Washington Nationals (1-2) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (2-2)
Scheduled Pitching Matchup: RHP Michael Soroka (0-0, -.--) vs. RHP Bowden Francis (0 - 0 |-.-- )
Date: Monday, March 31, 2025 | 7:07 pm EDT | Game: #4 | Road Game: # 1
Location: Rogers Centre | Toronto, ON
The Washington Nationals head to Toronto, Canada, in their first road trip of the 2025 season. The Nationals will send native Canadian Michael Soroka to the mound in his first appearance with the Nationals. The Nationals will face right-handed Bowden Francis also in his first appearance in 2025 with the Blue Jays.
Team | Record | Games Back |
---|---|---|
Miami Marlins | 3-1 | - |
Philadelphia Phillies | 2-1 | 0.5 |
New York Mets | 1-2 | 1.5 |
Washington Nationals | 1-2 | 1.5 |
Atlanta Braves | 0-4 | 3.0 |
The Washington Nationals avoided a sweep thanks to an impressive performance from LHP Mitchell Parker, and timely home runs by Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe propelled the Nationals to a 5-1 win against the Phillies.
Mitchell Parker's 6.1 scoreless innings extended a remarkable start for the Nationals' rotation. For the fifth time in franchise history (2005-present), their starters have pitched at least 5.0 innings and allowed two or fewer runs in each of the team's first three games, joining the elite company of the 2011, 2013, 2017, and 2018 teams.
Mitchell Parker's afternoon against the Phillies was extremely impressive. He pitched 6.1 innings of scoreless baseball, striking out five and giving up seven hits. [Read our full game recap from yesterday’s game]
The Washington Nationals' starting pitchers have kicked off the season with an impressive performance, surrendering only two earned runs across 17.1 innings through the first three games, resulting in a stellar 1.04 ERA. Their starters are tied with the Colorado Rockies (15.1 IP) and Chicago White Sox (17.0 IP) for the fewest runs allowed among Major League starting rotations, while logging more innings than both teams.
Left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore set the tone on Opening Day, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings and fanning a franchise-record (Montreal/Washington) 13 batters. Jake Irvin kept the momentum going on Saturday, yielding just two runs over 5.0 solid innings. Mitchell Parker delivered 6.1 shutout innings on Sunday, securing the Nationals' first victory of the year.
Nationals starters have been consistently excellent to begin the season, throwing at least 5.0 innings and permitting two or fewer runs in each of the opening three contests. This marks the fifth occasion in franchise history (since 2005) that the rotation has achieved this feat, and the first time since Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Gio Gonzalez did so in 2018. The staff also accomplished this in 2017, 2013, and 2011.
The Washington Nationals will continue their first road trip against the Toronto Blue Jays tomorrow evening. Scheduled to pitch for the Nationals is RHP Trevor Williams. Williams will make his 2025 Nationals debut tomorrow since re-signing with the Nationals. This will be his second career start in Canada and his first since 2017. The Nationals will face RHP José Berríos from the Toronto Blue Jays.
On Deck…
The Washington Nationals kick off a six-game homestand that includes two teams from the N.L. West of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Arizona Diamondbacks will kick off the homestand with a weekend series starting on Friday night.
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