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Giants-Nationals Preview

Jun 4, 2009 - 5:07 AM San Francisco (25-25) at Washington (14-36), 4:35 p.m. EDT

Randy Johnson got his first win in his major league debut in 1988 with the Montreal Expos. More than two decades later - including an extra day's wait - he's poised to make history at the expense of that struggling franchise.

Johnson looks to become the 24th pitcher to reach 300 wins as the San Francisco Giants conclude a three-game road series against the woeful Washington Nationals with a doubleheader Thursday.

At 45, Johnson (4-4, 5.71 ERA) owns a World Series ring and co-MVP honors along with five Cy Young awards. The 10-time All-Star has thrown two no-hitters, including the majors' last perfect game in 2004, and ranks second on the career strikeout list with 4,843.

Now he's one win away from adding another line to his Hall of Fame resume and becoming the only active pitcher with at least 300 victories. Tom Glavine has 305 wins, but was released by Atlanta on Wednesday.

Johnson was to start later that day, but the matchup was postponed due to a rain-drenched field. He's scheduled to get the nod in the opener.

Though it's a feat that hasn't been accomplished since Glavine joined the 300-win club in 2007, Johnson isn't reveling in the attention surrounding his potentially historic start.

"I'm not going to talk about this stuff. OK, I got to go," he said earlier this week, quickly leaving his locker and heading to the field. "I get distracted. I just try not to talk at all."

There could be added significance on Johnson reaching 300 wins because the 6-foot-10 left-hander is the last pitcher within striking distance of the milestone. Philadelphia's Jamie Moyer is directly behind Johnson with 250, and the 46-year-old probably won't play long enough to get 50 more victories.

Only two other current players have more than 200 - Andy Pettitte (220) of the New York Yankees and Boston's John Smoltz (210).

Johnson is 4-3 with a 2.99 ERA lifetime against the Washington franchise, including an 11-7 win over the Nationals (14-36) on May 11. He gave up four runs in five innings in that game, his 10th career start against the organization with which he got his first three wins in 1988.

That defeat was part of a dismal stretch for the Nationals. They ended a six-game losing streak with an 10-6 win in the series opener Tuesday, just their fourth win in 22 games since May 10.

Washington's struggles led to the firing of pitching coach Randy St. Claire on Tuesday. The Nationals, last in the majors with a 5.67 ERA, promoted Steve McCatty from Triple-A Syracuse to replace him.

One of McCatty's projects will be to help develop rookie Jordan Zimmermann (2-2, 6.07), who will start Thursday's opener. The 23-year-old right-hander and club's top pitching prospect gave up five runs in six innings of Washington's 9-7 loss at San Francisco on May 12.

Ross Detwiler (0-1, 4.80) will start the second game for the Nationals. He's coming off the worst of his three career starts, allowing five runs and 10 hits in four innings during a 5-4 loss to Philadelphia on Friday.

In his previous two starts, the rookie left-hander allowed four runs - three earned - and five hits in 11 innings while holding batters to a .125 average.

This will be Detwiler's first appearance against the Giants (25-25).

Detwiler will be matched up with Matt Cain (6-1, 2.31 ERA), who has a 0.84 ERA in winning his last three straight starts. The right-hander gave up two runs - one earned - and six hits in 6 1-3 innings in a 4-2 win over St. Louis on Friday.

Cain is 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA in seven starts versus the Nationals.