Although runs could be hard to come by against the Milwaukee Brewers' Mike Fiers, their winning streak seems safe.
The NL East-leading Nationals seek a seventh straight victory Friday against Fiers, who owns baseball's best ERA over the last six weeks with little to show for it.
Washington (59-39) won Thursday's opener 8-2 to snap an eight-game losing streak at Miller Park and match its longest winning streak of the season. The Nationals are tied with the New York Yankees for baseball's best record and have a five-game lead over Atlanta in the division.
The Nationals, who won eight in a row last June, are averaging 6.7 runs during their current winning streak with Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche and Michael Morse leading the way.
LaRoche has homered in three straight games and is batting .421 with six RBIs during a five-game hitting streak, while Morse, who drove in two runs in the opener, is hitting .364 with two homers and five RBIs in his last five.
Fiers (3-4, 1.96 ERA), who in seven games - six starts - since July 16, has a major league-best 0.76 ERA. He gave up two runs and five hits in six innings against Cincinnati on Sunday.
Despite recording his sixth consecutive quality start, the rookie right-hander was saddled with a 2-1 loss, leaving him with a 2-2 record in those games. The Brewers have scored one run or less in three straight and four of his last five starts.
While the Nationals are racing toward the franchise's first playoff berth since 1981, defending NL Central champion Milwaukee (44-54) has lost a season-high seven straight and is 14 games behind first-place Cincinnati.
The Brewers, who are almost certainly going to deal ace Zack Greinke before Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline, are trying to avoid their longest losing streak since a nine-game slide from May 10-19, 2010.
Thursday's defeat dropped Milwaukee to 26-24 at Miller Park, matching last season's loss total there. The Brewers had a major league-best 57 home wins in 2011. The Nationals, meanwhile, currently own the majors' best road record at 31-20.
Even Ryan Braun hasn't been immune to Milwaukee's struggles at Miller Park, batting .118 with one RBI in his last five games there. The reigning league MVP is, however, hitting .421 with five homers in his last 19 at-bats against left-handers, and he'll be facing one Friday in Ross Detwiler (5-3, 3.01).
Detwiler allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings in Sunday's 9-2 win over Atlanta, his first victory as a starter since May 3. Although he hadn't picked up a win in nine starts, he also hasn't lost in his last six. The Nationals have won his last four outings, and he has a 0.64 ERA in his last two.
In his only appearance against the Brewers on July 25, 2010, Detwiler allowed five unearned runs in 3 2-3 innings.
Nationals are 7-0 in their last 7 games as an underdog.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 road games.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 games following a win.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 games as a road underdog.
Nationals are 6-0 in their last 6 overall.
Nationals are 6-0 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 5-0 in Detwilers last 5 road starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Nationals are 4-0 in Detwilers last 4 starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Nationals are 4-0 in Detwilers last 4 starts.
Brewers are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Brewers are 0-6 in their last 6 vs. National League East.
Brewers are 0-6 in their last 6 games following a loss.
Brewers are 0-4 in their last 4 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Brewers are 0-7 in their last 7 overall.
Brewers are 0-8 in their last 8 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Brewers are 1-4 in Fiers' last 5 home starts.
Brewers are 1-4 in Fiers' last 5 starts.
While i do believe Fiers is a good pitcher i also believe Washington is on fire right now and it would be crazy not to take them as a dog in this fight. The Brewers bats are not what they once were which mean they aren't scoring while the Nationals are. This one seems easy to me. Take the Nationals +125 and sit back and watch a good game. Shop around for that line. 5Dimes and a couple more still have it. Also - Consider the ALT RL here at -1½+180.
WAS NATIONALS +125
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