Washington @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( May 15, 2012 ) San Diego 6, Washington 1

Stephen Strasburg on Thursday will pitch for the first time in his hometown when the Washington Nationals visit the much-improved San Diego Padres, but the last thing Strasburg needs is another distraction. Strasburg hasn't won in seven starts - the longest stretch of his career, and while he appears fine physically, his mental toughness has come into question. He hasn't coped well with a defense that has contributed to eight unearned runs among the 19 he has yielded in his last six turns.

The Padres completed a two-game sweep at Baltimore and matched a season high with 17 hits in an 8-4 victory Wednesday and are 13-6 since a 5-15 start.
Alexi Amarista, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and two doubles, was 4-for-20 in May entering the game. "Every time you have an opportunity to get in there and produce, you have to take advantage of that so you can have some more opportunities to help the team," Amarista said. Washington has lost four of its last five games following a 3-1 loss at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday and has scored 10 runs during that span.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Washington), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (1-5, 3.10 ERA) vs. Padres RH Edinson Volquez (3-3, 5.15)

Strasburg was dominant through four innings Saturday against the Chicago Cubs before Ryan Zimmerman's two-out throwing error opened the door for four unearned runs in an 8-2 loss. The 24-year-old's numbers are decent - 43 hits, 51 strikeouts, 15 walks and a 1.18 WHIP in 49 1/3 innings, but he has lacked run support as Washington has scored 18 in his eight outings. Strasburg lost his only start against the Padres 6-1 last season, allowing four runs in four innings.

Volquez has won three straight decisions and has lowered his ERA from 8.84 in the process. The 29-year-old Dominican Republic native received a no-decision in his last outing when he allowed two runs and three hits in six innings in a 6-3 loss at Tampa Bay on Friday. Prior to that, Volquez allowed five runs in 19 1/3 innings over three winning starts. Volquez, who has struck out three in each of his last five starts, is 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA in three starts against Washington.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington RF Bryce Harper, who missed Tuesday's game after he was injured Monday crashing into the wall, grounded out as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning Wednesday.

2. The Padres have four series sweeps this season. They had six in 2012 and didn't record their fourth until Aug. 26.

3. Washington 1B Adam LaRoche extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games with a home run Wednesday and is 16-for-41 during that span to raise his average from .129 to .214.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Padres 2