25 Adam LaRoche, 1B

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche continued to swing a hot bat as he launched two home runs during Friday's game against the Padres.

LaRoche took starter Burch Smith deep for a three-run shot in the fourth inning. He took Smith deep again in the sixth inning for a solo home run. He finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored and four RBI in a 6-5 win in extras.

LaRoche has homered in three straight games and has four homers over his last three games. He has gone 4 for 11 with four runs scored and seven RBI during that three-game span.

Yes, Adam LaRoche is in the midst of a 13-game hit streak, but considering he has just 17 hits during that stretch, it's not quite as impressive as it sounds. His second home run in as many days Thursday is a better indication that he's on the verge of turning his season around, but as I wrote in the latest Hit Parade, I'd be wary of starting him in Fantasy Week 8 (May 20-26).

Here's a taste of what the Nationals are facing in that six-game slate: Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Kyle Kendrick and Cole Hamels. Yeah, LaRoche maintaining the streak against them wouldn't be the strangest thing ever, but at a deep position like first base, why take the chance of them pulling the rug out from under him?

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche homered for the second game in a row Thursday, as he led the Nationals to a 6-2 win over the Padres.

LaRoche opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the fourth inning, to give them a 2-0 lead they would not relinquish. He finished the game 1 for 3 with a walk and two RBI.

LaRoche is batting .217 on the season, but it currently riding a 13-game hitting streak. He is batting .354 with a .959 on-base plus slugging percentage in 14 games since May 1. 

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche hit his fourth home run Wednesday.

LaRoche was responsible for the team's only run of the game, hitting a solo shot in the top of the fourth inning. LaRoche got off to a poor start, but he's on a 12-game hitting streak. He's raised his average nearly 90 points over that period.

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche pushed his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games Wednesday by hitting a solo home run off Los Angeles starter Zack Greinke in the fourth inning. It was LaRoche's fourth home run of the season and only hit in the game.

After posting a .136 batting average in April, LaRoche owns a .214 batting average, four HRs and 13 RBI.