Washington @ Chicago preview

Washington at Chi. Cubs

Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2013 ) Washington 11, Chi. Cubs 6

Perhaps no pitchers in the National League know tough luck better than the Washington Nationals' Stephen Strasburg and the Chicago Cubs' Travis Wood, who will square off in the finale of a four-game series Thursday in Chicago. The Nationals have won the past two nights after being routed in the opener. Thursday's contest will serve as the rubber match for the season series, which is knotted at 3-3.

Strasburg and Wood are two of only three pitchers with losing records who rank among the top 25 in the NL in ERA, but they aren't the only ones on their teams hurting from a lack of support. The Nationals are 56-15 when scoring three or more runs but 6-49 when scoring two or fewer. The Cubs have swung the bats better in this series, but are hitting a major league-worst .222 with runners in scoring position for the season.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MASN, WUSA 9 (Washington), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (6-9, 2.93 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (7-10, 3.13)

Strasburg left his last start early as he was ejected before recording an out in the second inning after hitting Atlanta's Justin Upton with a pitch and throwing back-to-back fastballs behind Andrelton Simmons. The outing wasn't off to a good start, either - the 25-year-old had allowed a home run and wound up charged with two runs. Strasburg was dominant in his two previous starts, though, piling up 19 strikeouts while allowing two runs over 16 innings.

Wood is winless in his last four starts and has lost three straight decisions, and is coming off a tough outing in which he allowed four runs over 5 1/3 innings in a loss to St. Louis. The All-Star has 20 quality starts but only three in his last seven outings. The Nationals are one of two National League teams Wood has never faced, along with the Braves.

WALK-OFFS

1. Strasburg is 0-1 with a 0.75 ERA in two starts against the Cubs and has 12 strikeouts in 12 innings.

2. Chicago has hit 138 home runs, one more than it hit all of last season.

3. The Cubs will face a right-handed starting pitcher for the 17th consecutive game and are 5-11 in the previous 16 contests.