The last time Max Scherzer faced the Pirates he threw a no-hitter and was within one strike of a perfect game.
The Washington Nationals send their ace to the hill in the second of a four-game set at Pittsburgh.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Nationals haven’t been the dominant team many expected them to be at the beginning of the season. A wild assortment of injuries to key players has taken care of that. But the Nats have proven to be a resilient group and extended their lead in the NL East by taking two of three from their closest pursuers the Mets, scoring three times in the eighth to take the series with a 4-3 win on Wednesday. Washington is just 1-3 in Scherzer’s last four starts, but they cashed the under each time and the under is 7-1 in his last eight outings.
After finishing the first half with three straight wins over the Cardinals to pull within 2.5 games of first place in the NL Central, the Bucs lost for the fifth time in six games after the break falling 5-1 at Kansas City on Wednesday, ending their six-game road trip in the red 4.17 units. A return to PNC Park, where the Pirates are 32-16, could help get them back on track. The Pirates will seek payback after getting swept in a three-game set at Washington last month, scoring just three runs and getting no-hit by Scherzer.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Max Scherzer (10-8, 2.09 ERA) pitched well enough to win in his last outing but was overshadowed by LA’s Zack Greinke. Scherzer allowed just one run on seven hits with eight strikeouts but the Nats couldn’t dent LA’s ace in a 5-0 loss. Scherzer issued a free pass to the Dodgers, his first – and only – in six starts and has been deadly accurate walking just 15 batters across 138 innings.
Scherzer tossed his first no-hitter striking out 10 and lost a perfect game when he hit Jose Tabata in the elbow with two out in the ninth inning when he faced the Bucs on June 20. He’s had little success at PNC Park, going 0-2 with a 5.59 ERA in three starts over four appearances there.
Jeff Locke (5-6, 4.01 ERA) is in his best extended stretch since his All-Star first half of the 2013 season, carrying an era of 1.96 over his last seven starts. He allowed three runs and eight hits over 7.1 innings in a loss at Milwaukee on Sunday, pitching into the eighth for the second time over those seven games. He boasts a 2.58 ERA in 11 home starts this season.
Locke threw 5.2 innings of shutout ball with six strikeouts when he last faced the Nationals on Aug. 16, 2014 and looks for his first decision in his third career start against them.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“He’s just an unbelievable pitcher, unbelievable clubhouse guy and he’s worth every penny he gets.” – Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper on teammate pitcher Max Scherzer.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Manager Matt Williams described the Nationals as a team that never gives up. They proved it with Wednesday’s 4-3 comeback win over the Mets to widen their lead in the NL East. The win was costly, however, as third baseman Yunel Escobar left the game early with an apparent wrist injury. An X-ray was taken afterwards that revealed no bone fractures, but judging by the pain he was in, it’s likely Escobar will miss some time. Escobar has had a stellar first season with the Nats. He hit leadoff much of the year but also batted cleanup to try and give Bryce Harper some protection in the lineup. The Nats already have four regulars on the disabled list: Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon, Denard Span and Ryan Zimmerman. Escobar was hitting .322 with five homers and 30 RBIs entering the game. Dan Uggla replaced Escobar in the lineup.
PROP TALK
With third baseman Yunel Escobar injuring his wrist Wednesday and infielders Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman already on the DL, it’s time for Ian Desmond to pick up the slack. Mired in a season-long slump, Desmond showed signs of breaking out against the Mets, going 5 for 9 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored as the Nats won two of three. Desmond is a proven hitter – he entered the season with a .270 career average – and will be needed to keep the offense moving until some of the regulars return.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Pirates were riding high into the All-Star break then hit an enormous pothole on the road to first place in the NL Central. They were blindsided in a sweep by the Brewers, lost shortstop Jordy Mercer with a knee injury and catcher Francisco Cervelli with a wrist problem. The Bucs won’t get any sympathy cards from the Nats, instead they get the best pitcher not named Zack Greinke. Max Scherzer was brilliant tossing a no-hitter against the Bucs a month ago and will silence Pittsburgh’s bats, which have taken a hiatus since the second half started.
Washington 4, Pittsburgh 2
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