Looking again to reach double digits in wins for the sixth straight season, reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy (9-11, 2.77 ERA) gets the start for the Padres.

The right-hander's last victory came on Aug. 14 against Milwaukee. In five starts after that, though, Peavy has gone 0-3 with a 3.44 ERA.

He had one of his worst outings over that stretch in his last appearance. Facing San Francisco last Friday, Peavy gave up five runs and a season-worst 11 hits in eight innings of San Diego's 5-2 loss.

"I haven't been good enough to win for whatever the reason," Peavy said. "It's just frustrating. The whole season has been frustrating, personally and for the team."

Peavy has had little success when facing Washington. In nine starts, he's 2-4 with a 4.18 ERA, and winless in four starts dating to August 2005.

San Diego lost two of three in its last series against Colorado, including a 1-0 defeat in 10 innings on Wednesday. The Padres faced five Rockies pitchers, but managed only five hits.

"Yeah, we're fatigued, but pitchers are fatigued this time of year, too," Padres left fielder Chase Headley said. "Good pitching beats good hitting every time."

Rookie Collin Balester (3-6, 4.54) looks for his first win in four starts for Washington. The right-hander gave up a run and four hits over 6 2-3 innings on Sunday against Florida, but didn't factor in the 8-7 loss.

Balester, a native of Huntington Beach, Calif., has never faced the Padres.

Washington lost two of three to San Diego in May, and is coming off a four-game split with the New York Mets that was capped by a 7-2 defeat on Thursday.

Anderson Hernandez had and RBI double, and Wil Nieves added a run-scoring single for the Nationals as they outhit the Mets 13-11.