Yankees reveal probable starters for crucial series vs. Nationals

The New York Yankees are set to visit the nation's capital for a crucial three-game series against the Washington Nationals.

Entering Monday with the best record in the American League at 77-54, the Yankees have a 1.5-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the division.

While they've been a bit shaky at times since the All-Star break, they are 18-12 in their last 30 games and they've won eight of their last 10 series.

New York has the best record in Major League Baseball against teams above .500 at 50-34, but they've struggled with consistency against lesser opponents. Their 27-20 record against teams under .500 is 11th-worst in baseball.

Meanwhile, the Nationals are trending downward even more coming out of the All-Star break having with a 12-18 record in their last 30 games. They also are 34-57 against teams above .500, the third-worst mark in MLB.

In the first game of the series Monday night at 6:45 p.m. ET, the Yankees will turn to lefty Nestor Cortes, who is in the middle of a rough season. He's set to face off against lefty Mitchell Parker, who is 7-7 with a 4.26 ERA.

Cortes is 7-10 with a 4.00 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 148.1 innings pitched this season. His struggles have mostly come on the road where he has a 2-5 record and 5.45 ERA in 13 starts across 67.2 innings. He's been better over his last four starts, boasting a 3.38 ERA and 0.875 WHIP in 24 innings.

On Tuesday night, the Yankees turn to their ace Gerrit Cole, who is rounding into form. He's set to match up against veteran lefty Patrick Corbin, who is 3-12 with a 5.73 ERA.

Cole has been fantastic over his last seven starts, sporting a 2.43 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 40.2 innings during that stretch. He's been even better of late with a 1.17 ERA in his last four starts.

Concluding the series Wednesday night for the Yankees will be southpaw Carlos Rodon against Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore, who is 7-11 with a 4.51 ERA.

Like Cole, Rodon has been stellar over his last seven starts, sporting a 2.87 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 37.2 innings. He has pitched into the sixth inning in five of his last six starts.

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