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Nationals-Giants Preview

May 27, 2010 - 6:41 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Washington (23-23) at San Francisco (23-21), 3:45 p.m. EDT

The San Francisco Giants have seen one of their Cy Young Award winners get roughed up in back-to-back outings. They would prefer avoiding a similar experience with the other.

A day after Tim Lincecum struggled with his control once again, Barry Zito hopes to rebound from his worst start of the season Thursday afternoon when the Giants decide their three-game set with the visiting Washington Nationals.

Lincecum (1.76) and Zito (2.15) were fifth and sixth, respectively, in NL ERA as of May 19, but those numbers have gone up considerably.

Lincecum, the two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, gave up five runs and walked five at Arizona last Thursday, and struggled with his control again Wednesday against the Nationals (24-23). He again walked five, and this time allowed six runs over 4 2-3 innings as Washington beat the Giants 7-3.

"Sure, there's a sense of confidence when he hits the mound but we also realize he's going to have off days, just like all of us," manager Bruce Bochy said.

While Lincecum's ERA has increased to 3.00 over those two starts, Zito (6-2, 2.80 ERA) had his take a sharp climb Friday at Oakland. The 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner hadn't allowed more than three runs in a start this season, but let his former team score six runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 6-1 loss.

"I definitely felt better than the results. Sometimes that happens," Zito told the Giants' official website. "I definitely have adjustments to make. I'm not content at all."

Zito is 2-2 with a 4.33 ERA in six career starts against Washington, but he's been flawless against two of the Nationals' biggest run producers. Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham are a combined 0 for 15 with four strikeouts versus the lefty.

While the Giants' top starters haven't been quite as dominant of late, the offense has been worse as they've lost six of seven. San Francisco (23-22) has totaled 16 runs and hit .204 during its struggles.

The Giants might be able to have more success against Craig Stammen (1-2, 5.96), who's winless in his last six starts. Stammen has allowed four runs in each of his last three outings, doing so over 5 1-3 innings Saturday against Baltimore in a 7-6 victory.

"It wasn't good enough, bottom line," Stammen told the Nationals' official website. "I gave up two homers. Two, two-run homers killed me."

Stammen has faced the Giants once, allowing five runs over six innings June 2 in the nation's capital, and didn't receive a decision in Washington's 10-6 win.

Center fielder Aaron Rowand homered off Stammen that day, and he's currently one behind Juan Uribe for the team lead (six). Rowand, however, hasn't driven in a run in eight games and San Francisco's leadoff hitter is batting a woeful .145 (9 for 69) with one RBI since May 11.

Bengie Molina's struggles have been just as noticeable. The Giants catcher has driven in at least 80 runs in all three seasons with the team, but he's gone 17 games without an RBI and is 2 for his last 24.