Washington @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( May 3, 2013 ) Washington 1, Pittsburgh 3
Ryan Zimmerman’s return to the Washington Nationals’ lineup didn’t figure to solve all of their offensive problems, but he didn’t take long to make an impact. Zimmerman will attempt to lead his team to its fourth win in five games Sunday when it concludes its three-game road set against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Washington managed 37 runs during Zimmerman's 14-game absence before his return Friday from a hamstring injury. In Saturday’s 5-4 victory, he had a hit, walked twice and scored three runs.
Pittsburgh lost for the first time in five home games, but continued hitting for power. Starling Marte went deep for the third time in four games and Clint Barmes added his first homer of the season, giving the Pirates at least one home run in 14 of their last 16 games. More remarkably, Pittsburgh has belted nearly half of its homers this season (16-of-33) over the last six contests.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), ROOT (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 5.34 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Wandy Rodriguez (2-1, 3.91)
Gonzalez has struggled mightily in his two road starts, going 0-1 with an 11.25 ERA. The two-time All-Star struck out a season-high nine Braves in Tuesday’s 8-1 loss at Atlanta, but lasted only four innings while giving up five runs on seven hits and a season-high five walks. Including the postseason, the left-hander has issued 16 walks over his last three road starts. Gonzalez has fared much better against Pittsburgh, however, going 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two career outings.
Rodriguez has yet to be scored on at home this season, blanking the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves over 13 2/3 innings. But the 34-year-old left-hander is coming off his worst start of the season, permitting a season-high seven runs and six hits over a season-low 3 2/3 innings in a 10-4 loss at Milwaukee. Rodriguez lost his last start to Gonzalez despite allowing one run over seven innings the last time he faced Washington, but is 5-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 all-time starts against the Nationals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh has won each of its last six series finales.
2. Washington is 8-for-46 with runners in scoring position over its last seven games.
3. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen has a 17-game hitting streak against the Nationals. He is batting .452 with 11 homers and 22 RBIs against them in 25 career games.
PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Nationals 3