TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — The Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays will meet Saturday afternoon at George Steinbrenner Field, with the hosts aiming to build on a series-opening victory. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. under partly cloudy skies and 90-degree heat.

Washington (39-36) enters having lost two straight, including a 4-2 defeat to the Rays on Friday. The Nationals dropped a series to Kansas City earlier this week, but they took two of three from Seattle and three of four from San Francisco prior to that. Tampa Bay (41-30) is coming off a 5-4 loss at Los Angeles on Wednesday, but the Rays have won six of their past nine overall.

Right-hander Zack Littell will start for Washington. Littell has been inconsistent lately: He allowed four earned runs over five innings in a loss to Kansas City on June 17, and lasted only 1 2/3 innings against Seattle on June 12, surrendering five earned runs. However, he posted quality starts in his previous three outings, including a seven-inning, one-run effort at Cleveland on May 25. Littell is 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA over his last five starts.

Tampa Bay will counter with left-hander Shane McClanahan, who is searching for his first win since May 31. McClanahan has lost three consecutive decisions, allowing two earned runs over 3 2/3 innings at the Dodgers on June 17, four earned runs in four innings at the Angels on June 12, and four earned runs in five innings at Miami on June 6. He pitched well in a no-decision at Baltimore on May 25 with three hits and no earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. McClanahan is 1-3 with a 5.09 ERA over his last five outings.

The clubs split the first two games of this three-game set, with Tampa Bay winning Friday. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-4 victory for Washington.

Following Saturday’s game, the Nationals continue their road trip Sunday at Tampa Bay before returning home for a four-game series against Philadelphia. The Rays will host Kansas City for a four-game set starting Monday.