Milwaukee @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2018 ) Milwaukee 4, Washington 1

The Milwaukee Brewers sent a message that they are all in as they pursue a bid to the National League postseason party, adding a pair of left-handers to bolster their pitching staff and an outfielder in three separate trades on Friday. Reliever Xavier Cedeno is expected to be available when the Brewers resume their three-game series at the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.

"He has a long track record of getting left-handers out. Especially when the rosters expand, you can use this type of pitcher really effectively," said Milwaukee assistant general manager Matt Arnold of Cedeno. The Brewers also swung a trade with the Nationals by acquiring starter Gio Gonzalez to fortify the rotation just prior to Friday's 4-1 victory -- the team's third win in a row and eighth in 11 games -- and later obtained veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson from Toronto. While Milwaukee stocked up for its wild-card battle with St. Louis, Washington continues to purge its roster, trading Gonzalez and sending reliever Ryan Madson to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg will make his third start since coming off the disabled list when he matches up with Chase Anderson on Saturday.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (9-7, 4.04 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (7-7, 4.15)

Anderson won his second straight start and extended his unbeaten streak to seven outings despite giving up four runs and seven hits over five innings versus Pittsburgh on Sunday. It marked the third time in four starts he has allowed at least four runs and the fourth time in five outings he's permitted two homers, boosting his NL-leading total to 28. Anderson is 4-4 with a 2.97 ERA in 12 road starts.

Strasburg is trying to reclaim his form after two stints on the disabled list that sidelined him for more than a month each time. He lasted only four innings and yielded five runs against the Phillies on Aug. 22 in his return from the DL, but was better in the rematch at Philadelphia with six innings of two-run ball. Strasburg has made three career starts against Milwaukee, going 0-2 with a 5.30 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers RF Christian Yelich is 10-for-19 in his last four games, raising his batting average to an NL-high .317.

2. Nationals LF Juan Soto has multiple hits in five of his last nine games.

3. Brewers 1B Jesús Aguilar hit his 31st homer Friday, extending his hitting streak to four games.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Brewers 3