Nationals at Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers appear to be getting healthier with the return of reigning National League Most Valuable Player Christian Yelich, while the Washington Nationals are fading with losses in eight of their last 11 contests. The Brewers will aim to continue their ascent on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Nationals.
Yelich celebrated his return to the lineup by belting his major league-leading 15th homer on Sunday as Milwaukee completed a sweep of the New York Mets with a 3-2 win. The 27-year-old Yelich will look to continue his torrid stretch on Monday versus three-time Cy Young Award recipient Max Scherzer, against whom he is 10-for-26 with three homers and five RBIs. While the Brewers have won seven of their last 10 entering the final leg of their 10-game homestand, the Nationals began a 10-game trek by dropping two of three in Philadelphia. Kurt Suzuki has homered in three consecutive contests for an injury-riddled Washington club that is without Matt Adams (shoulder), Ryan Zimmerman (foot), Anthony Rendon (elbow), Trea Turner (finger) and Juan Soto (back).
TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (1-4, 4.08 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (3-3, 4.25)
Scherzer, who hasn't received much in the way of offense this season, allowed three runs on eight hits in seven innings to take the loss in a 5-1 setback versus St. Louis on Wednesday. The 34-year-old struck out eight and walked two against the Cardinals, lifting his season totals to a staggering 62 and seven in those categories. While Yelich has gotten his licks in on Scherzer, the hurler has handcuffed Lorenzo Cain (0-for-15, seven strikeouts), Ryan Braun (0-for-13, five strikeouts) and Yasmani Grandal (1-for-10, six strikeouts).
Chacin recorded his first win since April 2 when he scattered two hits over six scoreless innings in a 4-3 victory versus Colorado on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Venezuelan kept the ball in the park against the Rockies after surrendering five homers in his previous four trips to the mound. Chacin owns a 5-2 mark with a 2.88 ERA in 10 career starts against the Nationals, although Howie Kendrick (4-for-9) has found success versus him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kendrick is riding a five-game hitting streak while Washington RF Adam Eaton has collected a hit in four straight.
2. Braun enjoyed an 11-for-16 surge with six RBIs and two runs scored before being held hitless in the finale versus the Mets.
3. Nationals SS Carter Kieboom is 2-for-23 with 11 strikeouts in his last seven games.