Washington @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 19, 2012 ) Houston 11, Washington 4

Looking to pad their lead in the National League East, the Washington Nationals could pick no better opponent than the Houston Astros. Losers of 30 of their last 34 games, the Astros are well on their way to finishing with the most losses in the majors for the second straight season. The Nationals are at the other end of the spectrum, gunning for the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 1981.

The Nationals took three of four from the Miami Marlins over the weekend and got a strong offensive contribution from Jayson Werth, who came off the disabled list and went 4-for-9 with four runs in the series. The real offensive star for Washington lately has been Adam LaRoche. The first baseman and Comeback Player of the Year candidate has four homers and nine RBIs in the last five contests. Houston is giving as much time to as many young players as possible the rest of the way. Justin Maxwell is making the most of his chance, going 6-for-8 over the last two games.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FSH (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (6-7, 3.57 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (1-4, 5.77)

Jackson came out on the wrong end of a 3-2 decision against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, surrendering three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. All three earned runs came via solo homers against the right-hander, who had not yielded more than one blast in any of his previous 12 outings. Jackson had one of his worst starts of 2012 against Houston on April 19, when he was reached for five runs on seven hits in five innings to suffer the loss.

Keuchel is one of several young players getting a long look in this lost season for Houston but has had a rough go of it lately, taking the loss in his last four starts while posting a 10.42 ERA. The 24-year-old left-hander has surrendered eight home runs and walked 25 in 39 total innings since getting called up June 17. Keuchel has a fastball that sits in the upper-80s and has only been able to record 14 strikeouts in seven starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros C Jason Castro (knee) will move up from Class AA to Class AAA Oklahoma City on Monday to continue his rehab.

2. Nationals SS Ian Desmond (oblique) will travel with the team on its 10-game road trip but there is no timetable for his return.

3. Washington has not taken a series in Houston since 2007.