The Arizona Diamondbacks entered Sunday’s matchup with the Washington Nationals looking to take the series in the rubber game on July 26. With the clubs splitting the first two meetings, the finale carried added importance as Arizona tried to leave Washington with another series win.
One of the biggest developments around the game was a late-night move by the Nationals. Washington acquired young starting pitcher Connelly Early from the Boston Red Sox, adding a fresh roster storyline ahead of the series-deciding contest.
That trade gave the Nationals another point of focus beyond the on-field matchup with Arizona. While the Diamondbacks were preparing for the finale, Washington was also dealing with the implications of bringing in a developing arm from Boston.
The combination of a rubber match and a notable pitching acquisition made the Diamondbacks-Nationals game more than a standard series finale. Arizona was chasing a road series victory, while Washington entered the day with attention on both the game and its latest move involving Connelly Early.
