Game Notes: Washington Nationals (3–4) at Pittsburgh Pirates (2

Game Information

Washington Nationals Story Line: After series win against the Atlanta Braves the Nationals head to Pittsburgh for a weekend series

After getting their first series win of 2022 against the 2021 World Series Champions the Atlanta Braves, the Washington Nationals are heading to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates for a four-game series starting tonight.

Today’s GameNotes: What you Need To Know

Ring the Bell: Washington Nationals’ first baseman Josh Bell’s nine hits so far this season are tied for the most in the National League entering play on Thursday and Bell also ranks among National League hitters in home runs (T3rd, 2) and RBI (T6th, 6). Josh Bell has also hit safely in all seven games this season…He is 9-for-26 (.346) with a double, two homers, six RBI, three walks, seven runs scored and one hit by a pitch so far this season. From the end of 2021, Bell’s 11-game streak began when he hit safely in the final four games, going 7-for-14 (.500) with a double, four walks, and three runs scored.

Paging 100: Juan Soto hit his 100th career home run on Tuesday night and it was a solo shot off the Atlanta Braves starter Bryce Elder. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Soto (23 years, 169 days) joined the following list of active players to hit their 100th career home run at age 23 and younger:

• Miguel Cabrera (23 years, 127 days)
• Juan Soto (23 years, 169 days)
• Bryce Harper (23 years, 181 days)
• Ronald Acuña Jr. (23 years, 184 days)
• Albert Pujols (23 years, 185 days)
• Giancarlo Stanton (23 years, 221 days)
• Mike Trout (23 years, 253 days)

Impressive Bullpen: The Washington Nationals bullpen has allowed one earned run or less in four of the last five games. Removing Tuesday’s 16-4 defeat, Washington Nationals relievers have pitched to a 1.65 ERA (3 ER/16.1 IP) with a .190 (11-for-58) opponents’ batting average in the other four games.

Pitching Stats: RHP Joan Adon: Right-hander Joan Adon was added to Washington’s 40-man roster on November 20, 2020. Adon began his professional career as a reliever but converted to the starting rotation for the 2019 season. The right-hander allowed four earned runs on four hits in 4.1 IP against New York (NL) on April 9, where he struck out three batters and walked four in his second career start. 2022. According to MLB Statcast this year, Adon has thrown: a 4-Seam Fastball 62.8% of the time; the Slider 27.9% of the time, and his changeup 9.3% of the time just in 2022. Back in 2021, Adon went 7-6 with a 4.97 ERA in 21 games across three levels of Washington’s Minor League season…Struck out 122 batters in 105.0 innings. Adon ranked among Nationals Minor Leaguers in wins (T2nd, 7), SO (3rd, 122), and IP (4th, 105.0).

Adon made his Major League debut on Oct. 3, 2021, vs. the Boston Red Sox where he allowed two earned runs on six hits in 5.1 innings pitched…His nine strikeouts were tied for the second-most in a debut in Nationals history (Strasburg, 14, 6/8/2010) and the nine strikeouts were the most in a pitching debut in MLB in 2021.