(From The My Sportsbook - All Times Eastern)

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS

August 5, 7:05 p.m. - Pedro Astacio (0-2) vs. Livan Hernandez (13-4)

August 6, 7:05 p.m. - Woody Williams (5-8) vs. Ryan Drese (3-4)

August 7, 1:05 p.m. - Jake Peavy (9-4) vs. Esteban Loaiza (6-7)

2004 SEASON SERIES: San Diego won, 6-1.

SAN DIEGO (53-55)

San Diego will go with righthander Pedro Astacio in the opener. Astacio has lost the first two starts since joining San Diego, including a defeat to Cincinnati last Saturday. In the defeat, Astacio was touched for five hits and five runs over 5 2/3 innings of work. Astacio walked six and fanned two in the losing effort. The road has not been a pleasant place for Astacio, who is 0-5 with a 5.97 ERA in seven such outings this season.

Astacio has not been good against the Nationals/Expos in his career, posting an 8-7 mark with a 5.06 ERA.

The Padres remain atop the NL West after registering a 12-7 victory over Pittsburgh at PNC Park on Thursday. Khalil Greene blasted a three-run homer to help San Diego to the win.

Mark Loretta went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI for the Padres, who took two of three in the series and have won just three times in their last 16 contests. Brian Giles added three hits and three runs scored for San Diego, which registered its first series victory since July 8-10.

Starter Brian Lawrence tossed 6 1/3 solid innings in the win. Lawrence (5-11) yielded three runs -- two earned -- to win for just the first time in six decisions.

Third baseman Joe Randa was a late scratch from the lineup on Thursday because of a sore ankle. Randa is questionable to start in this evening's contest. Meanwhile, Ryan Klesko remains out with a sore back.

WASHINGTON (58-50)

Washington ace righthander Livan Hernandez will go for his second consecutive victory in the opener. Hernandez, who leads the majors with 165 1/3 innings pitched, put an end to a two-decision losing streak last Sunday versus Florida. In the victory, Hernandez twirled eight solid frames, giving up 11 hits and two runs while fanning five and walking one. Hernandez has surrendered a total of three runs over his past two starts -- a span of 16 innings.

Hernandez has dominated the Padres in his career, going 8-1 with a 3.10 ERA versus them.

Washington has won two straight and will be looking for its first three- contest win streak since winning six straight from June 28-July 3. The Nationals picked up their first series victory since July 1-July 3 on Thursday, posting a 7-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

John Patterson was absolutely brilliant on the hill Thursday, tossing a four- hit shutout with a career-high 13 strikeouts for the win. Patterson (5-3) didn't walk a batter and recorded the first complete game of his career. The righthanded hurler retired 22 of the final 24 batters he faced.

Brad Wilkerson hit the first grand slam in Washington Nationals history in the eighth inning to put the home team comfortably ahead. Cristian Guzman added two RBI and Vinny Castilla contributed a run-scoring double for the Nationals, who have won three of four.

The Nationals are in the heart of the NL wild card race, one game behind the Houston Astros.