Nats Look To Sweep Crew

Stephen Strasburg will take the mound as the Nationals look to sweep the Brewers.

Wednesday is getaway day for the Washington Nationals as the NL East-leading club looks to complete a sweep of the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

First pitch at Miller Park in Milwaukee is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET.

Washington (41-35, 18-18 road) is slowly but surely starting to inch away in the NL East standings, taking advantage of the Atlanta Braves’ injury woes.

The Nationals have won four straight games and have gone 16-8 in their last 24, helping turn around a slow start to the year.

But a two-game lead can be erased in the blink of the eye, something manager Matt Williams and his team will be only too well aware of.

Milwaukee (47-32, 20-17 home) has been in pole position in the NL Central since the season opened, and with almost half the schedule behind the club, is beginning to look a lot like a contender in the National League.

That being said, the Brewers have dropped five of their last six at home, a trend the team will need to buck if it’s to fend off the chasing St. Louis Cardinals. Two of those losses came in this series.

The Nationals took Monday’s series opener 3-0, despite Williams being ejected in the second inning for arguing balls and strikes.

On Tuesday, a marathon of a game saw the Nationals emerge with a 4-2 victory after 16 innings of play. Ryan Zimmerman hit a go-ahead two-run homer to separate the sides.

With both teams exhausting their bullpens – the Nationals used seven relievers while the Brewers used six – the managers will be looking to get long outings from their starters on Wednesday afternoon.

Washington will send Stephen Strasburg (6-5, 3.24 ERA) to the mound.

The right-hander recorded a no decision in his last outing, giving up nine hits and four earned runs in six innings against the Atlanta Braves on Friday.

Strasburg has struggled on the road this season, posting a 1-4 record and a 4.22 ERA in seven games away from Nationals Park.

While Strasburg may be slumping, at least away from D.C., the Brewers might not be in a position to take advantage.

Ron Roenicke will send right-hander Marco Estrada (6-4, 5.22 ERA) to the mound, knowing that the 30-year-old has been roughed up of late.

In his last four starts, the former-National has allowed 23 earned runs and posted an 8.74 ERA. He’s allowed four or more earned runs in seven of his last nine games and was chased out of his last start, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Colorado Rockies on Friday.

The Brewers need Estrada to step up big time on Wednesday afternoon.

The Nationals continue to play without superstar Bryce Harper, currently on the 15-day DL with a thumb injury. Harper began a Single-A rehab assignment earlier this week.

Brewers’ catcher Jonathan Lucroy has reached base six times (two hits, four walks) in the two games this series. He’s hit safely in 17 of his last 19 games, a period in which he’s registered five home runs, five doubles, 15 RBIs and batted .346.

Jonathan Lucroy’s had the hot bat of late. Will it help Milwaukee past Washington?

Washington Nationals vs. Milwaukee Brewers odds for 06/25/2014

Washington (-122) opened as the favorite over Milwaukee (+112) on the moneyline and has seen those odds shrink as bettors back the club to complete the sweep.

Washington has taken five of its last six meetings against Milwaukee and six of the last seven in Miller Park.

Washington is 6-10 against the NL Central, 15-12 in day games, and 30-27 against right-handed pitching.

Milwaukee is 9-9 against NL East opponents, 17-12 in day games, and 33-26 against right-handed pitching.

The over/under opened at 7.5.

The total has gone under in six of the last eight head-to-head meetings, including both games this series, as well as four of the last five games the two sides have played at Miller Park.

Washington’s last five road games have all seen the total go under.

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Following Wednesday’s getaway game, Washington will head to the Windy City and historic Wrigley Field for a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs starting Thursday. Saturday sees a day-night double-header between the two sides, with no game on Sunday.

The Brewers meanwhile will stick around Milwaukee for a four-game series with the Colorado Rockies (Thu-Sun).

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