Chicago @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 4, Washington 5
THE STORY: The Washington Nationals surely could use a win by a comfortable margin. Each of the club's last eight victories has either been by one run or in extra innings. Both the Nationals and visiting Chicago Cubs will send pitchers to the mound who will be making their season debut in Ross Detwiler and Ramon Ortiz, respectively. Chicago has lost three straight road games and 13 of 17 away from home.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Ramon Ortiz (NR) vs. Nationals LH Ross Detwiler (NR).
Ortiz will be making his season debut as he starts in place of Carlos Zambrano, who is on the disabled list with lower back soreness. Ortiz has not pitched in the majors since May 19, 2010, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 38-year-old, who was 11-16 for Washington in 2006, has gone 6-3 with a 4.26 ERA in 16 outings with Triple-A Iowa this year. Detwiler also will be starting for the first time in 2011. The 25-year-old is 2-9 in 24 career major league games, including five relief appearances. Last year, Detwiler went 1-3 while starting in five of his eight appearances.
ABOUT THE NATIONALS (43-43): Washington improved to 3-5 under new manager Davey Johnson with Monday's triumph. RF Jayson Werth drove in two runs for his first multi-RBI game since May 31. He produced the winning run by drawing a leadoff walk, advancing on a sacrifice, stealing third and racing home on a wild pitch. He also saved a run in the sixth inning by throwing out Carlos Pena at the plate. Ivan Rodriguez is 8-for-34 (.235) lifetime against Ortiz, but three of his hits were home runs.
ABOUT THE CUBS (35-51): Monday's loss snapped Chicago's seven-game winning streak at Nationals Park. RHP Casey Coleman was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to start Monday's game in place of Ryan Dempster, who is suffering from stomach and back pain that hospitalized him over the weekend. Coleman yielded two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings and left the contest with a lead. 2B Darwin Barney went 0-for-5, ending his career-best hitting streak at eight games. CF Marlon Byrd recorded a pair of singles, his first hits in three games after missing six weeks with facial fractures.
FINAL PITCH: Washington is 16-15 in one-run games this season but 10-2 since June 7. The Nationals have won seven straight one-run contests at home.