Washington Nationals vs San Diego Padres Picks and Predictions July 23rd 2024

Nationals, Padres Hope to Continue Fast Starts to Second Half

The Washington Nationals hold back nothing sequential win as they start off a three-game series against the meeting San Diego Padres on Tuesday. The two groups, battling before the All-Star break, have shown promising starts in the last part of the season.

Teams’ Performance Leading to the Series

Nationals’ Recent Performance

The Nationals, who had lost six of eight games before the break, have bolted out strong, demonstrating improved performance and strategy.

Padres’ Recent Performance

Similarly, the Padres dropped six of seven games before the break but have won two of three over the weekend. Their recent victories highlight the potential for a strong second-half run.

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Pitching Matchup

Randy Vasquez for the Padres

Right-hander Randy Vasquez (2-5, 4.57 ERA) will start for San Diego. Vasquez has been consistent, allowing two earned runs or fewer in each of his past four starts. In his last outing, he gave up two runs on four hits in five innings against the Braves.

Vasquez, acquired from the Yankees in December as part of the Juan Soto trade, faces a Nationals lineup that includes CJ Abrams and James Wood, who were traded from San Diego to Washington for Soto in 2022.

Nationals’ Rotation Strategy

Washington had initially planned to use a four-man rotation post-break but has reverted to a five-man unit to provide pitchers, including rookie Mitchell Parker, with extra rest. Manager Dave Martinez emphasized the importance of rest for pitchers who are expected to play more than they have in the past.

“We want to try to give these guys as much rest as we possibly can,” Martinez said. “Some of these guys are going to pitch a lot more than they have in the past, so we’re trying to just stretch this out a little bit.”

Possible Starter: DJ Herz

One option for Tuesday’s game is rookie left-hander DJ Herz, who would need to be called up from Triple-A Rochester. Herz has shown potential in his previous starts with Washington, striking out 10 or more batters in two games.

Key Players and Recent Highlights

James Wood’s Impact

James Wood’s late three-run homer off reliever Justin Wilson helped the Nationals secure a 5-2 victory over the Reds on Sunday, completing the sweep.

“I just felt comfortable going up there,” Wood said. “I’d seen the guy (Saturday), so it was still pretty fresh in my head. I just felt like I had a good plan and was able to get a good pitch to hit.”

Wood, 21, has been impressive since his call-up from Rochester, with two homers and 12 RBIs in 17 games.

Michael King’s Strong Outing

Michael Lord’s presentation was crucial as he allowed just a single run north of seven innings, assisting the Padres with dominating the elastic match against the Gatekeepers, 2-1. The Padres’ starting pitchers allowed only two runs in the series.

“Our starting pitching was huge,” Padres director Mike Shildt said. “Our pitching the entire series was really, great.”

Manny Machado’s Viewpoint

Manny Machado focused on the significance of keeping up with their flow structure to accomplish their season objectives.

“We must play like this the remainder of the way, to achieve what we need to achieve,” Machado said.

Groups’ Standings and Season finisher Suggestions

San Diego is among the groups fluctuating around the last NL wild-card spot, while the Nationals, however farther back, stay in conflict as the exchange cutoff time draws near. The two groups are hoping to cement their positions and gather speed as the last part of the season advances.

The series opener between the Nationals and the Padres is ready to be an intriguing matchup, with the two groups anxious to proceed with their quick starts and work on their standings. With key exhibitions from players like James Wood and Randy Vasquez, fans can anticipate a cutthroat and exciting game.