<\/p>\n
If the Kansas City Royals are to make a serious final push at the postseason, star pitcher Seth Lugo likely needs to get back on track from a recent subpar stretch.<\/p>\n
The veteran right-hander has also had some issues against the Washington Nationals during his career.<\/p>\n
Looking to rebound from his worst outing of the season, Lugo will try solve the Nationals on Wednesday and help the Royals sweep this three-game home set.<\/p>\n
Since signing a two-year, $46 million extension to stay with Kansas City last month, Lugo (8-6, 3.46 ERA) is 1-1 with a 7.53 ERA in three starts, none of which lasted six innings. On Friday at Minnesota, the 35-year-old allowed season highs of seven runs and nine hits while lasting just four innings in the Royals\u2019 9-4 loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you just flush that one,\u201d Lugo said. \u201cI feel like even executed pitches were getting hit, mistakes we\u2019re getting hit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not ideal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Especially with Kansas City a .500 club and chasing three teams to just to reach wild-card position in the American League in the final weeks of the season.<\/p>\n
However, the Royals are 10-4 over their past 14 home games. They have won four straight in Kansas City after outscoring Washington 15-9 during the first two games of a series that is kicking off a 10-game homestand.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the offense, it\u2019s great. They build the confidence,\u201d Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said. \u201cThere is a lot to like.\u201d<\/p>\n
This will be Lugo\u2019s 40th appearance against Washington, but he is just 1-4 with a 6.59 ERA in six starts vs. the Nationals. The most recent of those outings came in 2023, when he took a loss for the San Diego Padres after permitting three runs in five innings.<\/p>\n
The Nationals have lost 10 of 13 after allowing two home runs and six walks in each of the first two games of the series.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s baseball and we got to do a better job of executing as group,\u201d said Washington infielder and ex-Royal Paul DeJong, who has three hits in the series but is 0-for-7 vs. Lugo. \u201cThere is no magic formula, it\u2019s just kinda feeding off each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scheduled Washington starter Jake Irvin (8-7, 4.90 ERA) will look to avoid a third straight losing decision after he yielded nine runs (eight earned) and 16 hits over 9 1\/3 innings in his first two August starts. Four of those runs, three earned, came in 5 1 1\/3 innings of the Nationals\u2019 5-0 loss at San Francisco on Friday.<\/p>\n
Irvin is set for his first appearance against Kansas City, but he has faced some current Royals when they played for other teams. Kansas City\u2019s Jonathan India, who hit a two-run homer during the Royals\u2019 8-5 victory on Tuesday, is 1-for-9 vs. Irvin.<\/p>\n
The right-hander has not faced Kansas City\u2019s Vinnie Pasquantino, who clubbed a three-run homer and recorded five RBIs on Tuesday. It was the third time this season that Pasquantino posted at least five RBIs in a game.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Washington All-Star James Wood had two hits and an RBI on Tuesday. He has eight hits and seven RBIs in his past four games.<\/p>\n
Dating to last season, Kansas City owns a 26-13 run advantage while winning five in a row against the Nationals.<\/p>\n
\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n