Washington @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( May 25, 2011 ) Washington 4, Milwaukee 6
The season - like too many late leads - is slipping away from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Washington Nationals hope to use a four-game road series against the struggling Brewers to strengthen their hold on the National League's best record. The Nationals take a five-game win streak into Miller Park, where the Brewers hope a return home will help heal the scars of an 0-6 road trip that included three blown saves in a three-game sweep at Philadelphia.
The Nationals, who lead the NL East by 4 1/2 games over Atlanta, swept the New York Mets to begin their seven-game road trip. They are 30-20 away from home, tied with the Braves for the best mark in the majors. Milwaukee has not lost a home series since dropping two of three against Pittsburgh from June 1-3, but the bullpen imploded in Philadelphia. Francisco Rodriguez, who took over the closer role from John Axford last week, blew two saves, and the Brewers allowed six runs in the eighth inning of the other game.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN, Fox Sports Wisconsin, MLB Network
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (5-6, 3.73 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (8-7, 3.72)
Jackson has lost his last two starts but had one of his best outings of the year Saturday against Atlanta, allowing just one run over seven innings and matching a season high with nine strikeouts in a 4-0 loss. Jackson is 2-2 with a 4.22 ERA in five starts against Milwaukee, and he has split two starts at Miller Park.
Gallardo had gone at least six innings in 14 straight starts before lasting just 5 2/3 frames Saturday at Cincinnati. He allowed four runs to snap a streak of seven straight quality starts and took the loss, and he had just one strikeout - a season low - one start after racking up a career high 14. Gallardo is 3-1 with a 3.90 ERA in six games (five starts) against Washington.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Brewers have 19 blown saves, matching their total all of last season. Their bullpen ERA of 4.73 ranks 28th among 30 teams.
2. Nationals INF Danny Espinosa is hitting .432 (19-for-44) during a career-best 11-game hitting streak. He is 1-for-5 with a homer against Gallardo.
3. Brewers C Jonathan Lucroy is expected to rejoin the team Thursday. Lucroy went on the disabled list May 28 with a broken finger on his right (throwing) hand. He was hitting .345 with five home runs and 30 RBIs in 43 games before the injury.