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Padres-Nationals Preview

Jul 24, 2009 - 5:16 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

San Diego (37-58) at Washington (28-66), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Washington Nationals' pitching has been far worse than any other NL team, while the San Diego Padres have what has easily been the league's worst offense.

It's no surprise, then, that the clubs have the two worst records in the majors going into their three-game series, which begins Friday in the nation's capital with the Padres trying to snap a five-game losing streak.

San Diego's skid has come largely because its woeful offense, which ranks last in the majors with 350 runs and a .230 average, has been particularly quiet lately.

The Padres (37-59) scored more than three runs for the first time since the All-Star break in Thursday's 9-4 makeup game loss at Philadelphia, but they've still scored three or fewer runs 12 times in their last 16 games, going 2-14.

Their latest defeat opened an eight-game road trip and dropped San Diego to 13-33 away from home, although they continued to see positive signs from rookie Kyle Blanks, who homered for the second time in three games.

"You'll see the 22-year-old in him sometimes, and at other times, you'll see what he can become," manager Bud Black told the Padres' official Web site.

The Padres seem to have a better chance to score runs against Washington (28-67) than just about any other team. The Nationals' 5.08 ERA ranks last in the NL and 29th in the majors, and the club is approaching 70 losses before any other team has reached 60.

They won back-to-back games against the New York Mets this week, but couldn't earn a third straight victory in a makeup game Thursday against St. Louis, losing 4-1 in a game shortened to six innings by rain.

A young starting rotation has been to blame for many of Washington's problems, and Garrett Mock didn't show any signs of helping in his first start of the year.

After 13 relief appearances with the Nationals followed by a strong run at Triple-A Syracuse, Mock (0-3, 7.71 ERA) struggled in an 11-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, allowing seven runs - four earned - in 3 1-3 innings.

He'll be opposed by Padres prospect Mat Latos (0-1, 4.50), who displayed more promise despite losing his major league debut Sunday. Despite feeling as though he "was going to get sick on the mound" due to nerves, the 21-year-old right-hander allowed two runs and three hits in four innings, striking out four in a 6-1 loss to Colorado.

"He certainly showed that he belonged," teammate Chris Young said. "He exhibited a lot of poise and had a lot of pop on his fastball."

The teams haven't met this year, but the Padres have won their last five games at Nationals Park dating back to 2007, sweeping a three-game series in September.