Nationals try to end skid against suddenly hot Rockies

The Washington Nationals will look to end an 11-game losing streak and try to avoid completing an 0-7 homestand when they host the Colorado Rockies in the finale of a four-game series on Thursday.

Washington began the homestand after getting swept by the New York Mets, looking to get well against a pair of last-place teams, the Miami Marlins and the Rockies. Instead, the reeling Nationals will try to salvage one game before a West Coast road trip.

Washington went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in a 3-1 loss to Colorado on Wednesday.

“We hit the ball hard. We just had nothing to show for it for a while,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “They were diving all over the field.”

The Nationals’ club record losing streak since the move to Washington in 2005 is 12 games in 2008.

Colorado, meanwhile, is enjoying some rarified air. The Rockies have won four straight games for the first time since a seven-game surge in May 2024. They are 8-7 in their past 15 games and have as many wins this month as in April and May combined.

Rockies rookie right-hander Chase Dollander (2-76.57 ERA) will oppose right-hander Trevor Williams (3-8, 5.71 ERA) on Thursday.

Dollander, 23, lost to the Mets and the Braves in his past two starts. Against Atlanta on Saturday, he gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits in six innings of a 4-1 defeat. He struck out four and walked three while throwing 97 pitches.

“That was a big outing for Chase,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “After his last two outings where he was inefficient, he gave us six strong innings, saved the bullpen, did his job and kept the game intact.”

The Nationals roughed up Hollander on April 19, scoring nine runs (six earned) on nine hits in four-plus innings.

Williams has lost his past three starts. Against the Miami Marlins on Saturday, he allowed two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

He is 3-2 with a 5.14 ERA in six career starts against the Rockies.

Colorado continued its homer barrage Wednesday night. Michael Toglia hit his third long ball in two games and Jordan Beck had a double and a home run for the Rockies, who have hit 12 homers in the first three games of the series.

Over his past 13 games, Beck is batting .314 (16-for-51) with five doubles, four walks, seven RBIs and four runs.

Colorado’s Ryan Ritter provided a key run with a suicide-squeeze bunt on a pitch that appeared about to hit him.

“I know (Brad Lord) has a lot of (run) to his ball, so I was expecting a ball to my face, honestly,” Ritter told Rockies TV. “I just knew I needed to get a job done.”

Rockies second baseman Thairo Estrada, hit on the right hand by a pitch on Tuesday, did not play the next day due to a contusion.

Nationals rookie Brady House, playing his third big league game, had two hits for the second straight night.

“I honestly can’t wait for us getting a win,” House said. “I’m excited to celebrate. I think the vibes are a lot better whenever you’re playing well but also winning as well. We try. We’re going out there, and we’re going to get it.”

–Field Level Media