Both Aaron Civale of the Milwaukee Brewers and DJ Herz of the Washington Nationals are desperate for a win as they face off in D.C. on Saturday afternoon. Civale has not won in his last 18 starts, including his first four with Milwaukee after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays. Herz, on the other hand, has gone six straight starts without a win.
In their most recent outings, Civale showed promise by giving up two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Miami Marlins, while Herz pitched well in three of his four starts in July. Civale made his only career start against the Nationals on June 29 and allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings, taking the loss in an 8-1 defeat. Herz’s only victory this season came when he threw six one-hit, shutout innings with 13 strikeouts against the Marlins.
Washington manager Dave Martinez praised Herz for his performance in his most recent game against the St. Louis Cardinals, noting that he effectively used his fastball and mixed in off-speed pitches when needed. Herz, a 23-year-old rookie, acknowledged that his fastball had extra zip to it in that game.
On the offensive side, Blake Perkins delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single for the Brewers in the series opener, showcasing his ability as a pinch hitter. Perkins emphasized the importance of simplicity and focusing on the task at hand when coming off the bench in a pinch-hitting situation.
As the Brewers and Nationals prepare to face off, both Civale and Herz will be looking to turn their luck around and secure a much-needed win for their teams. The outcome of this game could have significant implications for both pitchers as they strive to break their winless streaks and contribute to their respective teams’ success.