Washington @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 10, 2010 ) Pittsburgh 2, Washington 4
It isn't very often when it can be said that the Pittsburgh Pirates have an advantage heading into a series. With the Washington Nationals coming into town, this is one of those rare occasions.
The Pirates kick off a six-game homestand tonight when they host the Nationals at PNC Park in the opener of a three-game series.
Pittsburgh currently owns the worst record in the major leagues at 44-89. A large reason for its embarrassing mark is the fact it has won just 14 of its 67 road games.
In fact, the Pirates have lost 15 of their last 16 contests away from home, including a 1-5 road trip that concluded with a 5-3 setback to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.
Luckily for Pittsburgh, Washington also has had its share of problems on the road. The Nationals have dropped three of their last four games away from Nationals Park and eight of 11, including Wednesday's 16-10 defeat at Florida in which Scott Olsen yielded nine runs in just 1 2/3 innings and Nyjer Morgan ignited a benches-clearing brawl.
Washington has not won a road series since taking two of three from the Mets in New York from May 10-12, going 0-15-2 since.
The Nationals will try to get off on the right foot tonight behind Livan Hernandez, who is just 1-2 in his last five starts and has posted a 10.13 ERA over his last two. On Saturday, the right-hander notched the win in a 14-5 triumph over St. Louis despite yielding five runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Hernandez owns a 5-4 record against Pittsburgh with a 4.97 ERA in 15 career starts. He recorded the victory in a 4-2 win over the Pirates on June 10, surrendering two runs and five hits in six frames.
In 12 road outings this season, the 35-year-old Hernandez is 4-4 with a 3.25 ERA.
Pittsburgh, which has lost five straight meetings with Washington, will counter with Zach Duke.
Duke is just 1-3 in his last six starts. He did not figure in the decision in Saturday's 8-7 victory at Milwaukee after allowing four runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings.
The left-hander has a 1-2 record and 4.85 ERA in five career outings against the Nationals. One of those losses came against Hernandez on June 10, when Duke gave up three runs - two earned - and eight hits in five frames.
Nationals slugger Adam Dunn has feasted on Duke, going 7-for-14 with two home runs and four RBIs.
The 27-year-old Duke has gone 3-6 with a 4.46 ERA in 13 starts at home this year.