Houston @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2011 ) Houston 3, Washington 4

THE STORY: The slumping Houston Astros are looking to put off the inevitable as long as possible. The visiting Astros, who meet Washington in the second of a three-game series at Nationals Park, could tie a club record with a loss. The Astros have lost 97 games three times in franchise history and need a miraculous finish to avoid losing 100 or more. It doesn’t look good as Houston has lost 12 of 16 games in Washington, but the Nationals have lost 12 of its last 16.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), my20 (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Wandy Rodriguez (10-10, 3.47 ERA) vs. Nationals LH John Lannan (9-11, 3.48).

Rodriguez has won two of his last three decisions, but is coming off a six-inning loss to Milwaukee when he allowed three runs and two homers in a 4-0 defeat. Rodriguez has been streaky - he threw eight scoreless innings against the Giants on Aug. 19 and six scoreless against the Diamondbacks on Aug. 8, but allowed six runs in six innings at Colorado on Aug. 24. He is 4-1 with a 4.98 ERA in eight career starts against Washington. Lannan broke a four-game losing streak with a victory over the Dodgers in his last start as he went 5 1/3 innings and allowed one run. Even though he had gone 0-4 with one no-decision in his previous five starts, Lannan had allowed only nine earned runs in 27 innings. He is 3-2 with a 4.33 ERA in six career starts against the Astros and will be facing them for the first time this season.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (48-96): Jordan Schafer doesn’t normally start against lefthanders, but may get a chance against Lannan because he has reached base in five of his last nine plate appearances against him. Brett Wallace continues to struggle - he is 0-for-8 since being recalled and is 0-for-25 since July 23. Pitcher Sergio Escalona won’t be available for the weekend after tripping on a glove in the outfield during batting practice and spraining his left ankle. He will be evaluated on Monday when the team returns to Houston.

ABOUT THE NATIONALS (66-76): Ryan Zimmerman broke an eight-game homerless streak when he hit his 11th on Friday. Rookie Chris Marrero is 5-for-14 over his last four games. Roger Bernadina is limited to pinch-running duty until the cut on his left hand heals, while Laynce Nix is limited to pinch-hitting duty because of a strained right groin. Reliever Tyler Clippard had his first two-inning appearance since Aug. 5 and won for the first time since Aug. 7.

FINAL PITCH: Houston claimed righthander Lance Pendleton on waivers from the Yankees. He will join the club Saturday and be used out of the bullpen.