After taking two of three from the Mets, the Padres head down the bizarro coast to face the NL East leading Nationals. Washington is also coming off a series win, having beaten the spiraling Mariners twice in three games at home. This will be the first time the two teams face each other this season.
The current Nationals roster has a few San Diego ties. Their bullpen features former Friars Oliver Perez and Shawn Kelley, while starting pitcher Joe Ross and shortstop Trea Turner found their way to Washington via the Padres’ farm system when they were included in the three-team deal that took Wil Myers from Tampa Bay to San Diego. While Stephen Strasburg has never been a part of the Padres organization, the San Diego Aztec-for-life could have been, but the 2008 Padres were too incompetent to even tank right. They won a meaningless September series to Washington, handing the Nationals the top pick in the next year’s draft.
Game 1
Luis Perdomo vs Max Scherzer
Friday, May 26; 4:05 pm
This will be the second time Luis Perdomo has faced the Nationals; last year the rookie turned heads by allowing only two runs on just five baserunners in seven full innings. Max Scherzer faced the Padres twice last year, striking out 20 batters in 13 innings, allowing a mere three runs in those two no-decisions.
Game preview
Game 2
Clayton Richard vs Stephen Strasburg
Saturday, May 27; 1:05 pm
Clayton Richard made four relief appearances against Washington last year while he was still with the Cubs, but he hasn’t started against the Nationals since 2012, way back in his first stint with the Padres. That was the year Strasburg lost his first start against the Padres; since then he has won five in a row against them.
Game 3
Jhoulys Chacin vs Joe Ross
Sunday, May 28; 10:35 am
Jhoulys Chacin has gotten completely annihilated on the road this season; so much so that I wouldn’t be surprised to see Andy Green push him back a day like he did earlier in the month when he flip-flopped Chacin and Richard in the rotation. Then again, Chacin has seemed right at home at Nationals Park; he has allowed just one run there in 20 career innings, and that happened all the way back in 2011. Last year he shut the Nats out for six innings, allowing five hits and no walks while recording eight strikeouts against a lineup that is largely unchanged.
More details about each game, including starting lineups, will be included in our individual game previews and game threads on the day of each.
The cover art for this and all series previews was provided by Travis Peterson, proprietor of Punk Rock Paint. You can find him on Twitter or check out his website to see more of his work.