Pirates at Nationals
Andrew McCutchen is on a significant roll and looks to again haunt Washington pitchers when the Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Nationals on Tuesday for the second contest of the four-game series. McCutchen homered twice and drove in four runs in Pittsburgh’s 6-5 victory on Monday and has 13 blasts and 26 RBIs in 27 career games against Washington. The All-Star outfielder has five homers in his last six games and is batting a torrid .383 in July.
The Nationals have lost four straight games and nine of their last 11. Hitting coach Rick Eckstein was made the scapegoat as he was fired Monday despite the protests of manager Davey Johnson and replaced by minor-league hitting instructor Rick Schu, who will join the team on Tuesday. Pirates All-Star closer Jason Grilli, who has a National League-leading 30 saves, left Monday’s game in the ninth inning with a forearm injury and will be re-evaluated Tuesday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (4-3, 3.89 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Taylor Jordan (0-2, 3.32)
Cole has lost three straight starts after winning his first four major-league outings. He has given up three runs or fewer in each of his seven starts. Cole gave up two runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings while beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in his only road outing.
Jordan is making his fifth start since being recalled from the minors in late June. He settled for a no-decision in his last outing, when he gave up two runs and eight hits in six innings against the Miami Marlins. Jordan has issued just three walks in 21 2/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals RF Jayson Werth belted two home runs on Monday, marking the second straight day he accomplished the feat.
2. Pittsburgh 2B Neil Walker (oblique) could return on Tuesday. He has been sidelined since July 6.
3. Washington is three games below .500 for the first time this season.