Toronto @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 1, 2015 ) Toronto 0, Washington 0

Mother Nature is the only thing that has slowed Toronto Blue Jays’ third baseman Josh Donaldson in the past week. The reigning American League player of the week, who topped the majors in runs, homers, RBIs and slugging percentage last week, leads the Blue Jays into Tuesday’s split doubleheader at the Washington Nationals after heavy rains washed out Monday’s scheduled series opener.

Donaldson belted six homers last week while going 11-for-25 with 11 runs scored and 11 RBIs, but the Blue Jays begin the interleague series having dropped three of their past four. The series features two of the most prolific home run hitters this season in Washington right fielder Bryce Harper (tied for the big-league lead with 18 homers) and Donaldson (tied for third with 15 homers). Washington hopes the unscheduled break Monday provides a breather as the NL East leaders were swept at Cincinnati last weekend. The Nationals’ bullpen was blitzed by the Reds for 14 runs in 11 2/3 innings.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, SportsNet (Toronto), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (2-5, 5.77 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (4-2, 3.26)

The 40-year-old Dickey, the oldest player in the AL, figures to benefit from an extra day of rest after going 1-2 with a 7.92 ERA in his past four outings. Dickey earned a complete-game victory May 21 against the Angels, but gave up five runs on eight hits in five innings five days later against the White Sox. Dickey is 4-6 with a 3.73 ERA in 15 career games (13 starts) against Washington.

Zimmermann, who went 33-14 in All-Star seasons in 2013 and 2014, has shaken off a rough beginning to this season by going 3-0 with a 2.35 ERA in his past seven starts. He got a no-decision May 26 against the Cubs despite allowing one run on six hits in seven innings, after giving up two runs in 13 innings across his previous two starts – victories over the Padres and Yankees. Zimmermann has made one career start against Toronto, a no-decision in 2009.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington promoted LHP Felipe Rivero from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday to give its beleaguered bullpen a fresh arm, optioning LHP Matt Grace.

2. Toronto RF Jose Bautista, limited to DH duty since April 21 due to a strain and an impingement in his right shoulder, is expected to return to the field Tuesday.

3. Nationals’ CF Denard Span, who left Sunday’s loss with a sore right knee, was not in the lineup Washington posted Monday before the game was postponed.

PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Blue Jays 2