Chicago @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 9, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 7, Washington 8
It only took one night for the slugging Washington Nationals to lay to waste the Chicago White Sox's league-best ERA, and the host Nationals will try to keep swinging when the series continues Wednesday. The bats trumped the arms in the series opener, as the teams combined for six home runs in Washington's 8-7 win Tuesday night. Adam LaRoche blasted two home runs, great news for Washington after the first baseman started the season 0-for-15.
The Nationals are 4-0 at home, having swept a three-game series from Miami to open the season, and they have raked eight home runs in their four games at Nationals Park. The White Sox haven't had any trouble hitting bombs, but they've had a hard time manufacturing runs - 20 of Chicago's 27 runs have come on homers.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), MASN2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Gavin Floyd (0-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (1-0, 1.50)
Floyd retired 13 of the first 14 batters in his season debut, allowing two earned runs over six innings, but he didn't get much support in a 3-1 loss to Kansas City. In five games (three starts) against the Nationals, Floyd is 1-1 with a 3.67 ERA. He hasn't beaten them since 2004 - when they were still in Montreal - but threw eight innings of one-run ball in his last outing against them in 2010.
Zimmermann was solid in his season debut against the Marlins, allowing just one run - on Justin Ruggiano's home run - over six innings. He wasn't overpowering with only one strikeout but effectively worked around eight hits. Zimmermann has made one start against the White Sox, in 2011, and threw seven scoreless innings in a no-decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham left Tuesday's game with a sore left wrist. X-rays were negative, but he is expected to miss the final two games of the series.
2. Nationals OF Denard Span gave Floyd fits during his time in the American League Central. Span is 17-for-35 with four doubles against the right-hander.
3. LaRoche has 20 career multi-homer games and is the third Nationals player with a two-homer game this season, joining Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos.
PREDICTION: Nationals 5, White Sox 3