Opposite dugout: Surging Pirates getting strong offense, stronger pitching

Manager: Clint Hurdle (5th season)

Record: 39-27

Last 10 games: 8-2

Who to watch: CF Andrew McCutchen (.294/.375/.479 with 8 HR, 42 RBIs), C Francisco Cervelli (.316 with 19 RBIs), LF Starling Marte (.285 with 12 HR, 45 RBIs. 13 SB), 3B Josh Harrison (.284 with 22 RBIs), RHP Charlie Morton (5-0, 1.62 ERA), RHP A.J. Burnett (6-2, 1.89 ERA), RHP Mark Melancon (1.87 ERA, 23 saves)

Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-4 in 2014)

Pitching probables:

June 19: RHP A.J. Burnett vs. RHP Joe Ross, 7:05 p.m., MASN2
June 20: LHP Francisco Liriano vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 4:05 p.m., MASN2
June 21: RHP Charlie Morton vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 1:35 p.m., MASN2

Inside the Pirates:

The Pirates are among the hottest teams in the National League, having won eight of 10 games, including a string of five shutouts over a six-game stretch. That success has allowed them to cut into the Cardinals' NL Central lead, but they still trail the first-place Redbirds by four games. But the recent hot streak has coincided with center fielder Andrew McCutchen's resurgence and some pretty stellar pitching.

McCutchen is the fuel that makes Pittsburgh's offensive engine go, but he struggled mightily out of the gate this season. A mysterious spring training injury that robbed him of the ability to accelerate in the field and push off in the batter's box may have been the culprit. Whatever it was, McCutchen was languishing below the Mendoza line as recently as May 6. Since then, he's exploded, batting .330 in May and .350 so far in June. He's yet to go on a power surge, but the steadily rising batting average is a good indicator that his power bat will eventually come around.

Not so long ago, the Pirates rose and fell on the fortunes of their star center fielder. Now, they've got some nice complementary pieces surrounding him that make it easier to weather his occasional slump. When veteran catcher Russell Martin bolted as a free agent in the offseason, they traded for catcher Francisco Cervelli of the Yankees, who has won acclaim as a game-caller and is on his way to a career year offensively, slashing .319/.396/.408. Left fielder Starling Marte may not be having the breakout year many predicted, but he's trending upward after a slow start and has 12 homers and 45 RBIs, both team highs (he's a sure bet to exceed his previous career highs of 13 homers and 56 RBIs set last season). But Marte limped off during Wednesday night's game with an ankle injury, so his availability may be in question. Third baseman Josh Harrison's .213 April is behind him, but his .344 June has been bereft of power - he's driven in only four runs this month and hasn't homered since May 19.

While the Nationals will miss righty Gerrit Cole, whose 10 wins and 1.71 ERA top the rotation, they won't be getting away easy during the weekend series. The Pirates boast the second-best ERA in the majors (2.72) and have allowed the second-fewest runs (209). They have yielded a .236/.298/.330 slash line to foes, with the slugging percentage the best mark in the big leagues. Bottom line: They're tough on the mound.

Right-hander A.J. Burnett returned to Pittsburgh and announced this will be his final season after 17 years in the majors. He draws rookie Joe Ross. Burnett has been no slouch, even if his once-feared fastball now comes in at 91 mph (and is accented by an 82 mph curve). In three June starts, he's posted a 2.08 ERA (and that's on the heels of a 1.82 mark in May and a 1,7 showing in April). He's had but one run of support in his last two outings, but did turn in a five-hit shutout against Philadelphia on June 16. Burnett has gone six or more innings in 10 of his 12 starts, and exceeded seven in six of his past eight. Opponents are hitting only .233 against him, and lefties have only a .200 mark. Even if you can get runners in scoring position, he limits damage - in those situations, he's yielded a .154 average. Given his experience, he's got some numbers against the Nats. Overall, he's 12-5 with a 3.19 ERA, but only 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA at Nationals Park.

Saturday starter Francisco Liriano will oppose Washington's Max Scherzer, who one-hit the Brewers and struck out 16 in his start on Sunday. Liriano has been very tough this season, as his 2.94 ERA and 0.96 WHIP might suggest. He's also flourishing in June, with a 1.53 ERA in three starts, capped by eight innings of two-hit ball with 12 strikeouts against the White Sox his last time out on June 15. He isn't giving up home runs - he's been touched for one over the past five starts - and has 40 groundballs outs to 10 flyball outs this month, so his fastball/slider/curve mix is confounding hitters nicely. Opponents have a .176 batting average against him and are hitting only .148 on the road. This assignment is right up Liriano's alley: He's 2-1 with a 1.52 ERA on the road and 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA in five day starts. He's got a 1-1 career record and a 2.84 ERA in two starts against the Nationals, including 7 2/3 innings of two-hit ball with eight strikeouts at Nationals Park on July 24, 2013.

On Sunday, lefty Gio Gonzalez faces Pittsburgh's hottest hurler. Righty Charlie Morton is 5-0 in five starts since returning from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, an injury that delayed the start of his campaign. He's gone at least seven innings in four of his five starts, posting three quality starts. On June 16 against the White Sox, he worked seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball. Through 33 1/3 innings, Morton has served up only one homer, 25 hits and eight walks. Opponents are hitting but .207 against him, and he's tough on right-handed swingers, who have a .192 mark. The 92 mph fastball he throws 76 percent of the time, along with the 78 mph curve that comes in 20 percent of the time, have baffled hitters. But in the first inning, the opposition slashes .364/.462/.409. He's made six career starts against the Nationals, going 2-3 with a 4.70 ERA, and is 1-1 with a 5.28 ERA at Nationals Park.

Pittsburgh's bullpen is equally tough - and not just closer Mark Melancon, a right-hander who has a 1.99 ERA and league-leading 23 saves in 24tries. Righty Rob Scahill has a 1.50 ERA in 21 outings, lefty Tony Watson has a 1.78 ERA in 34 appearances and righty Arquimedes Caminero has struck out 33 in 30 1/3 innings to go along with a 2.97 ERA. Pirates relievers have a 2.51 ERA, second in the NL.