Nationals at Pirates
The Washington Nationals' postseason hopes will receive an enormous boost when ace right-hander Max Scherzer is expected to be activated off the disabled list to start Thursday night's finale of a four-game series at the Pittsburgh Pirates. The three-time Cy Young Award winner had won seven straight starts before going on the injured list twice last month.
"He's on schedule. Yeah!" Washington manager Dave Martinez told reporters Wednesday of the impending return of Scherzer, who has made only one start since July 6 -- a five-inning outing on July 25 before going back on the injured list. Anthony Rendon has hit safely in eight straight games and has collected 10 RBIs in his last seven contests to match his career high with 100. While the Nationals remain atop the wild-card chase after scoring at least 10 runs for the fifth time in seven games in Wednesday's 11-1 romp, the Pirates were held to one run or less for the fourth time in five contests. Pittsburgh's Josh Bell has hit safely in three straight games and needs one more RBI to reach 100 for the first time in his careeer.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Washington), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (9-5, 2.41 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Steven Brault (3-2, 4.06)
Scherzer was in the midst of a spectacular nine-start run before he was initially sidelined by a mid-back strain, posting a 7-0 record and 0.84 ERA while registering 94 strikeouts against only nine walks over 64 innings. The 35-year-old is 5-2 with a 2.81 ERA versus the Pirates after tossing eight innings of three-run ball in a no-decision against them on April 14. Scherzer, who is 6-1 with a 2.34 ERA on the road, has held Starling Marte to 4-for-21 with 10 strikeouts.
Brault suffered his first loss since April 1 last time out despite turning in his best performance of the season, striking out eight and limiting the Chicago Cubs to one run and two hits over seven innings. It marked the 10th time in his last 12 appearances he has permitted two runs or fewer, although he failed to get through five innings five times during that span. Brault is 0-2 with a 3.72 ERA at PNC Park this season and has a 14.54 ERA in three appearances versus the Nationals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington's starters have not allowed a run in 18 1/3 innings in the series.
2. The Pirates placed RHPs Chris Archer (shoulder inflammation) and Clay Holmes (quadriceps) on the 10-day IL.
3. Nationals SS Trea Turner has hit safely in five straight and is riding a career-high 28-game on-base streak.