Nationals look to continue power surge in series opener vs. Jays

The notion that the Washington Nationals have turned on the power switch will be tested again Monday night when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series.

After finishing 29th in the majors with 135 home runs last season, the Nationals added Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell in the offseason.

The moves paid off on Sunday afternoon when each homered in a 5-1 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. The win salvaged the finale of the three-game series.

“Those are our two big boys,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “It’s awesome to see those guys come through like that.”

Lowe has two homers this season and Bell has one.

Catcher Keibert Ruiz has been doing his part, going 5-for-10 with two home runs in three games.

Bell opened the season on an 0-for-9 drought, but that ended on Sunday when he hit a three-run homer against Aaron Nola in the fourth inning.

“I’m really proud of him because I know the first couple games, he struggled a little bit and he wants to help us,” Martinez said. “For him to come through like that, it was awesome. Honestly, it was a big uplift for our team.”

Lowe homered for the second game in a row in the sixth.

“He just works good at-bats,” Martinez said. “He’s very patient, he swings at strikes. He’s going to chase every now and then, but for the most part, he makes you work out there. When he gets a ball to hit, you see what he can do.”

Washington’s starters have been excellent after three games, posting a 1.04 ERA. The bullpen has not been as effective.

Right-hander Michael Soroka, who went 0-10 with a 4.74 ERA with the Chicago White Sox last season, will try to continue the trend of good starts on Monday. The Calgary native is trying to regain the impressive form from early in his career before injuries cost him the 2021-22 seasons.

Soroka is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four career outings against the Blue Jays. He pitched 2 1/3 scoreless relief innings against them last season.

Toronto on Monday will start right-hander Bowden Francis, who went 8-5 with a 3.30 ERA last season. He has faced the Nationals once, pitching three scoreless relief innings against them in 2023.

The Blue Jays salvaged a split of their four-game against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday with a 3-1 victory.

Toronto had solid pitching on Sunday from the bullpen.

The relievers allowed one hit and struck out four over the final three innings after starter Chris Bassitt allowed only one run despite yielding eight hits and two walks over six innings. Closer Jeff Hoffman earned his first save for the Blue Jays after he pitched for the second straight day.

Toronto’s pitching already has been adjusted after a flurry of moves on Sunday.

Right-hander Max Scherzer (thumb), who left his start on Saturday after three innings, was put on the 15-day injured list. Left-handers Mason Fluharty and Easton Lucas were promoted, and left-hander Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment.

Toronto manager John Schneider said Scherzer’s replacement in the rotation will be decided after “we see where we land after the next couple games.”

Fluharty could make his major league debut in relief on Monday, or at some time in the series.

“Mason’s opened a lot of our eyes, especially this year, but going back to last year and then kind of turning the corner in spring,” Schneider said.

–Field Level Media