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Nationals-Diamondbacks Preview

Aug 3, 2010 - 5:24 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Washington (46-59) at Arizona (39-66), 9:40 p.m. EDT

Washington Nationals starter Scott Olsen didn't show any rust from his two-month stint on the disabled list.

His track record at Chase Field suggests he might have a hard time sustaining that momentum.

Olsen has made three disastrous starts in Phoenix, but he'll be pitching with confidence Tuesday night as the Nationals try to win for the fifth time in six games while continuing their four-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Washington (47-59) was in a somber mood Thursday after placing rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg on the disabled list, but Olsen's return softened the blow.

The left-hander (3-2, 3.67 ERA) hadn't pitched since May 21 due to tightness in his throwing shoulder, but looked fully recovered against NL East-leading Atlanta. Olsen held the Braves to three runs - two earned - and five hits over six innings of a 5-3 victory.

"The last two, two and a half months haven't really been a whole lot of fun," Olsen told the Nationals' official website. "It makes days like today even more fun than they are."

Olsen certainly hasn't enjoyed his previous visits to Chase Field, going 0-2 with an 11.30 ERA in three road games versus Arizona (39-67).

Diamondbacks cleanup hitter Adam LaRoche is 6 for 13 with three homers off Olsen. LaRoche had two homers and six RBIs in Sunday's 14-1 win over the Mets, but went 0 for 4 Monday as Arizona managed five singles in a 3-1 loss.

Also going 0 for 4 was No. 3 hitter Justin Upton, who had his 17-game hitting streak snapped in the Diamondbacks' fifth straight home defeat.

Washington has won four of five overall after as it enters the second contest of a seven-game road trip, which ends with three games against the slumping Dodgers.

"We had a good homestand, relatively speaking, and (Monday) was a good way to start a road trip," Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said.

On the mound, Arizona will turn to a new addition from one of its four trades last week.

Joe Saunders (0-0, 2.57) came over in the biggest deal of the bunch, the one that sent Dan Haren to the Los Angeles Angels. The left-hander pitched well in his Diamondbacks debut Thursday at Philadelphia, yielding two runs and nine hits over seven innings of a 3-2, 11-inning loss.

"My nerves were kind of there a little bit," Saunders told the team's official website. "I wanted to make a good impression for my new teammates, and regardless of what I had tonight, I wanted to keep the team in the game."

Saunders has never faced the Nationals, but is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three starts against the NL East.

Washington, which has won six of seven against Arizona, is hitting .193 (16 for 83) versus left-handers in its last six games.