Arizona @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2011 ) Arizona 1, Washington 4

THE STORY: The Arizona Diamondbacks can’t seem to shake the San Francisco Giants in the National League West. Losing six in a row has a lot to do with that. The Diamondbacks also hope to snap out of their offensive funk when they visit the Washington Nationals in the second of their four-game series Tuesday. Ian Kennedy, an NL Cy Young Award candidate, will try to rebound from a sub-par performance when he opposes Jordan Zimmermann, who will likely make his final start of the season.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (15-4, 3.22 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (8-10, 3.11).

Kennedy lost 4-1 at Philadelphia in his last start Thursday when he allowed three runs in three innings and didn’t return after a long rain delay. He had won his previous seven straight starts to enter himself into the Cy Young discussion. Kennedy is 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA lifetime against Washington, including a no-decision in a 9-4 loss June 5 when he allowed one run in seven innings.

Zimmermann defeated the Diamondbacks in his only career start against them 6-1 on June 2 when he allowed one run and six hits in seven innings. He has won two of his last three starts, including 5 2/3 scoreless innings in Washington’s 3-1 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday. Zimmermann has pitched 150 2/3 innings this season. The Nationals said they don’t want him to pitch more than 160 innings in his first full season since Tommy John surgery.

ABOUT THE NATIONALS (62-64): Ryan Zimmerman, who was named NL co-Player of the Week on Monday, has reached base in 28 consecutive games and is 13-for-28 in his last eight. He has also hit safely in 27 of his last 28 games. Zimmerman is 2-for-5 with a homer and double against Kennedy as the Nationals are 12-for-48 with two homers and three RBIs against him. Zimmerman is also 24-for-55 in his last 14 games against Arizona. Washington is 5-2 on its 10-game homestand and 37-25 at Nationals Park this season as it continues to receive strong pitching at home. Ross Detwiler was the latest to keep the momentum going with 6 2/3 strong innings in the Nationals’ 4-1 victory Monday.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (69-59): Arizona’s offense, fifth in the National League in runs scored, has been a big reason why the Diamondbacks are in a position to dethrone the Giants as NL West champions. But it also has been the main culprit during the six-game slide as Arizona has been outscored 30-7. Justin Upton, who leads Arizona in every major offensive category, is 2-for-21 during the losing streak. The Diamondbacks are 1-6 on their 10-game road trip, which concludes Thursday. Prior to the slide, Arizona had won seven straight and scored 43 runs during that span. Gerardo Parra went 2-for-3 with an RBI double against Zimmermann in June.

FINAL PITCH: The Nationals are trying for their first winning season since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005. The franchise’s last winning season came in Montreal in 2003 when it went 83-79.