The San Diego Padres (66-56) will host the Washington Nationals (41-80) in the third contest of a four-game series on Saturday. The Nationals have won three of the five head-to-head games over the Padres so far this season, including the first two games of this series.
The Nationals have been big money winners in the first two games of this series, beating the Padres on Thursday 3-1 as a +317 underdog and 6-3 as a +293 underdog on Friday. In the win on Friday, the Nationals broke through with three runs in the top off the ninth off of Josh Hader, who failed to record an out. Alex Call hit his first career MLB home run, a two run shot in the ninth that put the Nationals up by three.
With the Nationals' top two offensive players from this season, Juan Soto and Josh Bell now in San Diego, Nelson Cruz now leads the team with 59 RBI and is tied for second with nine home runs. Lane Thomas has 11 home runs to lead the players currently playing in a Washington uniform.
ALEX CALL WITH HIS 1ST CAREER @MLB HOME RUN IN THE 9TH!!!! pic.twitter.com/SnAsbamWaB
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 20, 2022
Josiah Gray is scheduled to start on Saturday. He is 7-8 with a 4.79 ERA overall, but on the road he's been better, 5-1 with a 3.21 ERA. The Nationals did however drop the last two road games pitched by Gray, although he did not get the decision.