San Diego Padres vs Washington Nationals Picks and Predictions June 25th 2024

Despite Bad News, Padres Forge Ahead vs. Nationals

The San Diego Padres face the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night, anxious to get a series win in spite of a line of lamentable turns of events. The Padres won 7-6 on Monday after overcoming a three-run deficit in the bottom of the 10th inning with four runs. This success expanded their lead for the Public Association’s third trump card spot to 1.5 games over the Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Mets.

Dominate Your Bets with Expert MLB Insights! Check out the top Expert Baseball Picks.

Challenges Without Tatis Jr.

San Diego’s triumph came at a cost. Right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. hit the injured list on Monday due to a stress reaction in his right leg, compounded by an elbow contusion. Tatis had been playing through the pain since Friday night, but the decision to rest him was made with the team’s upcoming schedule in mind.

“He could still play — because he’s been playing with it, but it’s something that’s not going to get better unless we rest it.”

Mike Shildt

With four off-days between Thursday and the All-Star break, plus four more surrounding the game, the Padres hope Tatis will recover while missing the fewest number of games possible.

Pitching Woes: Darvish Setback

Adding to the Padres’ woes, Tuesday night’s scheduled starter, Yu Darvish, experienced a setback after his rehab start last Wednesday at High-A Fort Wayne. Initially sidelined with a left groin strain, Darvish now faces elbow inflammation, further delaying his return.

To fill the void, the Padres recalled right- hander Adam Mazur from Triple- A El Paso. Mazur( 0- 2,7.27 ERA) pitched in Thursday night’s 7- 6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, lasting42/3 innings and allowing three runs off five hits and three walks with three strikeouts. This will be his first start against the Nationals.

Nationals Counter with Gore

The Nationals will send former Padre MacKenzie Gore( 6- 6,3.49 ERA) to the mound. Gore, who was part of the trade that transferred Juan Soto to San Diego, took a 5- 2 loss against Arizona last Thursday, giving up 10 hits and four runs in five innings while walking two and striking out seven. Gore has a 1- 0 record with a3.72 ERA in two career starts against San Diego.

Gore has been a bright spot for Washington, striking out 98 batters in 80 innings this season. However, he has plodded with balls put in play, allowing a.377 average.

Unexpected Contention for Nationals

Despite the bitter outcome on Monday, the Nationals remain competitive near the halfway point of the season, a surprising feat given preseason expectations. Gore and infielder CJ Abrams, both acquired from the Padres, attribute the team’s chemistry to their success.

” We’ve a really good group of guys and we want to win for each other, it’s still early. We’ve a lot of games left but it’s been fun being part of this group and watching these guys get better.”

MacKenzie Gore

” This is our team now,” Abrams added.” We are doing our thing.”

Join the Elite and Start Winning More! Sign Up for unparalleled sports analysis, exclusive tips, and insider knowledge.

Abrams has been particularly emotional in June. He went 3- for- 5 on Monday, raising his average to.275 and stealing two bases to bring his season total to 13. He leads the team in home runs( 12), runs( 47), slugging percentage(.502), and on- base plus slugging(.827).

Moving Forward

Despite the injuries and setbacks, the Padres are determined to press on. As Yogi Berra once said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” This mindset is crucial as they navigate their challenging schedule and aim to maintain their wild-card lead. With the right mix of resilience and team effort, San Diego hopes to overcome their current obstacles and continue their push towards the postseason.