Colorado @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2016 ) Washington 10, Colorado 12
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez will take a third crack at his 100th career victory when the Washington Nationals host the Colorado Rockies in the first of a three-game series Friday. Gonzalez looks to follow up a brilliant performance by teammate Max Scherzer, who helped the Nationals snap a four-game skid with a 4-0 win over Baltimore on Thursday.
Washington remains in command in the National League East, holding an eight-game cushion over second-place Miami. The Rockies have a winning record since the All-Star break, but they’re 7 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot and were swept in three games at Milwaukee this week. Colorado had a day off Thursday, while the Nationals are in the midst of a 20-game stretch without a break. Rockies rookie right-hander Jeff Hoffman gets another tough draw in his second big-league start after giving up seven runs over four-plus innings in his major-league debut against the Chicago Cubs.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), MASN2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jeff Hoffman (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (8-9, 4.30)
Hoffman rose quickly through the minors after Toronto picked him ninth in the 2014 draft. The 23-year-old was just 6-9 with a 4.02 ERA in 22 starts at Triple-A this season, but he racked up 124 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings. Left-handed batters went 5-for-10 against Hoffman in his debut.
Gonzalez’s first shot at win No. 100 came at Colorado, but a rain delay ended his night early after allowing two runs in three innings. The 30-year-old received another no-decision Sunday at Atlanta, giving up four runs (three earned) in 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts. Gonzalez is 2-0 with a 4.20 ERA in three starts against the Rockies.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado starting pitchers have recorded double-digit strikeouts in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.
2. Washington utilityman Trea Turner is 10-for-13 over the past three games, raising his average from .302 to .340.
3. The Nationals bolstered their bullpen Thursday by acquiring LHP Marc Rzepczynski from Oakland for minor-league INF Max Schrock.
PREDICTION: Nationals 6, Rockies 4