Washington @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( May 12, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 2, Washington 1
The Washington Nationals' postseason prospects are fading fast, but they have four games with the punchless Chicago Cubs to try to do something about it. The Nationals are 15 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the National League East and 9 1/2 behind Cincinnati for the second wild card as they head to Chicago on Monday. The Cubs took two of three when the teams met in Washington in May, but only remnants of that Chicago team remain - and the leftovers haven't fared well recently.
The Cubs have been shut out in five of their last eight home games, and they narrowly avoided that fate Sunday as they dropped a 6-1 decision to St. Louis in the series finale. Chicago has lost six of seven overall and nine of its last 10 at home. Washington looks to rough up Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija for the second time this year - the Nationals tagged him for seven runs (five earned) over five innings in a 7-3 victory May 10.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MASN 2 HD (Washington), CSN Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (14-6, 3.02 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jeff Samardzija (6-11, 4.29)
Zimmermann lost some steam coming out of the All-Star break, but he has won his last two decisions. He was solid last time out, holding San Francisco to one run on six hits over seven innings to add to his career-high win total. The 27-year-old is 1-3 with a 4.22 ERA in five starts against the Cubs and split two meetings last year.
Samardzija had spots of brilliance in July but is winless in his last five starts. After getting shelled for season highs of nine runs and 11 hits in his shortest outing of the year at Philadelphia on Aug. 8, the 28-year-old issued four walks and gave up four runs in six innings in a no-decision against the Reds. Samardzija is 1-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 10 games (three starts) against Washington.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals RF Jayson Werth, who is 19-for-39 during a 10-game hitting streak, has reached base in the last 25 contests he has started.
2. The Cubs are hitting .197 as a team with nine extra-base hits over their past eight home games.
3. Washington SS Ian Desmond is 8-for-13 with three doubles and a homer against Samardzija.
PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Cubs 2