Miles Mikolas takes the hill for Washington in the rubber game of this three-game set, and the concern is real — his 5.60 ERA and 1.34 WHIP paint a picture of a veteran running on fumes. His recent outings have been abbreviated (66 and 59 pitches in his last two starts), raising questions about workload and durability. His average fastball sits at 87-88 mph, and his pitch mix relies on soft contact and weak ground balls rather than swing-and-miss ability (just 4.68 K/9). Against an Arizona lineup that, while depleted, still has Corbin Carroll and a functional middle of the order, Mikolas figures to be vulnerable in the early innings. The wild card on the Arizona side is Kohl Drake, a near-complete unknown with only 5 innings of MLB experience this season. His 1.80 ERA is a statistical mirage over such a tiny sample. Drake throws a 91.4 mph four-seamer and leans heavily on it (48%), mixing a curve and changeup. Washington's lineup — led by James Wood (28 HR), Luis García Jr. (21 HR, 70 RBI), and recently acquired Curtis Mead — has real power and could do damage against a rookie under pressure in a day game at Nationals Park. The Nats' home record (21-32) is concerning, but they took yesterday's series opener convincingly, 5-3, and carry a W1 streak. Arizona is 24-28 on the road this year and missing several key contributors to the IL — Zac Gallen, Corbin Burnes, Jordan Lawlar, and both Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Tommy Troy in the outfield. The bullpen edge leans Washington if they can get through Drake early and hand a lead to their relievers. Overall, this is a matchup that tilts Washington's way given Drake's inexperience, Mikolas's familiarity advantage, and the Nats' lineup depth versus an Arizona club thinned by injuries.

Scoring Dynamics

Early (1-3) 4R Mikolas vulnerable; Nats jump on rookie Drake

Middle (4-6) 3R Drake tires; AZ scratches vs. soft contact

Late (7-9) 2R Nats bullpen holds slim lead late

Matchup Analysis

Nationals

James Wood power threat

García Jr. RBI production

Strong road-to-home split

Depleted starting rotation

Poor home record 21-32

Diamondbacks

Corbin Carroll speed/gap power

7-3 last ten games

Solid run prevention

Kohl Drake very limited sample

Key IL injuries in OF/rotation

Risk Factors

Kohl Drake upside unknown

Mikolas short recent outings

Key Matchups

James Wood vs Kohl Drake batter Wood's 28 HR power vs. rookie with only 5 IP sample

Corbin Carroll vs Miles Mikolas batter Carroll's speed exploits Mikolas's 5.60 ERA and soft stuff

Luis García Jr. vs Kohl Drake batter García Jr.'s .277 AVG/21 HR tests unproven Drake

Statistical Edges

First to Score Nationals 58%

Strikeouts 12 9-15

Total Runs 9 7-12

Game Preview

Under clear July skies at Nationals Park, the rubber game of this three-game set has all the makings of an early-action affair. James Wood leads off Washington's half of the first with an aggressive at-bat against Kohl Drake, working a walk before Luis García Jr. deposits a two-run shot to left-center off the rookie's elevated four-seamer. Washington is rolling early, 2-0 after one. Mikolas settles in but can't avoid contact — Corbin Carroll singles and eventually scores on an Ildemaro Vargas sac fly in the second to make it 2-1. The Nationals answer in the third when Daylen Lile and Curtis Mead work back-to-back doubles off a tired Drake, pushing the lead to 4-1. Drake exits after four-plus innings having thrown around 80 pitches with two earned runs allowed — respectable given his inexperience, but not enough to keep Washington's bats quiet. Mikolas labors through five innings, surrendering a solo shot to James McCann in the fourth that keeps Arizona in striking distance at 4-2. Washington's bullpen takes over in the sixth and holds the line. García Jr. adds an insurance RBI single in the sixth, and Wood launches a solo homer in the eighth off Arizona's bullpen to seal the 6-3 final. The Nats take the series two games to one, with their lineup's depth proving the difference against an Arizona club thin on pitching and outfield options.

Moderate confidence: Washington's lineup advantages over an unknown rookie are real, but Mikolas's shaky numbers and the Nats' poor home record introduce variance. Drake's small sample makes him unpredictable in either direction.

Pravdepodobni nadhazeci

K. Drake Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks — Soupiska

Hráč	Poz.	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Corbin Carroll	RF	.250	15	49	.344	.487
Geraldo Perdomo	SS	.233	8	37	.358	.357
Gabriel Moreno	C	.315	7	41	.396	.458
Ketel Marte	2B	.254	19	61	.307	.457
Ryan Waldschmidt	LF	.268	1	13	.313	.384
Nolan Arenado	3B	.243	14	49	.323	.421
Jorge Barrosa	PR	.193	2	10	.278	.353
Tyler Locklear	1B	.316	1	6	.417	.526
Tim Tawa	CF	.233	4	20	.293	.400

Washington Nationals — Soupiska

Hráč	Poz.	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
James Wood	RF	.271	30	72	.396	.557
Daylen Lile	DH	.244	11	51	.296	.406
Dylan Crews	LF	.228	8	23	.310	.381
CJ Abrams	SS	.297	27	82	.367	.573
Brady House	3B	.232	7	26	.286	.411
Jacob Young	CF	.235	9	35	.289	.386
Harry Ford	C	.235	1	4	.350	.471
Luis García Jr.	1B	.278	21	70	.310	.544
Nasim Nuñez	2B	.247	1	30	.331	.291

Skórovací akce

▲ 1

Gabriel Moreno doubles (17) on a ground ball to left fielder Dylan Crews. Geraldo Perdomo scores.

1-0

▼ 2

Jacob Young singles on a line drive to center fielder Tim Tawa. Brady House scores.

1-1

▲ 3

Geraldo Perdomo homers (8) on a fly ball to right field.

2-1

▼ 3

Umpire reviewed (home run), call on the field was overturned: CJ Abrams homers (26) on a fly ball to center field.

2-2

▲ 4

Ketel Marte homers (19) on a fly ball to center field.

3-2

▲ 5

Gabriel Moreno out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Jacob Young. Corbin Carroll scores. Geraldo Perdomo to 2nd.

4-2

▼ 5

James Wood homers (29) on a fly ball to center field. Nasim Nuñez scores.

4-4

▼ 5

CJ Abrams homers (27) on a fly ball to center field. Daylen Lile scores.

4-6

▼ 7

Brady House doubles (9) on a line drive to center fielder Tim Tawa. Dylan Crews scores.

4-7

▼ 7

Jacob Young doubles (13) on a ground ball to left fielder Max Kepler. Brady House scores.

4-8

▼ 7

Luis García Jr. singles on a soft ground ball to pitcher Brandyn Garcia. Jacob Young scores. Luis García Jr. to 2nd. Throwing error by pitcher Brandyn Garcia.

4-9

▲ 8

Tyler Locklear out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Jacob Young. Ryan Waldschmidt scores.

5-9

▼ 8

James Wood homers (30) on a fly ball to left center field.

5-10

▲ 9

Ryan Waldschmidt singles on a ground ball to left fielder Dylan Crews. Corbin Carroll scores. Gabriel Moreno to 3rd. Ketel Marte to 2nd.

6-10

▲ 9

Nolan Arenado grounds out, third baseman Brady House to first baseman Luis García Jr. Gabriel Moreno scores. Ketel Marte to 3rd. Ryan Waldschmidt to 2nd.

7-10

Arizona Diamondbacks — Pálkování

Hráč	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Corbin CarrollRF	4	2	1	0	1	0	0	.250	.831
Geraldo PerdomoSS	2	2	1	1	3	0	1	.233	.715
Gabriel MorenoC	3	1	2	2	1	0	0	.315	.854
Ketel Marte2B	5	1	1	1	0	1	1	.254	.764
Ryan WaldschmidtLF	2	1	2	1	0	0	0	.268	.697
Nolan Arenado3B	4	0	0	1	1	0	0	.243	.744
Jorge BarrosaPR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.193	.631
Tyler Locklear1B	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	.316	.943
Tim TawaCF	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	.233	.693
Celkem	34	7	9	7	7	2	2

BATTING

2B: Moreno 2 (18, Mikolas, Kranick); Carroll (21, Cornelio); Waldschmidt (11, Cosgrove).

HR: Perdomo (8, 3rd inning off Mikolas, 0 on, 2 out); Marte, K (19, 4th inning off Mikolas, 0 on, 0 out).

TB: Carroll 2; Del Castillo; Marte, K 4; Moreno 4; Perdomo 4; Vargas, I; Waldschmidt 3.

RBI: Arenado (49); Locklear (6); Marte, K (61); Moreno 2 (41); Perdomo (37); Waldschmidt (13).

2-out RBI: Perdomo.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Locklear 2; Kepler 2; Marte, K; Tawa.

SF: Locklear; Moreno.

Team RISP: 2-for-12.

Team LOB: 10.

FIELDING

E: Garcia, B (1, throw).

DP: (Perdomo-Marte, K-Locklear).

a-Doubled for Kepler in the 8th.

b-Singled for Del Castillo in the 8th.

1-Ran for Vargas, I in the 9th.

Washington Nationals — Pálkování

Hráč	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
James WoodRF	4	2	2	3	1	1	2	.271	.953
Daylen LileDH	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	.244	.702
Dylan CrewsLF	5	1	3	0	0	0	0	.228	.691
CJ AbramsSS	5	2	3	3	0	1	2	.297	.940
Brady House3B	5	2	2	1	0	1	0	.232	.697
Jacob YoungCF	4	1	2	2	0	0	0	.235	.675
Harry FordC	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	.235	.821
Luis García Jr.1B	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	.278	.854
Nasim Nuñez2B	3	1	0	0	1	0	0	.247	.622
Celkem	38	10	15	9	3	4	4

BATTING

2B: Crews (7, Drake); House 2 (9, Drake, Garcia, B); García Jr., L (17, Thompson, R); Young (13, Garcia, B).

HR: Abrams 2 (27, 3rd inning off Drake, 0 on, 2 out, 5th inning off Loáisiga, 1 on, 1 out); Wood 2 (30, 5th inning off Drake, 1 on, 0 out, 8th inning off Ginkel, 0 on, 0 out).

TB: Abrams 9; Crews 4; García Jr., L 3; House 4; Lile; Wood 8; Young 3.

RBI: Abrams 3 (82); House (26); Wood 3 (72); Young 2 (35).

2-out RBI: Abrams.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Wood 2; Nuñez, N; Abrams; Lile.

GIDP: House.

Team RISP: 3-for-12.

Team LOB: 7.

a-Singled for Chaparro in the 5th.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Nadhazování

Nadhazovač	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Kohl Drake	4.0	5	4	4	2	1	2	64-42	5.00
Jonathan Loáisiga(L, 2-3)	1.0	2	2	2	0	1	1	16-13	2.41
Ryan Thompson	0.2	1	0	0	1	0	0	12-8	3.76
Brandyn Garcia	1.0	4	3	2	0	2	0	25-16	2.28
Kevin Ginkel	1.1	3	1	1	0	0	1	15-10	3.25

Washington Nationals — Nadhazování

Nadhazovač	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Miles Mikolas	4.0	4	3	3	1	1	2	63-39	5.65
Riley Cornelio(W, 2-1)	2.0	1	1	1	2	0	0	42-25	5.89
Max Kranick(H, 1)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	17-11	12.27
Tom Cosgrove	1.0	2	1	1	0	0	0	17-13	1.50
Matt Krook	0.0	0	2	2	3	0	0	14-3	10.80
Clayton Beeter(S, 10)	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	14-8	3.69

Informace o zápase

Rozhodčí: Home Plate: Dan Merzel; First Base: Rob Drake; Second Base: Jordan Baker; Third Base: Stu Scheurwater

Stadion: Nationals Park, Washington

Počasí: 83°F, Cloudy

Vítr: 5 mph, Out To RF

Arizona Diamondbacks — Zpravy

Výhled na Deadline Obchodů: Arizona Diamondbacks

Sezóna 2024 Arizony s 89 výhrami představuje zlepšení o 5 zápasů, ale stále zůstala mimo play-off, což je ponechává v nejasném statusu kandidáta před rozhodnutími o termínu. Jejich zhroucení v červenci loňského roku signalizuje opakující se vzor, který vyžaduje pozornost přesahující běžné změny v sestavě.

Arizona Diamondbacks

D-Backs vítězí ve finále; Phillies prohrávají s důsledky Wild-Card

PHI klesl na 56-46 a je na 2. místě v NL East s procenty vítězství .549, nyní potřebují konzistenci s Nolou (ERA 5.68, 3-7), který dnes čelí LAD, zatímco jejich kotva bullpenu Duran udržuje ERA 1.32 v 36 hrách.

Philadelphia Phillies

D-Backs si znovu vyvolávají Brandona Pfaadta na start proti Giants

Pfaadt má ERA 5.92 a xwOBA 0.352 ve 3 startech v této sezóně, což z toho činí spíše boční přesun z devítičlenné bullpen Arizon než zlepšení. Problémy s rotací SF (Houser ERA 5.53, Mahle ERA 5.49) dávají D-Backs příznivé utkání bez ohledu na kvalitu startéra.

Brandon Pfaadt

San Francisco Giants

Diamondbacks propustili Carlosa Santanu

Santana dosáhl pouze .083 AVG s .187 xwOBA v 8 zápasech poté, co podepsal smlouvu za $2MM, čímž uvolnil minimální hloubku pro soupis Ariztony.

Carlos Santana

D-backs Aktivují Maxe Keplera Po Zákazu Dopingu

Kepler, 33, dokončuje zákaz v 80 zápasech a po rehabilitační době v minor league se připojí k Arizoně. Hráč venkovního pole přidává hloubku lídru divize (47-33), ale představuje nákup v průběhu sezony spíše než základní kámen rotace nebo sestavy.

Max Kepler

Arizona Diamondbacks

Washington Nationals — Zpravy

Red Sox Vyměňují Connelly Brzy s Nationals za Curtise Meada

Boston vzdává prostředního rotačního startéra (ERA 3.59, 88 K v 87.2 IP) za silného pálkaře; Meadův .505 SLG a 17 HR v 86 hrách přidávají sílu do středu pořadí Red Sox, týmu, který přesvědčil soupeře o 47 běhů v této sezoně a přitom si udržel třetí nejlepší rekord AL East na 53-49.

Connelly Early

Curtis Mead

Boston Red Sox

Washington Nationals

Nationals Plánují Nakupovat a Prodávat v Obchodním Termínu

Washington má bilanci 52-52 s rozdílem +25 běhů, ale pouze 20-32 doma, což činí rozhodnutí v termínu složitým. Griffin (2.69 ERA, 11-2) a Cavalli (3.58 ERA, 7-4) představují obchodovatelné aktiva, zatímco Nationals zůstávají na vzdálenosti 3 her od divokého kartu navzdory sérii 6-9.

Washington Nationals

Nationals Vyslali Justina Lawrence'a do Triple-A

Lawrence's 7,34 ERA a 1,95 WHIP v 37 závodech reliéfu jej činily zbytečným navzdory tomu, že prošel nereklamován přes waivers. Bullpen Washingtonu má stále Beetera (3,94 ERA) a Ribaltů (3,81 ERA) jako funkční možnosti pro hloubku.

Justin Lawrence

Washington Nationals

Nationals Posuzují Možnost Obchodu s Fosterem Griffinem

Griffinův ERA 2,69 a WHIP 1,03 během 20 startů (rekord 11-2) jej činí nejobchodovatelným aktivem Washingtonu, ale jeho udržení signalizuje, že 51-51 Nationals se sezóně nevzdávají, přestože jsou na 4. místě v NL East s průměrem ,500 a rozdílem běhů -97 na cestách v letošním roce.

Foster Griffin

Washington Nationals

Nationals Určují Justina Lawrence'a k Přidělení

Lawrence's ERA 7,34 a WHIP 1,95 v 37 zápasech z něj udělaly čistou ztrátu pro bullpen Washingtonu. Yean's povolání z Triple-A nese minimální potenciál s pouhými 2,0 IP zkušeností z Major League.

Justin Lawrence

Washington Nationals