Washington @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 9, 2018 ) Washington 3, Pittsburgh 6

It has been all about the offense - or lack thereof - lately for the Washington Nationals, who have lost 10 of their last 14 and averaged two runs in the defeats while scoring 52 runs in the four wins. Washington hopes for something on the upper end of that spectrum in the second of a three-game road series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.

The Pirates won the series opener 6-3 on Monday for their first win in five meetings with the Nationals this season. The Nationals had scored 18 and 14 runs in two of their previous four games, but they didn’t do much beyond solo home runs from Juan Soto and Bryce Harper in the opener. They’ll try to get the boom-or-bust offense back on track against right-hander Joe Musgrove, who is making his first start against Washington. Pittsburgh will try to solve right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, who has had trouble with Gregory Polanco (5-for-13 with a homer) but has held the rest of the Pirates’ roster to eight hits in 74 at-bats.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN 2 (Washington), AT&T SportsNet - Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jeremy Hellickson (2-1, 3.81 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (3-3, 3.79)

Hellickson is making his third start since coming off the disabled list, and he hasn’t made it through the fifth inning in the first two. The 31-year-old was tagged for nine runs (eight earned) over four innings in a no-decision against Miami on Thursday. Hellickson is 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA in six meetings against the Pirates and has won both of his previous starts at PNC Park.

Musgrove will come off the DL to make his first start since June 29 when he threw seven scoreless innings to win at San Diego. The 25-year-old has struggled in his last three home starts, allowing 14 earned runs over 13 1/3 innings. Musgrove’s only career appearance against the Nationals was one inning of scoreless relief last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals C Matt Wieters (left hamstring strain) came off the disabled list Monday and went 1-for-4 in his first game since May 10.

2. Polanco has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games and is 15-for-42 with four homers and 13 RBIs over that stretch.

3. Pittsburgh CF Starling Marte is 10-for-19 during a five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Pirates 3