Pirates at Nationals
The Washington Nationals clinched both a postseason berth and their fourth NL East title in six years on Sept. 10, so they've had their eyes fixed on the playoffs for quite some time. After spending the last 2 1/2 weeks walking the fine line of rest versus remaining sharp, the Nationals look to pick up the pace on Thursday with the opener of a four-game set versus the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
Washington, which will face the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series, has lost eight of its last 15 since clinching the East title - including two of three at last-place Philadelphia to start the week. Bryce Harper is working out the kinks as he eases into his workload following a 1 1/2-month absence due to a knee injury, while Daniel Murphy reached base four times in his return from a two-game absence with an ailing hamstring in Wednesday's 7-5 setback to the Phillies. Pittsburgh's postseason aspirations ended long ago, but Josh Bell appears intent on ending the season with a flourish. The 25-year-old homered to highlight a three-hit performance in Wednesday's 5-3 win over Baltimore, improving to 5-for-8 with four RBIs during the two-game interleague sweep.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (11-14, 4.14 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (5-6, 5.40)
Nova has shown signs of turning the tables on a disastrous stretch in the second half of the season, allowing three earned runs in his last two starts but settled for a no-decision versus St. Louis on Friday despite tossing five strong innings. The 30-year-old Dominican, who will be making his career-high 31st start, has lost four straight decisions and eight of his last nine dating to July 23. Nova has struggled mightily against Alejandro De Aza (7-for-10), with Howie Kendrick (4-for-11) and Adam Lind (5-for-14) getting their licks in as well.
While Washington has wrapped up a postseason spot, the same cannot be said for Jackson in terms of a place on the playoff roster. The 34-year-old has posted an 0-3 mark with a gaudy 12.38 ERA in his last four starts, with nine homers allowed highlighting that brutal stretch. Andrew McCutchen (15-for-36, three homers) and Starling Marte (9-for-25) have battered Jackson, however the hurler has kept David Freese (3-for-15, five strikeouts) under wraps and boasts a 10-3 career mark versus the Pirates.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington SS Trea Turner has 11 hits and six runs scored in his last eight contests.
2. Marte has recorded multi-hit performances in three straight contests and five times during his eight-game hitting streak.
3. Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman is 0-for-9 with five strikeouts in his last two contests.