Major League Baseball

Royals-Nationals Preview

Published Jun. 23, 2010 2:13 a.m. ET

foxsports

Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg was outstanding again in his last start, although the outcome of the contest muted some of the excitement for him.

After leaving without a decision in a loss, Strasburg makes his fourth career start as the Nationals look to complete a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

Strasburg (2-0, 1.86 ERA) continued to dominate his last time out, pitching seven innings and striking out 10 in a 2-1, 11-inning defeat to the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

The right-hander has struck out 32 over 19 1-3 innings, a record for a pitcher's first three career starts.

"That's never going to be a goal of mine," Strasburg, who gave up one run and four hits, told the Nationals' official website about the strikeout mark. "My goal is to go out there and help the team win. It's about wins and losses at this level."

The rookie was not able to achieve that for the first time in his brief major league career. Washington scored 14 runs over his first two starts before giving him one run of support Friday.

Strasburg will be trying to follow up solid outings by Nationals starters in the first two games of this series. Livan Hernandez gave up one run in seven innings of a 2-1 win Monday and Luis Atilano allowed one run in 5 1-3 innings of a 4-3 victory Tuesday, putting Washington on the verge of a sweep.

Closer Matt Capps had shaky outings in both, allowing the tying run to reach third base in the ninth Monday and giving up two ninth-inning runs Tuesday.

"The last two nights were kind of a struggle to get through, but nonetheless we get the 'W' and it makes it a little easier," Capps said.

The Royals (29-43) have gone 3 for 21 with runners in scoring position in the series. Kansas City has dropped five straight.

"That seems to be consistent with the offense right now, getting guys on and not being able to close it,'' left fielder Scott Podsednik said after driving in all three runs Tuesday. "I don't know if we're tightening up in those situations or maybe over thinking it a little bit, trying to do too much."

Brian Bannister (6-5, 5.70), who admitted to being shaken during his second straight poor start, will try to halt the slide.

After giving up 11 runs in three innings of an 11-5 loss to Cincinnati on June 12, the right-hander lasted four innings and allowed five runs in a 6-4 defeat to Atlanta on Friday.

"I was really gun shy there tonight," he told the Royals' official website. "I was having flashbacks to Cincinnati. I had zero confidence. It's something I've just got to get through. I know I'm better than that."

Facing Washington may help Bannister get back on track. He has gone 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts versus the Nationals, both coming in 2006 while with the New York Mets.