8-10.
Chicago went into Sunday winners of three straight and six of their previous eight games as they downed the Reds Saturday night. The Cubs entered Sunday third in the NL Central, 14.5 games behind the Cardinals for the top spot in the division. In the NL wild card chase, they were 15 games behind San Diego for the final wild card spot. On Saturday night, Willson Contreras (two runs, RBI), Ian Happ (run, four RBI) and Franmil Reyes (run, two RBI) each had two hits, including a homer, for Chicago. Contreras (his 17th), Happ (his 10th) and Reyes (his 10th) left the yard in the contest. Adrian Sampson didn’t factor in the decision as he threw four innings, allowing two runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Sean Newcomb (1-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Marcus Stroman is on the mound as he makes his 16th start of the season for the Cubs in the middle game of this set. He comes in 3-5 with a 4.20 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, 20 walks and 74 strikeouts over 79.1 innings of work on the year. Stroman didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came at home against the Nationals Tuesday. He threw five innings, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts in a game the Cubs eventually dropped 6-5. In his last three starts, Stroman is 1-0 with a 3.57 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, three walks and 15 strikeouts over 17.2 innings of work. Stroman makes his seventh career start against the Nationals in this contest. He is 1-1 with a 5.17 ERA, a 1.628 WHIP, 13 walks and 34 strikeouts over 31.1 innings of work. In his lone start at Nationals Park, which came with the Mets on September 4, 2021 in the first game of a doubleheader, he didn’t factor in the decision. Stroman gave up three runs on six hits with three walks and two strik eouts in an eventual 11-9 Mets triumph.