Bryce Harper's slump jeopardizing batting title

It's been no fun being a Nationals starting pitcher the past two nights. Right-handers Tanner Roark and Jordan Zimmermann surrendered just two runs apiece over the last two games and both walked away losers.

Rookie Trea Turner's solo homer in Tuesday's loss was the only run the Nats managed across the past 18 innings. Five times over the two anemic nights, the Nats had a runner on second base with no outs and failed to score.

In fact, the Nationals are a dismal 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position and have left 13 men on base through the first two games of this series.

"(Last night's) a downer, but over the course of the last couple months, it's been pretty darn good," Williams said to reporters. "So you're gonna have a rough one every once in a while. But it doesn't mean it can't turn back the other way (today)."

Bryce Harper is 0-for-7 over the last two days and only 3-for-25 (.120) with no homers, one RBI, nine walks and one run scored over his past seven games.

Williams told reporters after last night's loss that he doesn't see anything different in Harper's approach at the plate.

"Just missing some balls," Williams said. "I think he's fine. I think that over the course of a season you're gonna have these little peaks and valleys. One swing of the bat (today) and he could be right back out of it again. He's had a great season."

Harper's slump has allowed Miami's Dee Gordon to catch up in the race for the National League batting title. Both All-Stars are tied with a .331 batting average with four games remaining.

Harper belted 10 homers in the first 19 days of September but hasn't left the yard since, placing his shot the NL home run title in jeopardy as well. Colorado's Nolan Arenado shares the league lead with the Nats slugger at 41 dingers.

Stephen Strasburg takes the mound tonight aiming to finish his roller coaster season on a high note. Since returning from his trip to the DL on June 23, Strasburg has gone 7-2 with a 1.89 ERA, fanning 103 and walking just eight over 76 innings. The Nats have won 10 of Strasburg's 12 starts over the resurgence and opponents are hitting only .168 off of him in that period.

Strasburg has been as dominating as any pitcher in the majors this month. The right-hander has struck out 50 batters while walking just four and allowing only five earned runs in four starts.

"If you look at the last two, three starts, I think that's his potential," Williams said recently. "His potential is step on the mound and have something special every time he does. So that's there. We've seen that before as well. He's got the potential to shut a team down and strike out 14-15 guys and work through their lineup three times and get to the eighth or ninth inning. That's all there. I think over the last few starts, he's proven that he can do that."