Washington Nationals will go against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight: Watch FREE LIVE STREAMING MLB from PNC Park at 7:05 PM ET
The Nationals are scuffling at the plate without three of their biggest threats, but they're not worrying.
A four-game set with one of the worst rotations in baseball could be a reason for that.
The Nationals attempt to find some offensive consistency by capitalizing on the Pirates issues on the mound in the opener of this series Thursday night.
Washington (24-22) is without Bryce Harper (thumb surgery), Adam LaRoche (strained right quad) and Ryan Zimmerman (broken thumb), and only LaRoche could return this month.
The first baseman got hurt in an 8-0 defeat at Oakland on May 9, which started the Nationals' 5-7 stretch.
They're batting .220 while averaging 3.5 runs in that span, which continued with Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Cincinnati
"'Right now we're banged up, man," said Span, who hit a leadoff homer Wednesday. "It's tough because I still feel like we're playing good baseball, even with our circumstances right now."
Those circumstances may improve against the Pirates (19-26), whose rotation has a 4.60 ERA after compiling a 3.50 mark while reaching the postseason last year.
Pittsburgh's starters haven't inspired much confidence in that changing, putting together a 6.58 ERA over the past five games.
"The balls that they hit were spots you would prefer to stay out of," manager Clint Hurdle told the team's official website. "The command was good and the first-pitch strikes were very efficient. You just got to continue to work. It's a very challenging part for him and for us now."
Washington will give the ball to Blake Treinen (0-1, 0.77) while Gio Gonzalez is on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation.
The rookie right-hander's last appearance May 6 was his first career start, and he allowed three unearned runs and seven hits while throwing 72 pitches in five innings of an 8-3 defeat to the Dodgers..
Though Treinen returned to Triple-A Syracuse after that outing, manager Matt Williams felt his performance against the Dodgers justified a second start.
"It's hard to deny him that opportunity after how he pitched against the Dodgers. It's really hard," Williams told the team's official website. "He was on a limited pitch count. He pitched really well against them. He has been building from there. He has been normal (rest), so he'll be prepared."
Treinen went 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA in six starts for Syracuse.
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