Washington Nationals at Arizona Diamondbacks

By Bush StaffUpdated 78d ago·2 min read
Washington NationalsWSH(31-32)
Arizona DiamondbacksARI(33-29)
141
FINAL
123456789RHE
WSH
20401501114161
ARI
001000000160

Foster Griffin (6-2, 3.76) gets the ball for the Nats opposite Merrill Kelly (5-3, 5.06), and the gap in those ERAs tells most of the story. Griffin's been the steadier arm, but he's pitching in Chase Field on a night where Arizona just snapped a two-game skid against the Dodgers.

Washington Nationals
Foster Griffin
(7-2)·3.32 ERA
May 30 vs Padres
ND
5.0IP
3ER
5K
2BB
90P
06/05 Lineup
Arizona Diamondbacks
Merrill Kelly
(5-6)·5.81 ERA
May 31 @ Mariners
ND
5.1IP
2ER
2K
2BB
97P
06/05 Lineup

Kelly is the more interesting variable. His 5.06 ERA looks ugly because he opened the year with a 9.20 mark through three starts, but he's settled in since — a 3.51 ERA in May and four straight quality starts heading into this one. The volatility is still there (last time out: 5.1 innings, 8 hits, 2 walks, only 2 strikeouts against Seattle), but the floor isn't what it was in April.

Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
(31-32)
Jun 3Lvs Marlins1-4
Jun 2Lvs Marlins3-7
Jun 1Lvs Marlins3-7
May 31Wvs Padres4-2
May 30Wvs Padres9-4
Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
(33-29)
Jun 5Wvs Dodgers3-2
Jun 4Lvs Dodgers0-7
Jun 3Lvs Dodgers5-6
Jun 2Wvs Dodgers4-1
May 31L@ Mariners2-3

Washington has the better road record on paper at 19-12, but the vibes are not great. They were swept at home by Miami, dropped 7-3 twice in that series, and now they're flying west on the back end of a losing skid. That last-5 line of W-W-L-L-L is generous — the three Ls were not close.

Arizona's injury list is the real wild card. Corbin Burnes is shut down with a teres major strain, Carlos Santana had a setback on his adductor rehab, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is still working back from the hamstring, and Ildemaro Vargas is day-to-day after colliding with Max Muncy on Thursday. Torey Lovullo is patching this lineup together with whoever's healthy.

Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
(11)
  • Day-To-DayDrew Millas (C)Millas was removed from Tuesday's game against the Marlins with an upper lip laceration, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.06/03
  • Day-To-DayTyler Stuart (SP)no05/25
  • Day-To-DayTyler Baum (DH)Baum has not pitched this year due an undisclosed injury.05/08
  • Day-To-DayTravis Sykora (SP)Sykora will undergo a UCL reconstruction on his right elbow in two weeks, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.05/08
  • Day-To-DayJarlin Susana (RP)Susana underwent surgery last week to repair a right lat tear, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.05/08
  • 15-Day-ILJake Irvin (SP)Nationals manager Blake Butera said Monday that Irvin (shoulder) remains shut down from throwing, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.06/01
  • 60-Day-ILMax Kranick (RP)The Nationals transferred Kranick (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Monday.05/25
  • 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP)Herz (elbow) will throw to live hitters Friday at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/15
  • 60-Day-ILTrevor Williams (SP)Williams (elbow) began pitching off a mound at the Nationals' spring training complex this weekend, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILJosiah Gray (SP)Gray (elbow) has resumed a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP)The Nationals transferred Waldichuk (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
(16)
  • Day-To-DayIldemaro Vargas (1B)Manager Torey Lovullo said Vargas is day-to-day with a bruised left thigh and rib cage after colliding with Max Muncy in Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.06/05
  • Day-To-DaySpencer Giesting (SP)
  • Day-To-DayA.J. Vukovich (CF)no05/25
  • Day-To-DayDerek Law (RP)no05/21
  • Day-To-DayKyle Amendt (RP)Amendt was invited to major-league spring training by the Diamondbacks, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.05/08
  • 10-Day-ILJames McCann (C)McCann (quad) has started taking machine batting practice and doing catching drills, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.06/03
  • 10-Day-ILLourdes Gurriel Jr. (LF)Gurriel (hamstring) appears on track to begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League as soon as next Monday, MLB.com reports.06/02
  • BereavementTaylor Clarke (RP)Manager Torey Lovullo revealed that Clarke is expected to return from the bereavement list Sunday versus the Nationals, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.06/04
  • 60-Day-ILCorbin Burnes (SP)Manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Burnes (elbow) has been shut down from throwing after suffering a teres major strain, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.06/03
  • 60-Day-ILJordan Lawlar (LF)Lawlar (wrist) could move his rehab to Triple-A Reno by the end of the week, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.06/03
  • 60-Day-ILA.J. Puk (RP)Puk (elbow) allowed one hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.06/03
  • 60-Day-ILCristian Mena (RP)Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters Monday that Mena underwent surgery on his right shoulder and will be sidelined for the rest of the season, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.06/01
  • 60-Day-ILCarlos Santana (1B)Santana suffered a setback with his right adductor strain Sunday while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.06/01
  • 60-Day-ILBlake Walston (SP)Walston (elbow) paused his rehab program earlier in the season, but he was expected to start building back up around the middle of May, MLB.com reports.06/01
  • 60-Day-ILJustin Martinez (RP)Martinez (elbow) tossed a bullpen session Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.05/09
  • 60-Day-ILAndrew Saalfrank (RP)Saalfrank (shoulder) said Wednesday that he expects to be sidelined 10-16 months, Arizona Sports reports.05/08

Pinnacle has Arizona at -129 with a total of 9.5, which feels about right given the home park and the bullpen edge. Griffin gives Washington a real shot, but if Kelly keeps the quality-start run going, the Nats lineup — even with James Wood and CJ Abrams humming — has to scratch out runs against an Arizona pen that just held the Dodgers to 2 last night. Lean home, but the dog price isn't crazy.

MLBWashington NationalsArizona DiamondbacksPolymarketKalshiFoster GriffinMerrill Kelly