The Washington Nationals are on the left coast this evening for the late start, for us East Coast fans, against the Padres in the first of three at (ALLCAPS) PETCO PARK, in perpetually sunny San Diego, California. The Padres are firmly ensconced in the NL West's basement, and at (19-33) they're even three wins behind the Nationals, who end their latest homestand at (22-30), laying their own claim to the ground floor in the NL East.

On the Hill...

Shawn Hill, who gets the start for the visiting DC Nationals, is (0-1) in 6 starts with a 4.08 ERA in 35.1 innings pitched this season, and Hill's (0-1) with a 4.26 ERA in his 6.1 innings pitched in his 1 career start against San Diego, which came on May 1st of '07 here in PETCO Park. Hill was hit 4 times, giving up 3 runs and 3 walks with 5 K's in a losing effort. Last time out, Hill earned his first decision of the season, in the "L" column unfortunately, allowing 8 hits, 4 ER's and 1 HR, with 2 walks and 3 K's in 5.1 innings on the road against the Orioles. Rather oddly...Hill's allowed 8 hits in every road start this season...

Randy Wolf, who spent the first eight years of his career in Philadelphia, pitched for the Dodgers last season and now moves south to San Diego, where he'll start for the Padres tonight, facing the Expos/Nationals for the 19th time in his career, having collected a (9-4) record with 3 complete games, two of them shutouts, and a 4.66 ERA in 110.0 innings against the franchise. 

After starting '08 (2-0) in his first 4 starts, Wolf's (1-4) over his last 6 outings, with the Padres dropping five of the six games Wolf began. Last time out, however, on 5/22 at home against Cincinnati, Wolf held the Reds to 4 hits and 2 runs over 7.0 innings, with just 1 walked issued and 9 K's collected in an 8-2 Padres' win. At PETCO Park, Wolf's (2-1) in 4 starts this season, posting a 3.00 ERA in 24.0 innings.

Nationals' #'s Against Randy Wolf...

Felipe Lopez - 4 for 10, .400 AVG, 1 2B, 1 RBI.

Aaron Boone - 3 for 14, .214 AVG, 1 2B.

Cristian Guzman - 0 for 5.

DY - 2 for 5, .400 AVG, 1 HR, 4 RBI's.

Ryan Zimmer-- Not tonight, according to Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's "Nationals Journal" Post entitled, (specially for Expos' fans), "Lineup, sans Zimmerman", in which Mr. Harlan notes that Zimmerman is avaiable, but likely to sit for a few more days...

Tonight's DC starting lineup, also according to the Post's Mr. Harlan (ed. note - "Nicknames provided by federalbaseball.com"):

Felipe 2B

The Guzzzzzzz SS

BOOONNNE!! 3B

DY 1B

Lasto CF

Jesus C

WMP LF

DUKES!! RF

Shawn Hill on the mound...

Last year the Nationals traveled to San Diego in the first days of May, dropping two of three to the Padres, who also took 2 of 3 from DC in old RFK in early June. In '06, the first series with San Diego took place in July, with Washington losing all three at home, and 2 for 3 on the road in August, to leave the Nationals 3-9 in the last 12 games against the Padres.  

MLB.com's got the Box Score up, and it confirms the starting lineup listed above. With about a half an hour before game time, the Nationals are set to start the first of a six-game swing through San Diego and Arizona, where Washington will end the month of May with three against the D-Backs before heading back to DC on June 3rd...Game time 10:05 pm...Anyone watching?...