- Sunday, May 6, 2018

The Nationals begin a series on Monday night in San Diego against the Padres. Here are three things to look for as the Nationals make their second west coast trip in less than two weeks:

Batting order

How long will rookie manager Dave Martinez keep Bryce Harper in the leadoff spot?

Harper batted leadoff for the fifth game in a row Saturday and was hitless, after blasting two homers in the win Friday night. That gave him four homers in four games since moving to the leadoff spot, with two leading off the first inning.

He was back in the leadoff spot on Sunday in the series finale against the Phillies. His move to the leadoff spot also led to Matt Adams batting third. He was hitting .400 in his previous nine games going into Sunday, when he batted cleanup.

Strasburg homecoming

How will pitcher Stephen Strasburg fare against his hometown Padres on Monday?

The former San Diego State star is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three career starts at San Diego. He has not won there since 2015, after suffering a loss last season in his start at San Diego.

His other start against the Padres in California resulted in a win in 2013. Overall he is 6-2 with career starts against the Padres.

The other scheduled starters for the Nationals are Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 3.00) and Gio Gonzalez (4-2, 2.33), who got the win at home Friday by going five innings against the Phillies. Hellickson did not allow any runs Thursday to the Pittsburgh Pirates but was taken out in the sixth inning.

The Padres probable starters are right-hander Tyson Ross (2-2, 3.28), lefty Clayton Richard (1-4, 6.21) and lefty Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 3.13). Ross is the brother of Joe Ross, a pitcher in the Washington system who is on the disabled list.

Road warriors

Can the Nationals keep playing at a high level on the road?

On the last trip out west the Nationals lost two of three in San Francisco against a Giants team that is not even close to past title teams.

Washington also lost two in Los Angeles to the Dodgers, who also got off to a slow start.

The Padres were no-hit by the Dodgers on Friday in Mexico and the Nationals should win at least two of three against the Padres. San Diego was 12-22 through Saturday.

Washington is 8-7 on the road and 4-9 against the NL West overall.

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