After a sweep in Miami, Nationals take on Rangers in three-game series

Washington Nationals (14–14) at Texas Rangers (15–14)

LHP MacKenzie Gore (2–2, 3.12) | RHP Jon Gray (0–1, 2.92)

Tuesday, April 30, 2024 l 8:05 p.m. ET / 7:05 p.m. CT l Game #29 / Road #17

Globe Life Field | Arlington, Texas

TV: MASN 2 | Radio: 106.7 FM / DC 87.7 FM & La Pantera 100.7 FM (Spanish)

WINNING WAYS

The Washington Nationals open a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday on the heels of a four-game sweep of the Miami Marlins this weekend…Jake Irvin tossed 6.0 strong innings (4 H, 2 ER, 3 SO) to earn his second win, while CJ Abrams clubbed his seventh home run to open the scoring in the third inning.

• Washington’s four-game winning streak is its longest since Aug. 2–6, 2023…The Nationals last won five in a row was June 13–18, 2021.
• Since April 7, the Nationals are 12–8 (.600) and have won four of their last six series.
• Washington’s 14 wins in March/April are the most since April 2017 when the club went 17–8 to start the season.

STREAKIN’ ABRAMS

CJ Abrams has reached base safely in a career-high 15 straight games (.414 OBP)…Abrams has hit safely in 14 of the 15 games, going 19-for-60 (.317) with five doubles, three triples, four homers, nine RBI, eight walks, two hit by pitch, three stolen bases and 15 runs scored during the streak.

• Among NL shortstops, Abrams leads in triples, is second in slugging, OPS and homers…For complete rankings, see chart in the attachment.
• Abrams leads Major League Baseball with a .875 slugging percentage (2 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR) against left-handed pitching.
• His 16 extra-base hits are tied for the third most in March/April in Nationals history (2005-pres.) behind Ryan Zimmerman (19) and Bryce Harper (17) in 2017.
• According to Baseball-Reference.com, Abrams is the first player in Major League history with at least seven home runs, six stolen bases and at least four triples in 25 games to start a season.

FOREVER YOUNG

Jacob Young is coming off a series in which he went 8-for-16 (.500) with a double, four RBI, one hit by pitch, six stolen base and nine runs scored…According to StatsPerform, he is the first player with at least nine runs and six stolen bases in a series since Cincinnati’s Bob Bescher against the Boston Rustlers June 2–5, 1911.

• Young enters Tuesday on a nine-game hitting streak…He is hitting .438/.455/.500 with 14 hits, two doubles, five RBI, seven stolen bases and 11 runs scored during the streak.