Milwaukee @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2018 ) Milwaukee 4, Washington 5

The Milwaukee Brewers have been making bold deals all season in an effort to bolster the ballclub and earn a spot in the postseason, and the changes keep coming. The Brewers will try to ride the momentum wave generated by the front office to a series win when they visit the Washington Nationals in the finale of a three-game series.

Xavier Cedeno worked a perfect inning of relief in his team debut on Saturday before the rest of the bullpen imploded after a lengthy rain delay, and Curtis Granderson is expected to make his first start for Milwaukee on Sunday while Gio Gonzalez is slotted into the rotation for next week. "It's Sept. 1, and you expect changes then," Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters on Saturday. "Acquiring three players from outside the organization is a rare day for baseball, that's for sure. We felt like we've made the team better. We've added some pieces - although it's just a month left in the season - that are going to have a chance to make some pretty sizable contributions." Gonzalez came over from the Nationals (68-68), who are sitting at .500 as the National League East slips away from the preseason favorites. Milwaukee, which is a half-game behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the top NL wild-card spot, turns to Junior Guerra on Sunday while Washington counters with righty Jefry Rodriguez.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin, Dish455 (Milwaukee), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Junior Guerra (6-9, 4.09 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jefry Rodriguez (2-1, 4.54)

Guerra is trying to prove he still deserves his spot in the rotation after the addition of Gonzalez and is trying to snap a string of eight straight winless outings. He lasted just 1 1/3 innings at Cincinnati on Tuesday and was knocked around for six runs on eight hits - one homer - and a pair of walks. Guerra has allowed a total of 20 runs - 14 earned - and 27 hits in 10 1/3 innings over his last three starts.

Rodriguez is trending in the opposite direction with wins in two of his last three outings. The Dominican rookie scattered two hits and four walks across six innings without allowing a run to earn a win at the New York Mets last Sunday. Rodriguez is making his first career start against Milwaukee and is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in five home appearances - four starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Brewers are expected to recall RHP Corey Knebel from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

2. Nationals LF Juan Soto has recorded multiple hits in three straight games and five of the last seven.

3. Washington C Matt Wieters (hip, groin) sat out Saturday and is day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Nationals 8, Brewers 3