Washington @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 25, 2011 ) Washington 0, Chi. White Sox 3

THE STORY: The Washington Nationals play their final game under interim manager John McLaren when they face the host Chicago White Sox on Sunday. The Nationals, who will begin play under new skipper Davey Johnson on Monday, had won 12 of 13 games before being stymied by four Chicago pitchers in a 3-0 loss Saturday afternoon. Washington won the series opener Friday in 14 innings 9-5.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MASN, DC-50 (Washington), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Livan Hernandez (4-8, 3.97 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Philip Humber (7-3, 2.90). Hernandez struggled in his last outing, allowing five runs and 10 hits in four innings against Seattle, but prior to that he snapped an eight-start winless streak by tossing a three-hit shutout against St. Louis on June 15. He has been his usual durable self this season, averaging better than 6 1/3 innings per start, but he has had occasional problems with control (29 walks in 102 innings pitched). Hernandez has not fared well against the White Sox, going 1-2 with a 6.88 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in three career starts. Humber has quietly become Chicago's ace, going 5-0 since April with a 2.71 ERA. He has won his last four starts, giving up 10 runs in 31 innings. Opponents have had a particularly tough time against Humber at U.S. Cellular Field, where he boasts a 2.50 ERA and a WHIP of 0.93. In two career games (including one start) against the Nationals, Humber has allowed five runs, six hits and three walks in five innings, but third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (0-for-2) is the only current Washington player he has faced.

ABOUT THE NATIONALS (39-38): Washington has the best record in baseball (16-7) during the month of June and has climbed out of the National League East cellar and into wild-card contention. The team's bats finally went cold Saturday after averaging five runs in their previous 13 games. The team had not been shut out since failing to score in back-to-back games at Arizona June 3-4. Meanwhile, the pitching staff continued to hold up its end of the deal - the Nationals have allowed 67 runs this month, which is fewer than three per game.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (38-40): Chicago has slowly crawled closer in the American League Central thanks in part to a deep pitching staff that has worked well with six starters over much of the past month and a half. The added depth paid off Saturday when Chicago had little bullpen help available and starter John Danks strained an oblique muscle in the second inning. Jake Peavy (4-1, 4.23) helped to save the day, tossing four scoreless innings for the win in his first career relief appearance. The bullpen has also improved after a rough April as Sergio Santos has recorded 15 saves in 17 chances.

FINAL PITCH: On Friday night, Washington became the first team since 1976 to win a game after blowing three leads in the ninth inning and beyond.