ES 
NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Prediction 
Odds 
Last Recap 
Game Picks 
Top Handicapper 
MacKenzie Gore Out to Lead Nats to Series Win Over D-backs
Washington left-hander MacKenzie Gore aims to maintain his impressive performance as the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the Washington Nationals for the rubber match of their series on Thursday. Washington, who has emerged victorious in nine out of their last 11 matches, tied the series with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday.
Elevate Your Betting Strategy! Join SportsHub for premium sports insights and expert analysis that can transform your betting success.
Gore’s Consistent Performance
Gore (6-5, 3.24 ERA) has given up three earned runs or fewer in 13 of his 14 starts and two earned runs or fewer 11 times. He has allowed just one earned run in each of his past two starts, including last Friday when he gave up one run on five hits over seven innings in a win over the Miami Marlins. Gore walked one and struck out 10. Despite a brief altercation with third baseman Nick Senzel after a late throw, Gore emphasized that the incident is behind them. “We’ve handled it in here,” Gore said. “The biggest thing is that that was something that I can’t do, but I’m going to leave it at that.”
Matchup Against Diamondbacks
Gore is 0-0 with a 5.86 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Diamondbacks. He will be opposed by right-hander Ryne Nelson (4-5, 5.49 ERA). Nelson, 26, has had an up-and-down campaign. In mid-May, he sported a 7.06 ERA. Last Friday, he gave up one run on six hits over six innings in a win against the Chicago White Sox. Nelson struck out a career-high eight and walked one. “The cutter/slider was real good today,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “There was a lot of swing and miss, but I just thought he was pitching and sequencing and that created an uneasy approach and kept those guys off balance.”
Nationals’ Recent Form
On Wednesday, the Nationals got a solid start from the struggling Patrick Corbin that kept them close until Jesse Winker’s two-run, sixth-inning homer put them ahead to stay. Washington was held to six hits. “I talk about it all the time — hitting is hard,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “And you’re going to go through those lapses where it’s like that, where you score two or three runs but you’ve got a chance to win. That’s what I love about this team — they don’t give up.”
Winker’s Hot Streak
Hitting has not been hard lately for Winker, who has reached safely in 13 of his past 14 games, hitting .452 (19-for-42) with eight RBIs and eight runs. Arizona, which had won four of its past six, managed only four hits. Three of the Diamondbacks’ hits and their run came against Corbin, who began the day with a 5.84 ERA. Arizona fared no better against Washington’s bullpen, which tossed four scoreless innings. “This one has me shaking my head a little bit,” Lovullo said. “I’m here talking with my coaches, thinking what happened? How did we not win this game?”
Turn Your Bets into Big Wins! View our expert MLB Sharp Picks and learn strategies that can lead to higher winnings.
Diamondbacks’ Key Players
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had two hits and Corbin Carroll doubled to extend his career-high on-base streak to 19 games. He is batting .311 (23-for-74) with six doubles, two triples, six RBIs, 12 walks, and 20 runs scored during the streak.
Conclusion
As the Nationals and Diamondbacks get ready for their last game in the series, they each have important aspects to concentrate on. MacKenzie Gore looks to maintain his strong performance as a pitcher, while Ryne Nelson strives for steadiness in Arizona. The Nationals’ current increase in performance and Winker’s impressive run give them momentum, but the Diamondbacks’ strong showings from players such as Carroll and Gurriel may shift the scales. With both teams determined to secure the series victory, the game is expected to be a fierce and thrilling competition.
