No one would blame Washington Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (8-10, 3.11 ERA) if he walked on top of the mound at Nationals Park on Tuesday, took the ball in his hand and took a moment or two to savor the feel and senses around him. Zimmermann is on the verge of being shut down for the season, the Nationals giving him a 160-inning limit after the All-Star Break. He currently sits at 150 2/3 innings.
The rising Nationals gunslinger hopes to ride off into the sunset a hero and the winner of his ninth game of the season as he faces the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks and their potent hurler Ian Kennedy (15-4, 3.22 ERA). The D-Backs are on a six-game losing streak and visiting the Nation's Capitol hasn't been too kind to the desert dwellers. The Nats have a 51-42 record in the all-time series between the two teams and when the Snakes slither into Washington for a game, the Nationals dominate them with a 13-7 record.
The first of Zimmermann's final pitches will be thrown at 7:05 P.M.
Nationals Line-Up
Ian Desmond - SS
Rick Ankiel - CF
Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
Michael Morse - 1B
Jayson Werth - RF
Danny Espinosa - 2B
Laynce Nix - LF
Wilson Ramos - C
Jordan Zimmermann - SP