Houston @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2011 ) Houston 9, Washington 3

THE STORY: The Washington Nationals send phenom Stephen Strasburg to the mound in the finale of a three-game series against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park. Strasburg will be making his second start since returning from surgery a year ago and will make his first career appearance against the last-place Astros. Team officials have said Strasburg will make at least three more starts.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Henry Sosa (2-3, 4.11 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

The rookie Sosa has put together three outstanding starts, going 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts in that span. He lost his last start 3-1 to the Pirates despite allowing only two runs in six innings. Left-handers are hitting only .204 against Sosa, who will be making his first career appearance against the Nationals.

Strasburg was masterful in his return from Tommy John surgery, allowing only two hits in five scoreless innings against the Dodgers. Strasburg was on a strict 60-pitch limit, which will be imposed again. He located all his pitches effectively, including a devastating 90-mph change. The only pitch he avoided was the straight overhand curve.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (49-96): Jason Bourgeois has had back-to-back three-hit games against Washington. He's had eight three-hit games this season and lifted his batting average to .301, the highest it has been since Aug. 15. Angel Sanchez has started the last five games at shortstop and has gone 4-for-15. Carlos Lee has hit safely in four straight games and in 18 of his last 19 games. Carlos Corporan had a career-high three RBI on Saturday, more than one-fourth of season total of 11.

ABOUT THE NATIONALS (66-77): Michael Morse has hit four homers in his last ten games and leads the club with 27. Of his 48 career home runs, five have come against the Astros.Chris Marrero has three multi-hit games in his last five starts. Ian Desmond has only five hits in his last 25 at-bats. Jonny Gomes snapped a six-game hitless skid with two hits on Saturday, his first multi-hit game since Aug. 9.

FINAL PITCH: “No more difficult than the rest of the year. For whatever reason, I mentioned in Milwaukee (in May) that things need to change. I kind of got into trouble for saying that. Here we are - many months later - and we still have to drive in runs. Essentially, things still need to change.” - Washington outfielder Jayson Werth on the team's lack of production.