Padres at Nationals 5/22/18 - MLB Picks & Predictions

Nationals Park will play host to a Tuesday night MLB matchup between the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals. In the series opener, SP Robbie Erlin was tagged for six runs in just four innings during a 10-2 loss. Franmil Reyes provided the only offense for the Padres with a two-run blast in the fourth inning.

Rookie left-hander Eric Lauer (1-2 8.14 ERA) will make his sixth career major league start for the Padres. Through 21 innings of work, Lauer has given up five home runs and owns an alarming 2.10 WHIP. The Washington Nationals have gotten off to a slow start this season and snapped a three-game losing streak with their victory last night. Matt Reynolds went deep twice, while Bryce Harper and Juan Soto each hit home runs for the Nationals. SP Gio Gonzalez (5-2) struck out five batters over seven frames to earn the win for Washington, who is three games out of first place.

The Nationals will counter with thirty-one year old righty Jeremy Hellickson (1-0 2.20 ERA) on Monday. Washington has won each of Hellickson’s last three starts and he has given up just one run over his last 17 plus frames.