With or without offense, Nationals will lean on Jordan Zimmermann

The Nationals will look to Jordan Zimmermann to salvage a split with the Cubs in today's series finale. Aside from his second start of the season against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Zimmermann has been stellar. The right-hander has allowed just seven earned runs over 41 innings in his last six starts to lower his season ERA to 2.88.

"I've been feeling good," Zimmermann said. "I was a little off in the beginning and everything's working now, and right where I want to be."

Zimmermann's control hasn't been as sharp as it was last season, when he walked only 29 batters across 199 2/3 innings in 32 starts. That was good for a National League best 1.9 walks per nine innings. This year, he's already past the halfway mark of that number with 15 walks in 11 starts.

"Early on, like I said, I was flying open and the ball was sinking and running, and I didn't have very good control," Zimmermann said. "Now I'm more on line and staying through the target."

The strikeout numbers for Zimmermann are down, as well. He's averaging 5.9 per nine innings. Last year, he was at 8.2 and his career average is 7.3.

"I guess they're not swinging and missing when I get two strikes on 'em," Zimmermann said. "Making some pitches and they're grounding out or flying out and just not getting the strikeouts, which I'm totally fine with. Keeps the pitch count down so I can stay out there longer."

Zimmermann is coming off his best outing of the season, blanking the Blue Jays through eight innings to claim his fifth win on Tuesday afternoon. The Cubs will get their second look at him in the last two weeks later today. Zimmermann stifled the Cubs on May 26, allowing just one run on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts in seven innings. He left with the lead that night at Wrigley Field before ending up with a no-decision in the Nats' 3-2 loss.

Meanwhile, the Nats offense could use a charge from Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman's career batting average in June is a baffling .237. This month, the 11-year veteran has unfortunately followed the trends so far. Zimmerman has only come up with just one base hit in 22 at-bats through his first five games.

Nationals manager Matt Williams has moved Zimmerman up in the batting order to the second spot in hopes that a change of scenery will trigger his highly capable bat. The move, though, is also an attempt to get a more productive stick behind Bryce Harper in the lineup. Harper, who has batted fourth for most of the season, is now up a spot with the newly returned Anthony Rendon taking over cleanup.