Milwaukee @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2012 ) Washington 11, Milwaukee 10

The Washington Nationals have clinched a playoff spot and next up is winning the National League East as they open a four-game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Washington clinched at least a wild-card spot by beating the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday and enjoys a 5 1/2-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the East. Milwaukee was won five straight games and is 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild card.

The Brewers are playing their best baseball of the season and have won 15 of their past 19 games. The torrid run has allowed them to reach five games above .500 after a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Milwaukee third baseman Aramis Ramirez hit his 25th homer on Thursday and 15 of them have come since the All-Star break. Washington is in the playoffs for the first time since relocating from Montreal prior to the 2005 campaign. Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond has eight multi-hit games in September while batting .324.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Mid-Atlantic Sports Network 2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Shaun Marcum (5-4, 3.91 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (9-10, 3.89)

Marcum has received four consecutive no-decisions since losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 25 after a two-month absence due to elbow issues. He allowed four runs and seven hits in four innings against the New York Mets last Saturday. Marcum has faced Washington just once and that was in 2007 when he was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. Marcum struck out 11 and allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings while beating the Nationals.

Jackson received a no-decision in his last start when he gave up four runs (three earned) and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He has failed to make it through six innings in three consecutive outings. Jackson threw seven shutout innings and allowed eight hits while beating the Brewers on July 26. He is 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA in six career starts against Milwaukee.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee OF Norichika Aoki is batting .415 during a 10-game hitting streak.

2. Nationals C Kurt Suzuki is just 1-for-11 against Marcum.

3. Brewers 1B-OF Corey Hart (foot) went 1-for-3 Thursday in his first action since Sept. 9, and is 6-for-11 with two homers against Jackson.