Milwaukee at Washington

The Washington Nationals were picked as being one of the top teams in the NL to start the season, but time is running out. The Nationals enter the last game of August as a mediocre .500 team. Meanwhile, the young Milwaukee Brewers, expected to be a year away, have blossomed as a bona fide playoff contender at 75-60. One reason is the blossoming of right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (13-5, 3.61 ERA). Chacin has been superb, and the Brewers are 19-9 in games Chacin has started on the season. Chacin has been even more inpressive in allowing just six earned runs over his last four starts, posting a 3-1 record. Chacin also beat the Nationals on July 23. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing a run and two hits while striking out nine without a walk. Give the edge to the Brew Crew here, who enter having won 7 of their last 10. Play on Milwaukee.