Roark, Nolasco meet as Angels, Nats finish series

WASHINGTON -- When Los Angeles Angels rookie pitcher Parker Bridwell, 26, made the move from the bullpen to the rotation this year, one of the veteran teammates he spoke to was Ricky Nolasco, 34.

"I asked him certain things about his routine, and I also watched him throw," said Bridwell, who broke into the majors with two games out of the bullpen for the Baltimore Orioles in 2016.

While Bridwell has been a surprise at 7-1 this year, Nolasco has struggled. He enters his start on Wednesday afternoon against the first-place Washington Nationals (71-46) having allowed five runs or more in four of his past seven outings.

Nolasco (5-12, 5.24 ERA) will oppose Washington right-hander Tanner Roark (9-7, 4.74), who has not faced the Angels since 2014.

The Nationals won 3-1 Tuesday as the Angels didn't get a hit until the sixth inning.

"Tomorrow we have to pick it up and start momentum early," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Tuesday.

Nolasco will be making his first start against the Nationals since July 19, 2013, seeking his first win against Washington since Sept. 9, 2012. The California native is 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA in eight games (all starts) in his career at Washington and 11-7 with a 3.65 ERA in 23 games overall, including 21 starts, against the Nationals.

Roark, in his only appearance against the Angels, did not figure in a decision three years ago as he went 6 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed seven hits.

Current Angels are hitting 9-for-45 (.200) against Roark.

Andrelton Simmons, a former member of the Atlanta Braves, has the most at-bats of any Angels player against him and is 2-for-17 (.118). Mike Trout is 1-for-3, Albert Pujols is 0-for-3, and former Washington outfielder Ben Revere is 1-for-9 against his former teammate.

The last time Pujols played a series in Washington was when he hit homer No. 500 of his career against Taylor Jordan of the Nationals in 2014. Playing first base Monday with no designated hitter in effect, he made an error and went 0-for-2 with two walks.

When the Angels and Nationals met last month in California, Trout and Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper, both former Most Valuable Players, each hit a homer in the first inning of a game. However, the current series is missing Harper.

The Nationals' Opening Day outfield is now on the disabled list: center fielder Adam Eaton (went on the DL on April 29 with a left knee strain), left fielder Jayson Werth (June 5 with a left foot contusion), and Harper (Sunday with a hyperextended left knee).

The Nationals have used 12 outfielders this year.

"It has been a tough year injury-wise. At least we have guys to replace them. They have been carrying most of the weight," Washington manager Dusty Baker said, referring to first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (27 homers) and Daniel Murphy (20).

Zimmerman is 14-for-53 (.264) with three homers against Nolasco.

Center fielder Michael A. Taylor returned to the Nationals on Sunday as Harper went on the DL.

"We have to hold onto until the rosters expand. I am glad he is back," Baker said of Taylor. "He is going to get better and better."

The Angels (61-59) have a mediocre record, but they hold a half-game lead for the second American League wild card.

"We are still right there," Revere said. "It has been a crazy year."