Minnesota @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 8, 2013 ) Minnesota 4, Washington 3

The Washington Nationals will get to make up for a couple of days off when it hosts the Minnesota Twins in a day-night doubleheader Sunday, and they need to turn things around after losing five of their past six contests. Picked by many to win the NL East, Washington finds itself in third place in the division behind second-place Philadelphia and division leader Atlanta. The Nationals were rained out Thursday against the New York Mets and Friday against Minnesota.

The Twins are trying to turn things around, winning four of six to open June after closing May with 11 losses in their final 16 games. Minnesota is sitting six games behind division-leading Detroit in the AL Central. Ryan Doumit, who drove in the game-winner Saturday, has hit safely in 10 of his past 11 games with 16 RBIs.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), MASN 2 HD (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Scott Diamond (4-4, 4.66 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (8-3, 2.16).

Diamond has allowed 16 earned runs in his past four starts, giving up 19 earned runs in his past five starts (including consecutive six-run starts). He beat Seattle in his last start, allowing four hits in six innings. Diamond won 12 games last season with a 3.54 ERA. Diamond needs a victory to even his career record at 18-18.

Zimmermann is sixth in the majors in ERA heading into his 13h start of the season. The right-hander has never faced the Indians, but Mark Reynolds is 3-for-7 with a homer. Zimmermann is 20-11 since the start of last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mauer hit his 16th interleague homer in Saturday’s 4-3, 11-inning victory.

2. Washington SS Ian Desmond singled in five at-bats, giving him a 10-game hitting streak.

3. The Twins have won five consecutive interleague contests.

PREDICTION:Twins 3, Nationals 2