Washington @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2012 ) Washington 4, Milwaukee 1

Gio Gonzalez will vie for his National League-leading 14th victory as the visiting Washington Nationals will attempt to win their three-game series versus the struggling Milwakee Brewers. Gonzalez enters Sunday's action tied in wins with New York Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and St. Louis Cardinals star Lance Lynn - one shy of the Tampa Bay Rays' David Price for the major-league lead. Washington benefited from three homers - including the first major-league hit by Corey Brown - to claim its seventh win in eight games with a 4-1 triumph on Saturday.

While Washington is steamrolling ahead, the wheels have come off for Milwaukee. The Brewers have dropped eight of their last nine contests to fall 10 games under .500. After trading former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke to the Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin is keeping an open mind to future deals. "My phone is still working," Melvin told MLB.com.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, TBS, MASN 2, WDCW DC-50 (Washington), FS Milwaukee (Brewers)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (13-5, 3.13 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Mark Rogers (NR)

Gonzalez answered a shaky start with a brilliant one in his last trip to the mound. The 26-year-old allowed one run on two hits in seven strong innings in a 5-2 triumph over the Mets on Tuesday. Gonzalez, who has yet to face Milwaukee in his young career, has limited the opposition to a .197 batting average this season.

Rogers was tabbed to start Sunday's game after the team traded Greinke on Friday. Rogers was scratched from his start Friday with Triple-A Nashville in order to fill the slot. Rogers has not pitched in the big leagues since making two starts and four overall appearances in the 2010 season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rookie Bryce Harper sat out Saturday's contest with a stomach virus. He was available to either pinch-hit or enter the game as a defensive replacement, but remained on the bench. Harper is expected to start Sunday.

2. Ryan Zimmerman belted his 12th homer since June 26 when he went deep on Saturday. Zimmerman is tied with Arizona's Jason Kubel and Minnesota's Josh Willingham for most in the majors during that span.

3. Rickie Weeks collected two hits - including an RBI single - for the second straight game. Weeks, who is 9-for-14 in his last four contests.