Nationals at Pirates
The Washington Nationals entered Tuesday's matchup in Pittsburgh having amassed 43 runs in their previous three games while the Pirates managed one run during that same span. However, Pittsburgh evened the four-game set by victimizing Washington's beleaguered bullpen and will seek back-to-back home wins for the first time since July 6-7 on Wednesday night.
Starling Marte had two singles in 16 at-bats against the Nationals this season before swatting a three-run homer in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 4-1 victory to give the Pirates only their eighth win in 36 games since the All-Star break. Marte, who is 13-for-31 over the past eight games, matched his RBI total from his previous 14 contests with his career-best 22nd homer. Anthony Rendon has eight RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak after going 3-for-3 with a run-scoring double in Tuesday's loss that dropped Washington six games behind first-place Atlanta in the National League East. Trea Turner has reached base safely in 27 straight contests for the Nationals, who lead the wild-card race by one game over the Chicago Cubs.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Patrick Corbin (9-5, 3.34 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (8-11, 4.59)
Corbin notched his third no-decision in a row despite registering his fourth quality start in five outings, limiting Milwaukee to one run and seven hits over six innings on Friday. The 30-year-old stretched his undefeated streak to 11 straight starts, a span in which he has yielded two runs or fewer on nine occasions. Marte is 5-for-17 with a pair of doubles off Corbin, who struck out 11 in seven innings of one-run ball in a no-decision versus Pittsburgh on April 12.
Musgrove had to settle for a no-decision despite one of his best efforts of the year on Friday versus the Cubs, when he struck out a season-high nine and gave up two runs and four hits over 7 1/3 innings. He lost his previous two starts, tossing 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball at St. Louis and getting rocked for eight runs over 3 1/3 innings by the New York Mets. Juan Soto is 2-for-3 off Musgrove, who is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA versus the Nationals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle needs one win to tie Billy Martin (1,253) for 38th place on baseball's career list.
2. Nationals OF Adam Eaton is 8-for-17 with three homers, seven RBIs and eight runs scored during a four-game hitting streak.
3. Pirates RHP Chris Archer exited Tuesday's game after one inning due to right shoulder discomfort.