Milwaukee @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2013 ) Milwaukee 4, Washington 0

The Washington Nationals will look to get their offense going again Wednesday when they host the Milwaukee Brewers in the third of four straight meetings. The Nationals had scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time all season before Wily Peralta and four relievers combined on an eight-hit shutout in Milwaukee's 4-0 win Tuesday night.

The victory snapped a six-game skid for the Brewers. All eight of Washington's hits were singles and Bryce Harper was 0-for-4, running his streak of hitless at-bats to seven since he homered in his return from a knee injury on Monday night. The teams finish the series Thursday with a 12:05 p.m. Independence Day start.

TV: 6:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Kyle Lohse (3-6, 3.63 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Ross Detwiler (2-6, 4.13)

Lohse is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA over his last five starts, but his most recent one Sunday at Pittsburgh was interrupted by rain after he had thrown just 1 2/3 innings, which means Lohse will be starting on two days rest for the second time in his career. He threw just 27 pitches against the Pirates so should be in good shape for a full outing against the Nationals, against whom the veteran righty is 4-2 with a 5.23 ERA.

Detwiler had some back tightness following his last start but got through a bullpen session just fine and is on track to bid for his first win since May 10. Since that victory, the lefty is 0-3 with a 7.15 ERA in a stretch that was also interrupted by a stint on the disabled list. Detwiler is 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA in two career starts against Milwaukee.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers 2B Rickie Weeks is 3-for-5 with a home run and a double against Detwiler.

2. Lohse allowed two runs in seven innings to pick up the win in his only prior career start on two days rest on Sept. 26, 2007, against Atlanta. He had thrown an inning of relief three days prior to that outing.

3. Milwaukee entered Tuesday with the worst ERA in the National League before recording its fourth team shutout in a span of 16 games.

PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Brewers 4