Nationals play the Pirates in first of 3-game series

The Washington Nationals host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of a three-game series. The Nationals (45-43) have a .248 team batting average, while the Pirates (44-44) rank third in the majors with a .421 slugging percentage. Starting pitchers are Mitch Keller for the Pirates and Foster Griffin for the Nationals, with the Nationals favored at -142.