Nats game blog: Strasburg faces hometown Padres in D.C.

The Nationals and the San Diego Padres begin a three-game set tonight at Nats Park.

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg needs to maintain the pace for the Nationals after a pair of series wins for the club over the last six days.

Strasburg (7-6, 4.22 ERA) has now won four of his last five decisions, including an outstanding seven innings at Colorado on Wednesday in which the Nats won 4-1. Strasburg allowed two hits and one unearned run in 93 pitches. He walked none and struck out five hitters.

Strasburg is also 4-1 with a 3.60 ERA in five starts against his hometown Padres. He also beat them 10-5 on May 17 in San Diego.

Right-hander James Shields is 9-5 with a 3.74 ERA for San Diego this season, but has won only two times since June 3. He won his last start against the Braves on Aug. 18, going six innings and allowing no runs in a 9-5 victory.

Catcher Derek Norris, who started his career in the Nationals system, bats seventh. I always pull for Norris, he was tremendously generous with his time while with the Single-A P-Nats.

Tyson Ross, Joe's brother, pitches Wednesday. Joe Ross gets the start Thursday for the Nationals. Only 21 times in major league history have brothers started against each other on the mound. Almost had that happen in this series.

It's good to have Denard Span back. Let's see what that can do to the lineup. He has hit .429 (6-for-14) this season against San Diego. In his career against the Friars, he is batting .289 (22-for-76).

Bryce Harper is hitting .435 (20-for-46) with five homers and 18 RBIs against San Diego. Ian Desmond has also hit five career homers versus the Padres. Ryan Zimmerman has hit 13 of his career round trippers against the Friars and is batting .301, while Yunel Escobar is hitting .337.