WASHINGTON — Fresh off a 7-2 road trip, the Nationals return to D.C. this week for the first time since before the All-Star break. The Nats begin a six-game homestand Tuesday in a potential playoff preview against the struggling Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee led the NL Central by 5.5 games at the break, but entered play Monday in a virtual tie atop the division with the Chicago Cubs.
Following three games against Milwaukee, the Nationals host the Colorado Rockies for a three-game weekend series. Below are four story lines to monitor as the Nationals play their final two series before next Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline.
Jackson returns to D.C.
The back end of the Nationals rotation has battled inconsistency for much the season, but Edwin Jackson and Tanner Roark showed signs last week that better days could be on the way. Jackson threw seven innings of two-run ball in a 4-3 win in Anaheim last Tuesday in his first outing since replacing Joe Ross. Jackson (1-0, 4.50 ERA) will start Tuesday at Nationals Park — his first home start for Washington since Game 3 of the 2012 NLDS.
Roark (8-6, 4.83) is scheduled to face Milwaukee Thursday as he’ll look to build off what was arguably his best start of the season. Last Friday in Arizona, Roark tossed seven innings of two-run ball with a season-high 11 strikeouts and one walk. Roark has struggled at home this season, though, where he is 3-4 with a 5.31 ERA.
Fresh look in the ‘pen
Whenever Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle jog in from the bullpen for the first time at Nationals Park, the newest Washington relievers will likely receive warm receptions. Since joining the Nationals in a trade from Oakland July 16, Madson and Doolittle have bolstered the back end of the bullpen, albeit in a small sample size.
Madson has thrown three scoreless innings spread over three appearances with two holds. Doolittle is two-for-two in save opportunities and pitched a scoreless inning in a non-save situation Sunday in Arizona.
Strasburg update
The Nationals are expected to have an update on Stephen Strasburg Tuesday after the right-hander left his start Sunday for precautionary reasons after two scoreless innings. Strasburg (10-3, 3.25) told reporters after the game that he was dealing with some “achiness,” and “stiffness,” in his forearm. His next scheduled start would be Saturday against Colorado.
Shortstop Trea Turner has been rehabbing his fractured left wrist in West Palm Beach, and will be reevaluated Tuesday in Washington, according to general manager Mike Rizzo.
Jayson Werth (fractured left foot) and Michael A. Taylor (strained right oblique) are not expected back until August.
Familiar face returns
Two teams and nearly two years removed from his last game in Washington, former Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond will return to D.C. Friday with the Rockies.
Desmond spent more than a decade in the organization — a 2004 Montreal Expos draft pick, Desmond was the last Nationals player with ties to the Expos — before departing as a free agent in 2015.
He spent five full seasons with the Nationals, highlighted by consecutive 20-20 campaigns in 2012 and 2013, earning the Silver Slugger Award in both seasons.
After one year in Texas, Desmond signed a five-year $70 million deal with Colorado. He entered the week with a .286/.330/.390 slash line with five homers and 32 RBIs.
