Twins-Washington series preview

RHP Kevin Correia (5-4, 4.09 ERA) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.64)

LHP Scott Diamond (4-4, 4.66) vs. RHP Nathan Karns (0-1, 6.00)

RHP Samuel Deduno (2-1, 3.44) vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann (8-3, 2.16)

Though Washington, D.C., was their home for the first 60 years of the franchise's existence, the Twins have not played a game in the nation's capital since July 19, 1971, a 5-2 loss to the Senators team that would become the Texas Rangers the following season. ... They are 7-2 all-time against the Nationals franchise, including a 3-0 record when the team was the Montreal Expos, and they have won four in a row against the Nationals. The teams have met twice since the Expos moved to Washington in 2005, both times in the Metrodome, where the Twins won four of six. … Josh Willingham played for the Nationals in 2009-10, hitting 40 home runs in 247 games. … Joe Mauer is 3-for-6 with a walk against Washington closer Rafael Soriano. ... The Twins are 13-16 on the road, entering Thursday; the Nats are 16-12 at home.

The Nationals' home game with the Mets on Thursday was rained out, so Gonzalez, a 21-game winner last year, was pushed back to Friday's game, although the forecast is for heavy rain again. … The defending NL East champions have been shocked by a slow start and then ravaged by injuries, and are in third place, a game below .500 and 1-3 in June. They are without their biggest stars: RHP Stephen Strasburg (strained lat) and RF Bryce Harper (sore knee) are on the disabled list, along with C Wilson Ramos (hamstring), 2B Danny Esposito (hand), and RHP Ross Detwiler (oblique). … Their offense has been pitiful; they rank 28th in the majors in scoring, 28th in batting average, 28th in slugging percentage, and 30th in on-base percentage. … 3B Ryan Zimmerman has been stricken by throwing problems, and has committed 10 errors already.

PHIL MILLER