Washington @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 7, Washington 9
The Washington Nationals haven't been consistent enough at the plate lately to reel off a winning streak, but they hope to change that during a four-game road series against the Pittsburgh Pirates beginning Thursday. Pittsburgh's pitching staff has been knocked around a bit of late, allowing 47 runs over the past nine games. The Nationals would like to continue that trend - they're 20-1 when scoring four or more runs.
Washington belted out nine runs on nine hits in the middle game of its series with visiting Cincinnati, but scored a total of four runs while losing the other two contests. The Pirates have lost six of their last nine but managed to outslug Baltimore 9-8 on Wednesday. Their bullpen is a bit taxed after working 11 1/3 innings in the two-game set with the Orioles, so Pittsburgh needs an efficient outing from veteran right-hander Edinson Volquez.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN2 (Washington), ROOT (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Blake Treinen (0-1, 0.77 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Edinson Volquez (1-4, 4.71)
Treinen is in his third stint with the big club, making his second spot start after a round in the bullpen last month. The rookie made his first major-league start May 6 against the Dodgers, allowing three unearned runs on seven hits over five innings in an 8-3 loss. The 25-year-old has been dominant in six starts at Triple-A Syracuse this season, going 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA.
Volquez is winless in his last five starts and has been tagged with the loss in four of them. He has been roughed up to the tune of a 6.91 ERA over that stretch and has surrendered eight home runs in his last four outings, including four long balls his last time out. The 30-year-old is 1-2 with a 6.64 ERA in four career starts against Washington and hasn't beaten the Nationals since the first time he faced them in 2008.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington 1B Adam LaRoche (quad) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday in hopes of returning from the disabled list when he becomes eligible for Sunday's series finale.
2. Pirates 1B Ike Davis has reached safely in 16 of his last 18 games and is hitting .410 over his past 13 contests.
3. Nationals OF Nate McLouth is 5-for-12 with a pair of doubles against Volquez while the rest of the team is a combined 3-for-25 versus the right-hander.
PREDICTION: Nationals 7, Pirates 5