Pittsburgh @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( May 5, 2013 ) Washington 6, Pittsburgh 2

The All-Star break didn’t serve as the rejuvenating point for the Washington Nationals, who attempt to snap out of their doldrums when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates in Monday’s opener of a four-game series. The Nationals were swept in three games by the Los Angeles Dodgers coming out of the break and have lost eight of 10 to drop two games below .500. Pittsburgh salvaged the finale of a three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Pirates are two games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central and hit six homers – all solo shots – in the series against Cincinnati. Pittsburgh is 18 games above .500 and is hoping to avoid the second-half collapse that sabotaged its postseason hopes last season. Washington tallied just five runs in the series against Los Angeles and Jayson Werth hit two solo homers in the finale for the club’s first homers since July 10.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Charlie Morton (1-2, 3.19 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Dan Haren (4-10, 5.61)

Morton took a no-decision in his last outing when he gave up two runs and six hits in a season-long seven innings against the New York Mets. He is 1-1 with a 3.71 ERA in three road starts. Morton is 0-2 with a 4.11 ERA in three career starts against Washington.

Haren has lost seven consecutive decisions since defeating the Detroit Tigers on May 9. He put together his first scoreless effort of the season in his last outing when he held the Miami Marlins to three hits in a six-inning no-decision. Haren is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA in seven career outings against Pittsburgh.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh 1B Garrett Jones has homered in back-to-back games to raise his season total to 10. He hit a career-best 27 last season.

2. Nationals OF Bryce Harper struck out three times Sunday and fanned on seven occasions in the series against Los Angeles.

3. Pirates C Russell Martin is batting. 179 with nine strikeouts in 39 career at-bats against Haren.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Nationals 4