Washington @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2017 ) Washington 2, Milwaukee 7

Bryce Harper followed his long-ball heroics in the Home Run Derby last week with another epic blast to help the Washington Nationals (49-49) move back to .500. The 2015 National League Most Valuable Player aims to flex his muscles once again on Monday when the Nationals begin a seven-game road trip with the first of three contests against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Adam Eaton recorded his third three-hit performance in eight outings in Sunday's 6-2 victory over Atlanta to raise his batting average from .292 to .328. Anthony Rendon has 10 RBIs and as many runs scored during his 10-game hitting streak for Washington, which has split its last eight contests to reside within earshot of first-place Philadelphia in the NL East. While the Nationals are staying afloat, the Brewers are taking on water as they fell for the eighth time in nine outings following Sunday's 11-2 setback to the Los Angeles Dodgers to drop 3 1/2 games behind the front-running Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. "We got our butts kicked today but it's one game. We'll come back tomorrow," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell told reporters.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (6-6, 3.72 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (8-3, 3.68)

Gonzalez will be working on extra rest after Saturday's scheduled start fell through due to Mother Nature. The 32-year-old fell to 0-4 with a 6.51 ERA in last eight starts on July 11 despite allowing two runs in six innings of a 2-0 setback at Pittsburgh. While Gonzalez has flustered Ryan Braun (3-for-20, five strikeouts), Hernan Perez (5-for-13) has gotten his licks in to send the hurler to a 2-4 mark with a 4.93 ERA in nine career starts versus the Brewers.

Chacin surrendered Corey Dickerson's two-run homer as his only hit permitted over 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision at Pittsburgh on July 15. The home-run ball hasn't been an issue for the 30-year-old Venezuelan, who has been taken deep just five times in his last 19 outings. Ryan Zimmerman has homered twice among his six hits off Chacin while Matt Adams has also gone deep in the midst of a 4-for-9 run versus the hurler.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee 1B Jesus Aguilar is expected to return to the lineup after sitting out Sunday's game with a sore hamstring, Counsell told reporters.

2. Nationals LHP Sean Doolittle is expected to be sidelined a few more weeks after an MRI on his injured toe revealed a stress reaction.

3. Brewers RHP Junior Guerra (forearm) is scheduled to come off the 10-day disabled list to start Tuesday's game.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Nationals 3