The Arizona Diamondbacks (41-36) will try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Washington Nationals (39-38), while the Nats attempt to start fulfilling the promise predicted for them in the preseason. The game can be live streamed here. Diamondbacks fans can hear the game on AZ Sports 620, while Nationals fans can do the same on 106.7 The Fan.
The Nationals will have Stephen Strasburg (4-6, 2.40 ERA) on the mound, trying to claw his way to a .500 record despite pitching lights out for most of the season. Strasburgh has posted a sparkling 1.034 WHIP, is setting a batter an inning down on strikes, and giving up a hit per game less than he did last season.
Speaking on is inability to notch wins, Strasburg seemed unconcerned with his low win total. "As a competitor, you want to go out there and win every time. Sometimes, it's not going to work out that way, but the big thing is that you have to go out there with the same mentality every time out, regardless of what's happened in the past."
Opposing Strasburg will be undefeated Patrick Corbin (9-0, 2.19 ERA), who has been brilliant this year but has gotten four consecutive no-decisions. Corbin, like Strasburg, said he doesn't pay too much attention to personal wins.
"Honestly I don't really look at it too much. Everybody keeps saying, 'Get the 10th win,' but I'm trying to get every win, no matter what win it is."
While a pitchers duel is to be expected, the Nats are without their premier slugger Bryce Harper. Arizona, on the other hand will need both of their two boppers, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and outfielder Justin Upton to get to the hard-throwing Strasburg.
After a torrid start to the season, Upton has been brutal for two straight months. He's hitting .210 in June with one home run and just seven RBI. In the last two months, Upton's hit three home runs, after clocking 12 of them in April.
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