• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Cubs-Nationals Preview

Aug 23, 2010 - 12:23 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Chicago (51-73) at Washington (53-70), 7:05 p.m. EDT

In the Chicago Cubs' last visit to Nationals Park, they swept a Washington Nationals club playing its first series under interim manager Jim Riggleman. The struggling Cubs are hoping for similar results in this season's trip to the nation's capital as they begin the post-Lou Piniella era.

With coach Mike Quade taking over as interim manager, Chicago begins a six-game trip Monday against the Nationals.

Chicago (51-74), which has lost 20 of 25, swept a four-game series in its last trip to Nationals Park from July 16-19, 2009. Riggleman, the Cubs manager from 1995-99, replaced the fired Manny Acta as Washington's manager earlier that week.

The Cubs knew they'd have a new manager in 2011 after Piniella said last month that he would step down following the season, but the 66-year-old skipper announced prior to Sunday's 16-5 loss to Atlanta that he was retiring after the homestand to care for his ailing 90-year-old mother, whom he visited earlier this month and missed four games.

"My mom needs me home," said Piniella, who finished 316-293 with the Cubs and 1,835-1,713 for his career. "She hasn't gotten any better since I've been here. She's had a couple other complications, and rather than continue to go home, come back, it's not fair to the team, it's not fair to the players."

With Quade moving from the third-base coaching box to the dugout for the rest of the year, the Cubs give the ball to rookie right-hander Casey Coleman (0-1, 7.82 ERA). Making his first major league start following four relief appearances, Coleman lasted 4 1-3 innings, giving up three runs and six hits as the Cubs used six rookie pitchers in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to NL West-leading San Diego.

"(The rookies are) trying to get ourselves out there," Coleman told the Cubs' official website. "... Whoever's coaching, you want to do good to set up for next year."

Coming off a 2-4 trip that ended with Sunday's 6-0 loss to Philadelphia, the Nationals (53-71) will counter with Livan Hernandez (8-8, 3.06) as they open a seven-game homestand.

The veteran right-hander, though, is 0-3 with a 6.32 ERA in his last three starts at Nationals Park after going 4-1 with a 2.10 ERA in his first 10 home outings this season.

Hernandez, 11-6 with a 3.84 ERA against Chicago, receives among the lowest run support in the NL at 3.39 per game. Washington has scored four runs in his last three outings.

"You know, we are fighting and fighting. Then again, we lost," Hernandez, who yielded two runs over seven innings of Wednesday's 3-2 loss at Atlanta, told the Nationals' official website.

First baseman Adam Dunn went 1 for 18 with 11 strikeouts on Washington's trip, but he could help Hernandez work with a cushion if he continues his power surge versus the Cubs. Dunn, who has 41 home runs against Chicago, was 4 for 13 with a homer as the Nationals won two of three in Chicago from April 26-28.

Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who batted .625 with two homers and seven RBIs in the final four games of the 1-6 homestand, is one home run shy of reaching 20 for the eighth time.

Ramirez is 12 for 32 with four home runs lifetime versus Hernandez.

Washington has won four of six against Chicago since last season's matchup at Nationals Park.