Washington at San Diego

Washington is a sizzling 23-13 on the road with great balance, top 11 in runs scored and slugging on offense, with a pitching staff ranked third with a 3.25 team ERA. Ace righty Max Scherzer (8-4, 3.40 ERA) has been brilliant in June, allowing just 12 hits with a 1.23 ERA in three starts. That covers 22 innings with only three walks and 28 strikeouts. Scherzer is limiting opposing batters to a .203 average and the Nationals are 9-3 in his last 12 road starts. Washington is 20-7 against a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30 and they face shaky San Diego righty Colin Rea (5.37 ERA). He has gone six straight starts without a victory and is coming off his poorest outing of the season where he allowed eight runs and nine hits in 2+ innings against the Miami Marlins, marking the third time he has allowed five or more earned runs this season. Rea has struggled at pitcher-friendly Petco Park with a 5.52 ERA in nine appearances this season. San Diego's pitching staff ranks #25 in team ERA and the offense is #19 in runs, #26 in slugging and #29 in on-base percentage. Can they get any worse? Yes -- against Max Scherzer, as the Padres are 8-20 against a right-handed starter. Play Washington.