Detroit @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( May 7, 2013 ) Detroit 0, Washington 0
Despite a sluggish start, the Detroit Tigers have begun to match their lofty preseason expectations. Following Tuesday's rainout, Detroit eyes its 10th victory in 11 games Wednesday when it begins a two-game series at the Washington Nationals. Expected to make another deep playoff run, the Tigers instead opened the season 10-10. But Detroit has put it together over the last 10 games, outscoring opponents 74-25 while posting sweeps of the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros.
Washington has won four of its last five with solid pitching. The Nationals have allowed 10 runs over that stretch, including Sunday’s 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates when Gio Gonzalez logged only his second quality start in his last five outings. The offense, which has dealt with its share of injuries, may be nearing full health as Jayson Werth is expected back Tuesday after he was sidelined with a hamstring injury against Pittsburgh. Ryan Zimmerman returned for the Pirates series following a 14-game absence with his own hamstring woes.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Detroit, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (3-2, 1.82 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (5-1, 1.64)
Sanchez, who struck out a career-best and franchise-record 17 Braves in a win during his second-to-last start April 26, took the loss in Wednesday’s 6-2 home setback against Minnesota. The ex-Miami Marlin fanned nine Twins, but surrendered three runs and five hits in six innings. The 29-year-old has yet to surrender a home run and is holding opponents to a .214 average. Sanchez has dominated Washington, going 8-0 with a 1.97 ERA in 19 career starts – all while he was with the Marlins.
Zimmermann, tied with St. Louis’ Lance Lynn for the National League lead in wins, carries an 18-inning scoreless streak into this contest after limiting the Braves to two hits over eight frames in a 2-0 victory Wednesday. Despite averaging 7 1/3 innings and lasting at least eight innings in three of his last four starts, the Wisconsin native has allowed a total of only eight runs in 44 innings. Opposing hitters are batting .168 against Zimmermann, who will be making his first career start against Detroit.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Nationals’ franchise has lost six straight in this series, with its last win coming in 2002, when the club was named the Montreal Expos.
2. Detroit is batting .316 with 19 homers over its last 10 games while posting a 2.27 ERA with 117 strikeouts in 95 innings.
3. Washington is 12-1 when it scores more than three runs.
PREDICTION: Tigers 3, Nationals 2