Giants, Nationals Look to Break Tie in Series Finale

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Two teams with identical records will send struggling starting pitchers to the mound Sunday evening when the San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals conclude a three-game series at Nationals Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. EDT under cloudy skies with a game-time temperature of 82 degrees.

Both clubs sit at 9-12. The Giants have taken the first two games of the series, including a 7-6, 12-inning victory Saturday.

San Francisco will turn to right-hander Miles Mikolas (0-3, 6.23 ERA). The veteran has yet to record a win this season and will be tasked with slowing a Washington lineup that includes James Wood, who homered Saturday.

The Nationals will counter with left-hander Robbie Ray (2-2, 4.15 ERA). Ray, a former Cy Young Award winner, has been inconsistent but provides a formidable challenge for a Giants offense that has scored 17 runs in the series’ first two games.

A key figure in that offensive surge has been San Francisco’s Heliot Ramos. The outfielder is 4 for 9 with two home runs and six RBIs in the series, including a 3-for-5 performance with a homer and two RBIs in Saturday’s extra-inning win.

For Washington, reliever Richard Lovelady has been a bright spot in the bullpen. Despite the team’s losses, he tossed two scoreless innings with two strikeouts Saturday after allowing one run in an inning Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-4 Nationals victory. The Giants are installed as a -1.5 run favorite, with an over/under of 8.5 runs.

Following the game, the Nationals begin a four-game series at home against the Atlanta Braves on Monday. The Giants travel to San Francisco to open a three-game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.