SAN FRANCISCO -- The first-place Washington Nationals begin a nine-game road trip through California when they start a three-game set in San Francisco against the Giants on Monday.
Washington (30-19) will have its manager back as Dusty Baker returns after missing the weekend series against the San Diego Padres to attend the high school graduation of his son. The Nationals, under bench coach Chris Speier, went 2-1 in his absence.
San Francisco (22-30) won the final two games of its weekend series with Atlanta after dropping four games in a row. When somebody told San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy on Sunday, "You're on a mini-streak," he chuckled.