Washington @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( May 17, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 5, Washington 3
Injuries have contributed to the Washington Nationals’ sluggish 15-14 start, but they may be on the verge of getting reinforcements. Ryan Zimmerman is expected to return from the disabled list on Friday when the Nationals begin a three-game road series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Zimmerman was batting .226 with one homer and 11 RBIs before suffering a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the last 14 games. In his absence, Washington has scored 37 runs while batting .197 with nine homers.
Pittsburgh had a day off to return to PNC Park after securing a 6-4 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday, ending a nine-game losing streak to the Brewers. Although they lost the series, the Pirates completed their 10-game road trip with a 6-4 record and will play 15 of their next 19 at home. Pittsburgh has found its power-hitting stroke recently, homering in 12 of its last 14 games, including 12 times in the last four games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Washington), ROOT (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Ross Detwiler (1-2, 2.03 ERA) vs. Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (2-2, 2.83)
Detwiler has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his five starts, but hasn’t received a great deal of offensive support when he has been on the mound. The lone hiccup for the 2007 first-round pick came in Sunday’s 5-2 loss against Cincinnati when he yielded four runs – three earned – and 11 hits over five innings. Detwiler, who is 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two road outings this season, has only faced Pittsburgh twice in his career, going 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two career starts.
Burnett, who ended April with a National League-high 48 strikeouts, has won two of his past three starts. The hard-throwing right-hander overcame a shaky first inning and yielded two runs on five hits over six innings in Saturday’s 5-3 victory over St. Louis. Burnett, who is 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA in three home starts this season, has issued at least three walks in four of his six starts. However, he is 7-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 15 career appearances (14 starts) against Washington.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington LF Bryce Harper is batting .267 with three homers and six RBIs in 12 road games as opposed to .370 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 16 home games.
2. Russell Martin has four home runs in his last four games and is one shy of No. 100 for his career.
3. The Pirates are 12-4 when scoring more than four runs and 4-8 when scoring four or fewer.
PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Nationals 2