Washington @ Milwaukee preview
Miller Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 2, 2013 ) Washington 4, Milwaukee 1
The Washington Nationals continue their quest for a trip to the postseason when they take on the host Milwaukee Brewers in the middle contest of their three-game set Saturday. Washington took the series opener as Jordan Zimmermann tossed six scoreless innings and Bryce Harper homered and drove in two runs in a 4-1 triumph Friday. The Nationals, who won the National League East last year, climbed within 6 1/2 games of the Cincinnati Reds for the second wild-card berth.
Milwaukee avoided being shut out when Jonathan Lucroy belted a solo homer in the eighth inning but went on to lose for the fourth time in five home games. All of the Brewers' other four hits were doubles, with Rickie Weeks notching two. Milwaukee lost starter Tom Gorzelanny, who exited in the second inning with a bruised left elbow after being hit by a line drive off the bat of Jayson Werth.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Washington), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Dan Haren (5-11, 5.49 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Donovan Hand (0-2, 3.56)
Haren lost eight straight decisions before allowing one run and three hits over seven innings in a victory over the New York Mets on Saturday. The 32-year-old had not won since topping the Detroit Tigers on May 9. Haren won his only career decision against the Brewers, yielding one run and striking out 11 in eight frames on May 2, 2009 at Milwaukee.
Hand remains in search of his first major-league victory as he makes his sixth start. The 27-year-old settled for a no-decision at Colorado on Sunday after yielding three runs and eight hits over six innings. Hand lasted five frames in his only career outing against the Nationals on July 4, when he surrendered three runs and six hits but did not figure in the decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington is 13-1 when Bryce Harper hits a home run.
2. Milwaukee SS Jean Segura went 1-for-3 in his return to the lineup Friday after missing two contests with a forearm injury.
3. Nationals RHP Ross Ohlendorf will be shut down until next week with what the team is calling a "tired" arm.
PREDICTION: Brewers 5, Nationals 3