Nationals at Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers have seen their pitching staff become significantly less generous after surrendering 11 runs in back-to-back contests, yielding a total of nine during their four-game winning streak. The Brewers bid to continue their good fortune on Tuesday as they play the second contest of a three-game series versus the visiting Washington Nationals, who have lost nine of their last 12.
Milwaukee's strong pitching aside, Ben Gamel continued to swing a hot bat by recording an RBI single among his three hits in Monday's 5-3 win over Washington. The 26-year-old has registered 14 hits and nine runs scored in his last 10 contests for the Brewers, who have won a major league high-tying 14 home games. Washington, which had travel issues that prevented it from reaching Wisconsin until Monday morning, didn't help itself by committing four errors and throwing a pair of wild pitches in the opener. The injury-riddled Nationals are expected to receive a boost with the probable return of Anthony Rendon, who has been sidelined by a left elbow contusion.
TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN2 (Washington), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (3-1, 3.45 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Adrian Houser (0-1, 8.44)
Strasburg reached the 1,500-strikeout plateau in the fewest innings of any pitcher in his last outing on Thursday, helping him improve to 2-0 with a 1.25 ERA in his last three starts following a 2-1 win versus St. Louis. The 30-year-old has fanned 29 batters and issued only five walks in that stretch. Strasburg owns an 0-2 record and 4.74 ERA in four career starts versus the Brewers while allowing the club to bat a robust .333 against him.
Houser will receive the start on Tuesday after tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings in Saturday's 18-inning marathon game against the New York Mets. The 26-year-old was shelled in his lone previous start with Milwaukee on April 22, permitting five runs and nine hits - including two homers - in four frames of a 13-5 setback at St. Louis. It's not known if Houser will serve as an opener before receiving a quick hook in favor of Freddy Peralta (1-1, 8.31), who yielded nine runs in his last outing and has struggled to get untracked this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington 2B Howie Kendrick has scored three runs during his six-game hitting streak.
2. Milwaukee SS Orlando Garcia, who recorded two doubles and a single in the series opener, has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 contests.
3. Nationals RF Adam Eaton has hit safely in five straight games and seven of his last eight.