WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:
OPPONENT – TORONTO BLUE JAYS
The Nationals and Blue Jays will play three times in 2023…Dave Martinez spent the 2000 season with Toronto…The Nationals acquired Riley Adams from the Blue Jays at the 2021 Trade Deadline…Lane Thomas was drafted by Toronto in the fifth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft…Henry Blanco opened the 2013 season – his final MLB season – with the Blue Jays before signing with Seattle.
11 DAYS / 10 GAMES / 2 COUNTRIES / 4 CITIES
The Washington Nationals close out this road trip -that began on Sunday, Aug. 20 in Williamsport – on Wednesday afternoon against Toronto…Following this game, the Nationals will travel back to D.C. where they will open a nine-game, 11-day homestand that will include visits from the Marlins (4 G), Mets (2 G) and Dodgers (3 G). The Nationals are 6-3 on this road trip and with a win today, they would clinch their sixth straight series victory…It would be their eighth series victory in their last nine. Washington beat Toronto, 5-4, on Tuesday night…Carter Kieboom (2-run) and Keibert Ruiz (3-run) led the offense, while MacKenzie Gore (5.0 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) earned his seventh win of the season.
WINNING WAYS
The Nationals have won six of their last nine, nine of their last 13, 12 of their last 17 games and are 34-24 (.586) since June 24. Since July 8, Washington is 28-17 (.622), the third-best record in the National League and the fifth-best record in Major League Baseball.
MR. CARTER
Since returning to the Major Leagues for the first time since 2021, Carter Kieboom has hit safely in four of six games, going 6-for-22 (.273) with a double, three homers, five RBI, one hit by pitch and four runs scored. Two of the three home runs were with the score tied at 0-0 and gave the Nationals the lead in games they would go on to win.
START ME UP
Washington’s starting rotation has pitched to a 2.69 ERA (21 ER/70.1 IP) and a .202 opponents average over its last 13 starts, the best ERA and opponents batting average in Major League Baseball since Aug. 16…The Nationals are 9-4 in these 13 starts. In 10 games since Aug. 19 vs. Philadelphia, the rotation has an NL-best 2.33 ERA (14 ER/54.0 IP).
STARTING PITCHER – #46 PATRICK CORBIN
Left-handed pitcher signed a six-year contract with the Nationals on Dec. 7, 2018…Was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series…Is a two-time National League All-Star (2018, 2013)… Has started at least 30 games for five consecutive full seasons (2017-19, 2021-22), joining Gerrit Cole as the only Pitchers since 2017 to accomplish the feat.
LAST START
Worked 6.0 innings, allowed three earned runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out seven batters on August 24 against New York (AL)…He earned the win in the Nationals’ 6-5 victory.
vs. TORONTO
Faces the Blue Jays for the third time in his career…Corbin is 1-1 with an 3.75 ERA (5 ER/ 12.0 IP) in previous two appearances against Toronto.
RECENCY BIAS
Corbin is 5-2 with a 3.92 ERA (26 ER/59.2 IP), 47 strikeouts and 18 walks over his last 10 starts…Over his last four starts, he is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA (7 ER/ 23.1 IP) with 11 walks and 17 strikeouts…He tossed 7.0 shutout innings on June 28 at Seattle (9 SO, 0 BB) and 7.0 innings of one-run ball on July 9 vs. Texas.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays put the game-tying and winning runs on base in the 9th inning last night but were unable to complete the comeback as they fell, 5-4, to the Nationals…Dropped to 21-18 in one-run games for a .538 win% (3rd in the AL)…Lost for the 13th time when outhitting their opponent…Can improve to 12-8-1 in home series with a win today (24-17-2 overall)…Have gone 10-6 in rubber games so far. Toronto has won seven of its last 14 games, 18 of its last 34, and is 27-21 across its last 48…Enters today still 3.5 games back of three AL West teams for the 3rd AL Wild Card spot, as Texas (75-57), Seattle (75-57), and Houston (76-58) are all tied atop their division.
FEELING GEORGE-OUS: George Springer singled and drew a walk as part of a 1-for-4 evening…Over his last 21 games, is batting .325 (26-for-80) with 14 runs scored, six doubles, four homers, and 12 RBI (.941 OPS).
THE CREME DE LA 9TH: Kevin Kiermaier also singled and drew a walk last night as he went 1-for-3…His 68 hits while batting 9th are the most in the AL (2nd: Leody Taveras – 67)…Over his last 33 games, has batted .273 (24-for-88) with three doubles, two home runs, and 13 RBI.
STAYING FLEXIBLE: Cavan Biggio came in as a pinch-hitter last night and ended up with a walk and a single…Took over for Santiago Espinal at 3rd base and then played shortstop for the 1st time in his career as he shifted over in the 9th inning.
DOING YOUR HOMEWORK: The Blue Jays are at the end of a six-day, six-game homestand (2-3 so far)…Have gone 34-30 this season at Rogers Centre…The .531 win% at home ranks 6th in the AL…Will have tomorrow off as they head out for a six-game road trip, playing three games in Colorado (49-83) and three in Oakland (39-94).
Toronto batters rank 5th in the AL in home OBP (.329) 8th in home AVG (.252), 8th in home OPS (.733), and 10th in home SLG (.404)…The pitching staff ranks 3rd among AL teams with 3.51 home ERA while also sitting 3rd with a .227 home opponents’ average and 3rd with a 1.19 home WHIP.
HOUNDING INNINGS: Chris Bassitt gets the ball today, aiming for his 13th win of the season…His 157.1 innings pitched for the year are 7th most among AL pitchers while his 16 quality starts are tied for 5th most. The 34-year old holds an even 4.00 ERA for the year… Is vying for his 6th straight sub-4.00 ERA season, and the 8th in his nine-year career.
PITCHING IN: Toronto pitchers have combined for a 3.72 ERA this season, 2nd best in the Majors (1st: SEA – 3.64)…The 3.72 ERA is currently 5th best in team history and the club’s best since 2008 (3.49)…Are 2nd in MLB with 1,249 strikeouts (1st: MIN – 1,257)…Rank 5th in the AL in opponents’ batting average (.239) and 5th in WHIP (1.23)…The rotation has recorded 58 quality starts, tied for 4th most in the AL (T-7th in MLB).
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 1,177 hits this season, 4th most in the AL (6th in MLB)…Are 4th in the junior circuit in team AVG (.258), 5th in OBP (.328), 7th in OPS (.744), and 9th in SLG (.416).
INTERTAINMENT: Toronto is playing its 15th interleague series of the year…Has gone 27-15 vs. NL clubs so far…The .643 win% in interleague games is the best among MLB teams (2nd: CIN – .629) and 2nd best in team history (14-6, .700 in 2021)…Has set a club record with the 27 wins vs. NL clubs (14 in 2021). The Blue Jays have now hit 684 home runs all-time in Interleague Play, the most among all 30 teams.
VS. THE NATIONALS: All-Time: 42-35
2023: 1-1 Home: 26-16
Home: 1-1 Rogers Centre: 25-15
The Blue Jays last met the Nationals in 2021… Dropped both games in Washington while splitting the two contests played at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, FL…Last played the Nats here at Rogers Centre in 2018, sweeping the three-game series.
Daulton Varsho went 6-for-23 (.261) with three home runs and six RBI in seven games vs. Washington last season…Is hitting .235 (8-for-34) with seven runs, three homers, and seven RBI across 11 career meetings (.808 OPS).
Brandon Belt leads all current Blue Jays with 44 career games played against the Nationals…Has gone 43-for-156 (.276) with 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs, and 21 RBI along the way (.851 OPS).
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. set career highs with three home runs and seven RBI in his game on April 27, 2021 vs. WAS at TD Ballpark.
STARTING PITCHER – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 28th start of the season and his 14th at Rogers Centre…Gave up 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks over 5.2 innings with 5 strikeouts his last time out, on 8/25 vs. CLE. Has held opponents to a .191 AVG at Rogers Centre, the lowest home mark in a player’s first season with the Blue Jays (2nd: Marco Estrada – .195 in 2015). Has 7 starts of at least 6.0 scoreless innings this year, the most in MLB and tied for 3rd most in team history (Rogers Clemens – 9 in 1997; Dave Stieb – 8 in 1990).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Picked up his 12th win of the year on 8/19 at CIN, giving up 3R/2ER over 6.0 innings with 3 hits, a walk, and 6 strikeouts. Earned his 11th win of the year on 8/6 at BOS, tossing 7.0 frames of one-run ball (7H, 3BB, 6K)…Was his 15th quality start of the year. Improved to 10-5 on 7/20 vs. SD, throwing 6.0 shutout innings with 4 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts…Marked his 14th quality start of the year. Won his 8th game of the year on 6/29 vs. SF, tossing 6.0 shutout innings with 3 hits, 3 walks, and a career-high 12 strikeouts…Tied a franchise record with 9 strikeouts through the first 4.0 innings. Picked up the win on 6/7 vs. HOU, tossing 8.0 frames of 2-run ball with 4 hits, no walks, and 5 strikeouts on just 81 pitches (58 strikes)…Marked his 10th quality start of the year.
Earned his 6th win of the year on 6/2 at NYM, throwing 7.2 frames of shutout ball with 3 hits, no walks, and 8 strikeouts…Returned home immediately after his start for the birth of his son, Colson, and was placed on the Paternity List from 6/3-6/5. Allowed 6 runs (2 earned) across 6.1 frames of work on 5/22 at TB…Had his career-best scoreless innings streak ended at 28.0…Marked the 2ndlongest single-season streak in franchise history (Roger Clemens: 33.0 IP from 8/15-9/5/98), and the 3rd-longest overall (Dave Stieb: 34.0 IP from 9/13/88-4/5/89). Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 5/17 vs. NYY, giving up 3 hits, a walk, and a hit batter with 7 strikeouts…Became just the 4th non-opener in Blue Jays history to throw 3 consecutive scoreless starts in a single season, joining Roger Clemens (1998), Al Leiter (1995), and Dave Stieb (1988). Threw a complete game shutout on 5/12 vs. ATL, the 2nd CG SO of his career (also: 5/27/21 vs. LAA), and the 1st nine-inning complete game shutout by a Blue Jay since Mark Buehrle on 6/3/15 at WAS…Scattered 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 hit batters while striking out a season-high 8 on 103 pitches (70 strikes).
VS. THE NATIONALS:
Facing the Nationals for the 3rd time in his career…Both previous meetings came last season as a member of the Mets, tossing 13.0 combined shutout innings with 9 hits, 2 walks, and 12 strikeouts…Has made 2 starts vs. NL East opponents this year, throwing 16.2 scoreless frames with 16 strikeouts against his former division rivals (vs. ATL, at NYM).
