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Nationals-Pirates Preview

Aug 2, 2009 - 4:31 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Washington (32-71) at Pittsburgh (44-58), 1:35 p.m. EDT

Though the Pittsburgh Pirates spent the last few days trading away more of their top players, at least one member of their current roster appears to have a real future with the organization.

After a career night from rookie center fielder Andrew McCutchen highlighted their latest victory, the Pirates look for a third straight win in the continuation of a four-game series versus the lowly Washington Nationals on Sunday at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh (45-58) continued to rid its roster of high-priced veterans by trading away reliever John Grabow, second baseman Freddy Sanchez and shortstop Jack Wilson this week.

Even without those players, the Pirates snapped a five-game losing streak by winning the first two against Washington (32-72), which has lost four in a row and has the worst record in the majors.

Pittsburgh hasn't won three straight since winning four in a row June 24-27.

In Saturday's 11-6 win over the Nationals, McCutchen doubled his career home run total by becoming the first Pirate since Aramis Ramirez in 2001 to homer three times in a game.

"It was one of those days where everything worked, everything went your way," said the Pirates leadoff hitter, who had four hits and six RBIs. "It's just a day I know I won't forget. A day I know I'll remember."

The 22-year-old McCutchen, who's 6 for 8 in this series, could be a player the cash-strapped Pirates might decide to build around as they again try to revamp their roster with young talent.

"He's a great athlete," Nationals interim manager Jim Riggleman said of McCutchen, a 2005 first-round draft pick who's batting .293 with 31 RBIs since being called up from the minors June 4. "You've read about him for a year or two now, and now he's here and he's going to be a force to deal with."

Nyjer Morgan and Ryan Zimmerman each had four hits Saturday for Washington, which is winless since winning the first two of an eight-game road trip that started in Milwaukee.

Morgan is batting .402 in 26 games since Pittsburgh traded the center fielder to Washington in order to give McCutchen more playing time.

Zimmerman is 14 for 35 (.400) with five homers and 12 RBIs in his last nine games, but 3 for 13 versus Pittsburgh's Paul Maholm.

Maholm (6-5, 4.70 ERA) looks to bounce back after allowing four runs and eight hits in six innings of a 4-2 loss at San Francisco on Monday for his first defeat in six starts, a span that includes three outings without a decisions.

The left-hander is 0-2 with a 5.23 ERA in five starts versus Washington. He allowed one run and struck out seven in six innings, but didn't factor in the decision of a 2-1 win over the Nationals on May 20.

Washington counters with Collin Balester (1-1, 4.00), who makes his third start - and first against the Pirates - since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on July 23.

The right-hander, who's 4-8 in 17 career starts, allowed two runs and five hits in six innings of an 8-3 win at Milwaukee on Tuesday.