Statistics show this starting pitcher to have a losing record this season with a 4.73 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and opponents batting .309 against him.




Who is he? Edwin Jackson. Good guess, but no. It's Stephen Strasburg, who has become one of the more overrated pitchers in baseball.




The Nationals are on an offensive binge, but are laying a fairly high road price and facing a hot pitcher.




So I'm going to fade Strasburg and back Rubby De La Rosa and the Diamondbacks.




This is just Washington's second game out of the Eastern Time Zone all season. Usually a time change hits you the second day. The Nationals also are 4-9 in the second game of a series and have lost eight of the past 10 times on the road when taking on an opponent with a losing home mark.




Strasburg left after three innings during his last start because of a strained back. So he might not be 100 percent. Only once this year has he reached the seventh inning. The Diamondbacks rank in the top 11 in the majors in runs, batting average and OPS.




De La Rosa has pitched much better at Chase Field - a tough pitcher's park - than on the road. He had a 3.26 home ERA compared to 5.60 away from Chase Field. De La Rosa hasn't given up a run during his last 10 innings.




In his last two home outings, De La Rosa limited the Pirates and Padres to a combined one run on seven in 14 innings with 15 strikeouts. The Nationals are not familiar with De La Rosa having never faced him before.

(Editor's note: Stephen Nover has cashed 80 percent of his premium/free baseball plays during the last 11 days and has found his Game of the Week on today's card along with this free selection.)