MLB Game Preview - Washington at Arizona
Sun Aug 4, 2019 4:10 PM EDT

CHW
10
PHI
5
F
TOR
5
BAL
6
F
MIA
2
TB
7
F
LAA
2
CLE
6
F
CIN
6
ATL
4
F(10)
NYM
13
PIT
2
F
KC
0
MIN
3
F
SEA
1
HOU
3
F
MIL
2
CHC
7
F
DET
4
TEX
9
F
SF
2
COL
6
F
STL
2
OAK
4
F
WSH
5
ARI
7
F
SD
10
LAD
11
F
BOS
4
NYY
7
F
Nats' Corbin returns to Arizona to face D-backs
Sun Aug 4, 2019 3:57 AM

The Washington Nationals' Patrick Corbin, who spent the first six seasons of his major league career with Arizona, will pitch against the Diamondbacks for the first time Sunday.

He will be opposed by rookie Taylor Clarke (4-3, 5.53 ERA) in the finale of the three-game series in Phoenix.

Corbin was a stalwart in the D-backs' rotation, going 56-54 with a 3.91 ERA in 172 appearances (154 starts) from 2012-18. The 30-year-old left-hander cashed in as a free agent, signing a six-year, $140 million deal with the Nationals -- and he has been living up to that contract.

Corbin is 9-5 with a 3.23 ERA in 22 starts with Washington. He didn't pitch when the Nationals hosted the Diamondbacks for a four-game set in June.

"You're hoping it helps," Corbin said, per MLB.com, of his familiarity with many of the Arizona batters. "They know me pretty well, too. They've seen me my whole career that I've been here. You know their hitters, and you just try to go out there and execute pitches, really.

"Once you're between the lines, you just want to compete. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to face them."

Clarke, a 26-year-old right-hander, recently went through a stretch in which he failed to complete five innings in five of six starts. But he's been good in his past two outings -- giving up two runs in six innings in a win over Baltimore and allowing one unearned run in a victory at the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

This will be his second start against Washington. He had a 6-3 lead on June 15 but couldn't make it through five innings for the victory, allowing three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Arizona went on to win 10-3.

Arizona picked up two starters at the trade deadline -- Mike Leake from the Seattle Mariners and Zac Gallen from the Miami Marlins -- while sending ace Zack Greinke to the Houston Astros. The D-backs will go with a six-man rotation through Wednesday, but Clarke could be auditioning Sunday for a role after that.

"We're putting this together as we go now," general manager Mike Hazen said, per MLB.com. "We're trying to see how the new starters fit in, where they're going to match up and fit in for us, and once they get established and everyone else gets established I'm sure that we'll start to take a harder look at what it's going to mean the next time through."

The teams split the first two games in what has been a bizarre series. Washington allowed only one hit -- an infield single to pitcher Alex Young -- in a 3-0 win Friday night. But those slumbering Arizona bats pounded Stephen Strasburg for a season-high nine runs Saturday, ending his seven-start winning streak with an 18-7 victory.

"Sometimes, things line up well," said Arizona manager Torey Lovullo. "Sometimes things work in this game in a very mysterious way."

Washington infielder Howie Kendrick was a late scratch Friday and has not played in the past two games due to leg cramps. His availability for Sunday was uncertain, as was the case for reliever Roenis Elias, who left Friday's game because of a "tweaked" right hamstring, suffered while trying to beat out an infield bouncer.

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Washington            
Arizona            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Patrick Corbin - WSH
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Arizona
Taylor Clarke - MIL
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Washington

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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