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Nationals-Astros Preview

Jun 3, 2010 - 5:41 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Washington (26-27) at Houston (18-34), 2:05 p.m. EDT

The Washington Nationals are in last place in baseball's most tightly packed division, but with the No. 1 pick in next week's draft and the arrival of their superstar-in-waiting, they're about to be the talk of the majors.

The Houston Astros would be happy simply extending their winning streak.

The Astros have won just one series since late April, but can double that total Thursday afternoon when they try to close their four-game set against the visiting Nationals with a third straight victory.

Washington (26-28) is just five days away from the highly anticipated debut of pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg, and a night before the 2009 No. 1 pick debuts, it's expected to make power-hitting prospect Bryce Harper the top selection of the 2010 draft.

The Astros (19-34), on the other hand, seem to have far less hope on the horizon. While mired in last place in the NL Central, it's 2-0 in June after Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Nationals.

Lance Berkman had five RBIs in Tuesday's 8-7 victory, and Carlos Lee - finally showing signs he's emerging from a season-long slump - homered Wednesday for the first time in two weeks.

"It was nice again to see different guys contribute," manager Brad Mills said. "... If you could script it, it would be nice to script it like that.

"Anytime you can get the heart of your lineup driving runners, that's nice."

Berkman, Lee and Pence are hitting .337 (31 for 92) with 20 RBIs in their last eight games, and the trio could lead Houston to its first home series win since a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh from April 23-25.

To do so, the Astros will have to go through a starter who may be fighting for his job. J.D. Martin (0-1, 1.50 ERA) could be the odd man out of the rotation when Strasburg debuts Tuesday, making Martin's second start of 2010 - on the same afternoon Strasburg makes his final tune-up in the minors - that much more critical.

The right-hander gave up four runs - one earned - and struck out five over six innings Saturday in a 4-2 loss at San Diego.

"Overall, we lost. That was the main thing I didn't like," Martin told the Nationals' official website. "Overall, I felt I got deep enough in the game, but that's how it goes."

Martin, who started 15 games as a rookie in 2009, has yet to face the Astros.

None of Martin's outings last season went as poorly as Brian Moehler's first start of 2010 for Houston. Starting in place of the injured Bud Norris, Moehler (0-2, 7.29) was tagged for eight runs and 10 hits - three homers - over 2 2-3 innings Saturday in a 12-2 loss at Cincinnati.

"Poor location, and even when I did locate the ball they hit it," Moehler told the Astros' official website. "So I left some balls out over the plate, and they didn't miss them. I felt fine physically."

Moehler is 0-3 with a 21.21 ERA in his last three starts dating to September.

He fared well the last time he faced the Nationals, however, scattering seven hits over 6 1-3 innings in a 5-0 home victory July 12.