San Francisco @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( May 22, 2013 ) Washington 2, San Francisco 1

Two of the most disappointing teams in the majors meet Tuesday when the San Francisco Giants visit the Washington Nationals for a three-game series. Washington maintained its faint postseason hopes over the weekend with a series sweep of Philadelphia, while San Francisco matched its season high by falling 13 games under .500 at 52-65. The Nationals are 8 1/2 games behind Cincinnati in the race for the second National League wild card.

Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth is hitting .361 with 13 homers since returning from the disabled list on June 4. Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is nearly as hot, but catcher Buster Posey is batting .161 (10-for-62) over his last 19 games. The Nationals’ bullpen is well-rested after Stephen Strasburg’s first career complete game Sunday, while three San Francisco relievers were charged with seven runs over two innings in Sunday’s 10-2 loss to Baltimore.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (11-7, 2.75 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (7-5, 2.75)

Bumgarner’s frustration reached a boiling point after his last start, when he questioned his teammates’ focus in a 6-1 loss to Milwaukee. The 24-year-old, who allowed four runs over seven innings against the Brewers, has pitched at least seven innings in 10 consecutive starts. Adam LaRoche is 3-for-16 with seven strikeouts against Bumgarner, who is 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals.

After allowing 10 runs in his previous start, Gonzalez bounced back with seven strong innings last Tuesday against the Braves. Marco Scutaro has two hits in 17 at-bats against Gonzalez, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 15 of his 23 starts. The 27-year-old yielded one run over 7 1/3 innings in a 2-1 victory against San Francisco on May 22.

WALK-OFFS

1. Gonzalez and Bumgarner rank first and second in wins among left-handed pitchers since the beginning of the 2012 season with 28 and 27, respectively.

2. The Nationals are 51-14 when scoring three or more runs.

3. Washington 2B Anthony Rendon sat out Sunday’s game with a sore left forearm, but is expected to return for Tuesday’s series opener.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Nationals 3