Washington @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2012 ) Washington 2, St. Louis 12

The Washington Nationals can clinch their first division title in franchise history Saturday with a win over the St. Louis Cardinals, who could also be in the mood to celebrate soon. Washington’s magic number to wrap up the National League East stands at two over Atlanta with five games to play, while the Cardinals’ magic number for clinching the second NL wild card is three over the Los Angeles Dodgers. St. Louis has won nine of its last 11 games, including a decisive 12-2 win over the Nationals in the series opener on Friday.

Saturday’s starters Jordan Zimmermann and Kyle Lohse will be making their final starts before the postseason, and both rank among the NL’s ERA leaders. Washington, which is 1-11 at Busch Stadium since the beginning of the 2008 season, figures to start Gio Gonzalez in the first game of the playoffs, with Zimmermann starting the second. Edwin Jackson has a 7.92 ERA in five starts this month, and he could be bumped from the third spot in favor of Ross Detwiler. Assuming St. Louis clinches a playoff spot, Lohse would likely start the team’s first game.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (12-8, 2.90 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Kyle Lohse (16-3, 2.77)

Zimmermann gave up one run over 6 2/3 innings against Milwaukee last Monday to win back-to-back games for the first time since his two starts following the All-Star break. Zimmermann, who has allowed less than three runs in four straight outings, is 7-5 with a 2.23 ERA in 15 starts on the road this season.

Lohse made his fourth straight quality start last Sunday against the Cubs, giving up three runs over six innings. Lohse has set career highs in wins (16), strikeouts (134), and innings pitched (205). In 15 starts at Busch Stadium this season, Lohse is 8-1 with a 2.12 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals OF Matt Holliday left Friday’s game in the sixth inning with a left elbow contusion after being hit by a pitch.

2. Nationals OF Jayson Werth is 7-for-18 with three home runs and six RBIs in 19 career plate appearances against Lohse.

3. St. Louis 3B David Freese missed his fourth straight game Friday with a right ankle sprain, but he’s expected to return during the series.