The Washington Nationals open a six-game homestand against the hot Cleveland Guardians on Monday night.
Washington returns home after completing a 3-3 road trip with a rain-soaked 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Cleveland has won five of six overall and is 2-1 on a six-game road swing after a 5-4 win at Toronto on Sunday.
Cleveland trails Detroit by 1 1/2 games in the American League Central.
Guardians right-hander Luis Ortiz (2-3, 4.78 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin (2-1, 4.01) in the series opener.
Ortiz turned in his longest outing of the season in his last start, a no-decision against the Minnesota Twins last Wednesday. He tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out five in a game the Guardians eventually won 4-2.
“We needed that from Luis to have a chance to win this game and I know he won’t get the win, but Luis won the game for us,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “Just the efficiency, getting into the seventh that way and as many outs as you can.”
Ortiz, 26, is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two games (one start) versus Washington.
Irvin is looking to bounce back after his worst outing of the young season. Against the Phillies, Irvin allowed six runs on eight hits — two of them homers — in six innings of his first loss.
“One of those days for him,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s been so good. He couldn’t correct it. When he needed to make a pitch, it just wasn’t there for him. His breaking ball … just threw a lot in the upper part of the zone.”
Irvin won his only career start against Cleveland, allowing two runs over six innings in June of last season.
Cleveland beat Toronto thanks to Daniel Schneemann’s ninth-inning grand slam on Saturday. On Sunday, it was up to their closer to hold a late lead. Emmanuel Clase, who earned the save Saturday, came on to protect a two-run lead. Possessing a 6.28 ERA, Clase began the inning with a throwing error and allowed a run before getting the final out of a 5-4 win for his seventh save.
“(There is) no one else on the planet I’d rather have on the mound in the ninth inning,” Vogt said of his closer.
Gabriel Arias had three hits and two RBIs for Cleveland. Jose Ramirez went 0-for-4 with a walk in his return two days after leaving in the third inning because of a right ankle sprain.
Luis Garcia, Jr. hit a solo homer during a three-run seventh inning as the Nationals won the rubber game of their series against the Reds. CJ Abrams had a two-run double and Kyle Finnegan closed things out for his 11th save.
“You look at it as: We played really well the last four games of the road trip,” said left-hander MacKenzie Gore, who struck out nine in a no-decision and leads the majors with 68 strikeouts in 46 innings. “We’re playing well. … We just have to keep showing up and expecting to win every day, and good things will happen.”
Washington is 15-13 since starting the season 1-6.
Abrams extended his hitting streak to 10 games and is hitting .284, and Dylan Crews snapped an 0-for-23 skid with a seventh-inning single.
–Field Level Media
