Padres Preview: 05/22 @ Nationals

The Padres will look to come back after last night’s trouncing against the Washington Nationals by sending Eric Lauer to the mound for the 2nd game of the series.

Lauer (1-2, 8.14 ERA) has had exactly one good game and a few clunkers so far in his rookie debut. His last game against the Pirates was a much better showing than the game prior to that (a horrid effort against the Cardinals); he allowed 4 runs on 6 hits over 4 ²⁄₃ innings against the Buccos and is making his first appearance against the Nationals tonight in what could be murky conditions against Jeremy Hellickson.

Padres fans will remember Hellickson’s (1-0, 2.20 ERA) last showing against the Padres after he took a perfecto into the 7th inning in Petco Park. That game was Jeremy’s longest outing of the season. Over 9 career starts Hellickson carries a 3-4 record with a 5.80 ERA against San Diego. The only batters with any real success against the methodical-pitching righty are Cory Spangenberg (6-10, .600) and shelved Wil Myers (6-14). The Friars will have to come out swinging in order to prove their last game against Hellickson was the exception and not the norm. They’ll also have to avoid allowing 19-year-old Juan Soto to shine more than he did in his debut last night.

This afternoon’s game starts up at 4:05 PM.

Game Time: 4:05 PM PST
TV: FSSD, Fox Sports Deportes (Spanish)
Radio: 97.3, XEMO 860 (Español)