Detroit Tigers vs Washington Nationals Picks and Predictions June 12th 2024

Nationals Aim for Season-Best Win Streak Against Tigers

The Washington Nationals are on a roll, matching their longest winning streak of the season with four consecutive victories. They are set to aim for a fifth straight win in the second game of their three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.

Nationals Riding High

The Nationals secured a thrilling 5-4 victory in 10 innings against the Tigers on Tuesday. Lane Thomas delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly, continuing the momentum from their strong performance against the Atlanta Braves over the weekend. The Nationals’ current four-game streak matches their best run from late April, achieved on the road in Miami.

Detroit’s Pitching Woes

Detroit’s right-hander Reese Olson (1-7, 3.43 ERA) will start, looking to rebound from a tough outing where he allowed eight runs and 12 hits over four innings against Milwaukee. Despite his challenging record, Olson has shown promise, maintaining a 1.92 ERA before June.

Reflecting on his last performance, Olson said, “I think I made some good pitches that were able to find holes. As a whole, I’m not really happy with my performance. Combined maybe a little bit of bad luck with some poorly executed pitches, all in one inning. It kind of unraveled on me. I’ve been pretty good up until this point. I’ll look back at maybe what I can improve on, but for the most part, flush this one and move on.”

Nationals’ Strong Arm

Jake Irvin (4-5, 3.12 ERA) will take the mound for Washington, having delivered four consecutive quality starts with a 1.48 ERA over 24 1/3 innings. His latest performance saw him shut out the Braves for six innings, demonstrating his ability to excel under pressure.

“For me, it’s all about competing, just making really good pitches and keeping a high level of pitches throughout all those innings,” Irvin commented. He credited his success to effective pitch variation and strategic planning with catcher Drew Millas.

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Defensive Struggles for Tigers

The Tigers’ defensive issues were evident on Tuesday, committing two critical errors, including one by shortstop Ryan Kreidler, recently promoted from Triple-A Toledo. Kreidler’s promotion followed Javier Baez’s placement on the 10-day injured list due to lumbar spine inflammation.

“Javy has had bouts with the back dating back awhile,” manager A.J. Hinch explained. “He’s managed it. But I had a meeting with him over the weekend and he let me know it was harder and harder for him to feel like he could get through the game.”

Conclusion

The Washington Nationals are well-positioned to achieve their season-best winning streak as they continue their series against the Detroit Tigers. With solid performances from their pitchers and a resilient lineup, the Nationals are looking strong and ready for more victories.