Kansas City @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Livan Hernandez looks to continue his career season and turn around the Washington Nationals’ interleague woes as they host the Kansas City Royals Monday at Nationals Park.
Hernandez (5-4, 2.94) hasn’t had an ERA this low in late June since his 2005 All-Star season. That campaign was also the last time Hernandez finished with an ERA under 4.00.
He traditionally has faltered in the second half of the season, but so far has permitted more than four runs only once this season - his last outing when he allowed eight runs to Detroit.
Hernandez has been able to consistently pitch well this season because his stuff has not been as hittable as previous seasons. He has yielded more hits than innings pitched and had a WHIP of 1.43 or higher in each of his previous five seasons.
This year, he’s given up only 75 hits in 85.2 innings and walked 31 for a WHIP of 1.24.
It won’t be easy for the Nationals starter as he will face Kansas City (29-41), which carries the majors' best team batting average.
The Royals are hitting .279 as a team in 2010 and are second only to the Boston Red Sox with 677 hits in 70 games.
Kansas City is paced by the top three of its order - David DeJesus, Mike Aviles and Billy Butler all have averages better than .300. Butler, who is the centerpiece, is hitting .331 this season with 22 doubles.
Those three have been especially hot the past week - DeJesus is hitting .583, Butler .417 and Aviles batting at .400.
Kansas City is only 5-5 in its past 10 games despite the hot offense. The reason for the mediocre record is the pitching staff has surrendered 57 runs during that stretch.
The Royals look to lefty Bruce Chen (3-1, 4.15) to turn things around. Chen is making his fourth start of the season in the absence of injured starter Gil Meche.
Chen will face a Nationals (31-39) team that has lost eight of its last 10 games. A major contributor to their slide is slumping slugger Ryan Zimmerman, who is hitting 6-for-38 (.157) with one home run and two RBIs over that stretch.
The good news for the Washington lineup is that it has had far more success against lefties this season than righties. Washington only hits .249 against righties, as opposed to .281 against left-handers.
Both teams also look to improve their interleague records. Kansas City is 5-8 in interleague play this year and 107-130 overall, while Washington is 3-9 and 112-117 lifetime.