Jordan Zimmermann had gone two starts without allowing a run before New York Mets' third baseman David Wright took the Washington Nationals' starter deep in the fourth inning of last Monday's game in Citi Field. The Nats' '07 2nd Round pick had thrown 35.0 straight innings without allowing a home run before that too, going back to the one the Orioles' Mark Reynolds hit off Zimmermann back on June 22nd in Camden Yards. That was also the last time the Nationals' 26-year-old starter has lost a start. Zimmermann's (4-0) over six starts since then, with the Nats 5-1 when the right-hander takes the hill. In those six outings, Zimmermann's posted a 0.95 ERA with six walks (1.42 BB/9) and 26 K's (6.16 K/9) in 38.0 IP.

In 31.0 innings pitched in July, the Auburndale, Wisconsin-born, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point-educated pitcher has a 0.87 ERA, a 0.81 WHIP, 2.17 FIP, .196 BAA, three walks (0.87 BB/9) and 25 K's (7.26 K/9). Overall on the year, Zimmermann now has the NL's fourth-lowest ERA (2.31 behind Johnny Cueto's 2.23, Ryan Dempster's 2.25 and Ryan Vogelsong's 2.26 though Zimmermann's made more starts than both Dempster and Vogelsong) and the fourth-lowest BB/9 (1.61 BB/9). He's also back in Milwaukee to face his home-state team for the first time in his career tonight and he's looking to get the Nationals back to their winning ways after last night's shutout loss at the hands of Brewers' starter Mike Fiers.

• Here's the lineup that will back Zimmermann up in his homecoming:

Davey's Lineup-Sat @ MIL/G100: Espinosa ss, Harper cf, Zimmerman, 3b, Morse rf, LaRoche 1b, Moore lf, Flores c, Lombardozzi 2b, Zimm'nn rhp

— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) July 28, 2012