Washington @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( May 18, 2013 ) Washington 1, San Diego 2

Bryce Harper is expected to miss his second straight game when his Washington Nationals visit the San Diego Padres in Sunday’s series finale at Petco Park. Harper is dealing with a sore left knee, but he's hoping to return on Monday at San Francisco. After winning the first two games of the series, Washington was held to four hits without Harper in Saturday’s 2-1 loss. The Nationals’ Adam LaRoche extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a seventh-inning single.

Ryan Zimmerman, Harper and LaRoche have been on a tear, but the rest of the team is 5-for-42 over the past two games. “We’re still growing on offense,” Washington manager Davey Johnson said. “Guys have to be a little more patient and not hit the pitcher’s pitch.” San Diego fans appear to be losing patience with closer Huston Street, who worked around two walks in the ninth for his 10th save on Saturday. He’s allowed six homers in 18 1/3 innings.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Dan Haren (4-4, 4.76 ERA) vs. Padres RH Andrew Cashner (2-2, 2.84)

After a rough start, Haren has posted a 3.00 ERA and 16-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last four starts. In his last two road outings, he’s allowed three runs while striking out eight in 15 innings. The 32-year-old Haren is 5-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 15 career games (14 starts) against the Padres. Nick Hundley is 10-for-26 (.385) against Haren, who is 2-2 with a 3.49 ERA in nine career games (eight starts) at Petco Park.

Like Haren, Cashner enters the series finale on a high note. He’s 1-0 with a 0.61 ERA in his last two starts while allowing nine hits and four walks over 14 2/3 innings. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 2.51 ERA since joining the rotation on April 20, and he’s 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA in four games (two starts) at Petco Park. “I think a big thing for me this year is not trying to air it out,” Cashner told reporters. “I'm not trying to throw 100 mph.”

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington’s starting pitchers have allowed two or fewer earned runs in nine consecutive starts.

2. The Padres are 10-3 over their last 13 home games.

3. The Nationals announced that LHP Zach Duke will start on Monday against the Giants in place of LHP Ross Detwiler (lower back).

PREDICTION: Padres 7, Nationals 4