The Nationals look for an eighth consecutive win overall and on the road Saturday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
While Washington (70-43) has taken care of business by going 32-22 at home, a big reason for its overall success is a major league-best 38-21 mark on the road. In the midst of their longest road winning stretch since a nine-game run Sept. 12-26, the Nationals have won 11 of 12 away from home. They not have dropped a road series since losing two of three at Baltimore from June 22-24.
Stephen Strasburg allowed one run and one hit over six innings while Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse each homered to help Washington improve to 5-0 on a 10-game trip with a 9-1 victory at Arizona on Friday.
The Nationals' seven-game overall winning streak is their longest since an eight-game run June 10-18, 2011. They have a 4 1/2-game lead over Atlanta in NL East.
Despite their current success, the Nationals could face a stiff challenge against scheduled Arizona starter Wade Miley (12-7, 2.85 ERA). After giving up a solo homer and two other hits in eight innings of an 8-2 win at Los Angeles on July 31, the All-Star followed that effort by conceding only an unearned run in six innings of a 4-0 loss at Pittsburgh on Monday.
Miley will try to help Arizona (57-56) avoid a fourth consecutive loss to the Nationals. Chris Johnson's RBI single was one of three hits Friday for the Diamondbacks, who have lost five of seven overall.
Johnson has batted .333 with 17 RBIs in 11 games since Arizona acquired him from Houston on July 29.
The Diamondbacks look to bounce against former teammate Edwin Jackson (6-7, 3.56), who has allowed two runs over 12 1-3 innings while going 1-0 in his last two road starts. He gave up those runs and two hits while striking out eight in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-4, 11-inning victory at Houston on Monday.
Jackson, who went 6-10 with a 5.16 ERA and threw a no-hitter for Arizona in 2010, is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts against his former team. He allowed four runs in six innings while not factoring in the decision of a 5-4 home win over the Diamondbacks on May 2.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Nationals are 10-1 in their last 11 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 7-1 in their last 8 games as an underdog.
Nationals are 7-1 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Nationals are 5-1 in their last 6 games as a road underdog.
Nationals are 13-3 in their last 16 games following a win.
Nationals are 4-1 in Jacksons last 5 road starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.Nationals are 4-1 in Jacksons last 5 starts as an underdog.
Diamondbacks are 9-3 in their last 12 games as a home favorite.
Diamondbacks are 2-5 in their last 7 overall.
Diamondbacks are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. National League East.
Diamondbacks are 2-9 in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Diamondbacks are 4-0 in Mileys last 4 starts as a home favorite of -110 to -150.
Diamondbacks are 8-2 in Mileys last 10 starts as a home favorite.
Diamondbacks are 1-4 in Mileys last 5 starts as a favorite.
Big Bad Wade Miley...not today. He's great against teams like Mets, Astros, and the Rockies but today they face the Nationals. A team that is hitting everything and winning like crazy. They are hot and they know it...we all know what momentum will do for a team. Now don't get me wrong, i do believe Miley will perform pretty well today but he wont pitch 9 innings. I look for this to be a low scoring game but around the 6th or 7th inning it's going to open up a bit and the Nationals will be the ones scoring the runs. I'm thinking a 5-2 game with the Nationals coming out on top. Today we take the Nationals +122...yes that is actually the line. (Matchbook has +124) Good Luck
WAS NATIONALS +122
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