Zimmermann seeks to extend unbeaten streak vs. Cubs
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann can stretch his unbeaten streak to four starts on Monday when the Washington Nationals visit Wrigley Field to open a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs.
The 27-year-old Wisconsin native was 12-6 on the season after an ugly 11-0 loss to the New York Mets on July 26, but has since gone 2-0 in three starts while allowing just three runs in 17 innings.
He picked up a 4-1 win at Milwaukee with six scoreless innings on Aug. 2, allowed two runs in a no-decision against Atlanta on Aug. 7 and won game No. 14 with seven innings of one-run ball against San Francisco on Aug. 14.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The two wins eclipsed his personal best of 12 that he achieved across 32 starts last season.
In five career meetings with the Cubs, Zimmerman is 1-3 with a 4.22 earned run average.
He faces righty Jeff Samardzija, who's not won since a 3-1 defeat of the Colorado Rockies on July 19.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The former Notre Dame football star is 0-2 in five starts since, including losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia in which he was tagged for 12 runs in 9 1/3 innings.
The Cubs are 1-2 in the other three games while Samardzija has given up a more respectable eight runs in 19 innings against Arizona, Milwaukee and Cincinnati.
He's 1-2 in 10 lifetime meetings with the Nationals.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}On Sunday in Atlanta, Julio Teheran threw six shutout innings and the Braves defeated the Nationals, 2-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Turner Field.
Jayson Werth drove in the lone run for the Nationals, who have lost three of four following a five-game winning streak.
Gio Gonzalez (7-6) had nine strikeouts, but gave up both runs on five hits and four walks over seven innings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In Chicago, Jon Jay drove in four runs and Adam Wainwright turned in a seven- inning gem, with the pair leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-1 ousting of the Cubs in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Junior Lake had three of Chicago's six hits and knocked in the Cubs' only run with a sixth-inning double.
Edwin Jackson (7-13) pitched well in defeat, permitting three runs -- one earned -- despite walking four over six innings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Cubs won two of three when the teams last played in Washington from May 10-12.