After the most impressive offensive week and month in their history, the Nationals start anew tonight when they host the Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game series. This is a good Arizona club that comes to town with the National League's second-ranked offense and second-ranked pitching staff.
One of those pitchers is Taijuan Walker, who takes the mound tonight. The young right-hander and former top Mariners prospect has opened the season 3-1 with a 3.94 ERA, having struck out 33 batters in 29 2/3 innings, but he has not faced a lineup like the one he'll face tonight.
Tanner Roark
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, XM 188/869, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 73 degrees, wind 17 mph out to right field
NATIONALS (17-8)
SS Trea Turner
LF Jayson Werth
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
2B Daniel Murphy
3B Anthony Rendon
CF Michael A. Taylor
C Jose Lobaton
RHP Tanner Roark
DIAMONDBACKS (16-11)
CF A.J. Pollock
RF Chris Owings
1B Paul Goldschmidt
3B Jake Lamb
LF Yasmany Tomás
2B Brandon Drury
C Chris Herrmann
SS Nick Ahmed
RHP Taijuan Walker