Washington @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2013 ) Washington 2, Philadelphia 3

If the Washington Nationals continue wasting solid starts, they'll find themselves on the outside looking in at playoff time. Gio Gonzalez hopes the trend comes to a halt Tuesday night as he leads the Nationals into the second of a three-game series against the host Philadelphia Phillies. Washington ace Stephen Strasburg threw six sensational innings in Monday's opener, but the bullpen collapsed in the eighth inning en route to a 3-2 defeat.

With the gap now 7 1/2 games between the Nationals and the Cincinnati Reds for the second National League wild-card spot, the pressure falls squarely on Gonzalez's shoulders. He was sensational in his last start against the division-rival Phillies, limiting them to a run on six hits over seven innings back on July 10. Gonzalez will be opposed by Phillies rookie Ethan Martin, who has shown flashes of dominance but has been susceptible to the long ball.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), CSN (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (8-6, 3.56 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Ethan Martin (2-3, 6.39)

Inconsistency has been an issue for Gonzalez over the past month, but he was at his best in his previous encounter. The 27-year-old Florida native limited the Miami Marlins to three hits over seven scoreless innings, whiffing eight en route to a 9-0 victory. Gonzalez has fared well against Philadelphia over his career, going 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 45 strikeouts over 39 innings.

Martin's last start was a good-news, bad-news outing; on the plus side, the 24-year-old Georgia native racked up a career-best nine strikeouts over four innings. Unfortunately, he also surrendered three runs on four hits and was saddled with the loss in an 11-3 drubbing at the hands of the New York Mets. Martin has 32 strikeouts in 25 1/3 career major-league innings, but has allowed at least one home run in each of his first six starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Gonzalez is just 3-3 with a 4.58 ERA in 13 road starts.

2. Nationals 1B Adam LaRoche singled in four at-bats in Monday's series opener, extending his homerless streak to 15 games.

3. The season series is even at seven wins apiece.

PREDICTION: Nationals 7, Phillies 2