San Diego @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( May 19, 2013 ) Washington 4, San Diego 13

The Washington Nationals are starting to get their offense together with Bryce Harper back in the lineup. The San Diego Padres, who open a three-game series at the Nationals on Friday, have had their offense abandon them during a six-game slide. The Padres will try to lean on the pitching staff as they work their way back toward the .500 mark.

San Diego totaled four runs in dropping three straight at the Boston Red Sox this week and has lost six straight and 12 of its last 16 games to go from surprise contender to afterthought in the National League West. Washington was the consensus pick to run away with the NL East, but injuries to Harper and Wilson Ramos had kept the offense out of high gear. Ramos returned to the lineup Thursday for the first time since May 15 and went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs in an 8-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports San Diego, MASN2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Andrew Cashner (5-3, 3.31 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (5-3, 3.09)

Cashner has been held out of the decision in his last three starts despite surrendering three or fewer earned runs in each. The right-hander has not allowed a home run in any of his last five outings and has limited the base runners by issuing only six walks in that span. Cashner beat Washington on May 19, yielding three runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Gonzalez has posted six straight quality starts and is coming off one of his best starts of the season, when he allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings at the New York Mets. The lefty has recorded 104 strikeouts in 105 total innings and is on pace to strike out more than 200 batters for the second consecutive campaign. Gonzalez went 6 2/3 innings at San Diego on May 17 and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in a no-decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. Harper homered in his first at-bat Monday after coming off the disabled list, but is 0-for-14 since.

2. Padres 2B Jedd Gyorko (groin) has been taking ground balls and will test himself on the field prior to Friday’s contest. He has missed the last 23 games.

3. San Diego has totaled seven runs during its six-game losing streak.

PREDICTION: Nationals 6, Padres 2