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Nationals-Brewers Preview

Jul 24, 2010 - 5:31 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Washington (42-54) at Milwaukee (44-53), 7:10 p.m. EDT

While an injury to two-time All-Star Corey Hart puts a significant hole in the Milwaukee Brewers' lineup, veteran Jim Edmonds appears to be up to the task of helping carry the offense.

After hitting a go-ahead homer in the series opener, Edmonds looks to help the Brewers win their third straight Saturday night against the Washington Nationals.

Hart injured his right wrist when he crashed into the wall down the first-base line chasing Cristian Guzman's fly ball in the third inning Friday night. The right fielder finished the inning in the field before being replaced by Edmonds in the bottom half.

X-rays were negative, but Milwaukee (45-53) said Hart will undergo an MRI on Saturday.

"I think he went into the wall and kind of jammed his hand," manager Ken Macha said. "Where it was located, (the trainers) were concerned.

"There's no fracture," he added. "He's day-to-day, as we all are."

Hart, who tripled and scored in the first inning, is second on the Brewers with 22 homers and second in the NL with 70 RBIs.

Although playing without Hart isn't ideal for Milwaukee, Edmonds is starting to heat up at the plate.

The 17-year veteran hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the seventh Friday, lifting the Brewers to a 7-5 victory and their seventh win in 11 games.

He has two homers and six RBIs in his last three games and is batting .354 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in his last 14 against the Nationals (42-55).

Edmonds will be getting his first look at J.D. Martin (1-5, 4.14 ERA), Washington's scheduled starter.

After recording a 2.57 ERA in his final four starts before the All-Star break, Martin was tagged for six runs and six hits in Monday's 7-2 loss to Cincinnati. The right-hander walked a season-high three after issuing five bases on balls in his first seven starts.

"I started missing pitches, leaving balls up and walking guys," Martin told the Nationals' official website. "It really comes down to throwing strikes. I wasn't throwing strikes. You walk a couple of guys in an inning, it's hard to get out of it, especially if you are not locating."

Martin lost both of his starts against the Brewers last season, posting a 6.39 ERA.

Milwaukee counters with Manny Parra, whose time in the rotation could be nearing an end following another disastrous outing.

Parra (3-7, 5.52) was pounded for 10 runs and 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings of an 11-6 loss in Atlanta on Sunday. The left-hander has a 9.86 ERA in his last four starts and could be moved back to the bullpen and replaced by Chris Capuano if his struggles continue.

This will be Parra's first start of the season versus the Nationals after throwing 1 2-3 scoreless innings in three appearances against them in April. He is 1-1 with a 7.40 ERA in four starts against Washington.

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is 7 for 11 with a homer off Parra.