Article Author:
Reuters
A week ago, Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was listening to the various offers of Juan Soto and Josh Bell and sorting out the ones he thought would be acceptable.
Ultimately, Soto and Bell were traded to San Diego, and while the Nationals won their first game after the trade, Washington continues to struggle.
On Monday, Washington will visit the Chicago Cubs in his 3-game opener of his series to try to end a five-game losing streak.
Washington officially made a deal with Soto just hours before Tuesday's deadline, New York, where he scored his 5-1 victory over the Mets. Since Tuesday, the Nationals have won 45-17 during his five-game skid, at least five games he's lost in a row.
After he lost two close games to start the final skid, the Nationals were blown away in his final three games in Philadelphia.
On Friday, the Nationals saw him fail to get a runner to seventh base in a 7-2 loss, and on Saturday he faced a nine-run deficit in the second inning, 11-to-1. Suffered 5 losses. On Sunday, starter Cory Abbott allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings, while Washington allowed a pair of five runs in his innings.
"We have to pitch up. We need better starters," said Washington manager Dave Martinez. “We are always behind. increase. Sanchez has allowed at least four runs in three of his four games this season, and Wednesday against the Mets he allowed 4 and 1/3 innings where he allowed 5 runs (4 earned) and 5 hits. I forgave.
Sanchez is 5-2 with an ERA of 2.94 and has played in his nine games in the regular season against the Cubs. The last time he faced the Cubs was in Chicago on August 23, 2019, when he allowed 2 runs (1 earned) and he allowed 1 hit in 8 1/3 innings to earn the win. .
Keegan Thompson (8-5, 3.48) has had mixed results lately, but he's going to the Cubs. Thompson allowed two earned runs in seven innings against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on July 26, followed by a five-run tag and a season-high 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Lost 6-0 to St. Louis.
Thompson earned a relief victory in his only appearance against Washington on May 18, 2021.
The Cubs have one of the worst National records in his league, but are 5-1. In the past 6 home games, 8 wins and 7 losses after the All-Star break.
Chicago played his three low-scoring games against the visiting Miami Marlins. The offense was held to two hits in a 3–0 loss on Sunday after Wilson Contreras hit a two-run homer and an RBI single in Chicago's first two wins. With Nick Madrigal hitting, the Cubs had four runners on Sunday. Chicago also played without rookie Christopher Morrell, who has daily right hamstring strains.
Morrell has been in a skid one of his 26 batting averages, with his batting average plummeting to .259 and a .216 batting average since his All-Star break. "We were able to take two of his three points, but we didn't capitalize on too many runs (Sunday)," said Chicago manager David Ross. rice field.
– Field Level Media
