Lane Thomas giving Nationals lift going into Diamondbacks series

The streaking Washington Nationals host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday night.

The Nationals have won three straight games and eight of nine to move with one game of .500 and into the thick of the National League wild-card chase.

Washington’s run has been propelled by solid starting pitching — Nationals starters are 6-0 with a 1.41 ERA over their past 10 games — and aided by the return of outfielder Lane Thomas.

After missing a month with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee, Thomas provided an immediate boost and has been especially strong of late. Thomas homered in his third straight game on Sunday and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. During that stretch he is hitting .351 (13-for-37) with a double, a triple, four homers, eight RBIs and 10 runs scored.

“Right now, he’s just seeing the ball really well,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s getting back on time and really trying to stay in the middle of the field and drive the ball. … He’s really staying behind the baseball well. And when he does that, we’ve seen what he can do.”

The Nationals completed a three-game sweep of the Marlins with a 3-1 win on Sunday and outscored Miami 15-2 in the series.

“This weekend was an all-around good weekend,” Martinez said. “Pitching was good. We scored runs when we needed to. Defense played well. We’ve got to clean up some things, but I’m very proud of the way the guys played.”

Washington right-hander Jake Irvin (5-5, 3.00 ERA) opens the series against right-hander Slade Cecconi (1-5, 6.70).

Irvin has been on a roll, going 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA over his past five starts. Last time out, he allowed one run over six innings in a win against Detroit. He is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two starts versus the Diamondbacks.

Cecconi has struggled this season, losing his last five decisions and posting a 8.25 ERA in three June starts. On June 12, he allowed seven runs on 10 hits over three innings in an 8-3 loss to the visiting Angels.

“Starting pitching for us — I felt like could have been better,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after the game. “Slade needs to be on the attack, work his fastball on the edges and complement that with some secondary stuff. It’s a grind. I’m not gonna lie to you.”

Cecconi has never faced the Nationals.

Arizona has won three of its last four games and sits right behind Washington in the wild-card race. The Diamondbacks took two of three from the Chicago White Sox over the weekend, including a 12-5 win on Sunday.

First baseman Christian Walker homered, doubled and drove in three runs for Arizona, but the news was not all good. Center fielder Corbin Carroll, the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year, left in the seventh inning after making a throw. He was scheduled for an MRI on his left side on Monday.

“Just kind of a weird position, kind of got my left leg out in front of me when I went to throw and (felt) just a general kind of, I guess, like a pull feeling,” Carroll said. “Not super painful. I’m feeling pretty good right now and, you know, I hope to be out there for the Washington series.”