Lester allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out two over 3.1 innings Monday against the Padres. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Lester was not very good Monday despite three of his runs being unearned. A Starlin Castro error extended the third inning, allowing the Padres to score three runs all with two outs. The Friars got to him for two more in the fourth inning, and Lester's day was done earlier than he had hoped after throwing only 48 of his 81 pitches for strikes. HIs four walks tied his season high, and he's struck out three or fewer batters in six of his last seven starts. The 37-year-old owns a 5.34 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 41:26 K:BB over 60.2 innings, and he's lined up for one more start over the weekend in San Francisco before the All-Star break.

Lester (2-3) picked up the win Wednesday against the Rays, fanning three while allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks across five innings.

EDGE Analysis

Homers by Yandy Diaz and Mike Zunino helped the Rays get off to a 4-3 lead on the veteran southpaw after three innings. Lester allowed another run in the top of the fourth inning, but the Nationals were able to rally for three runs in the bottom half before the 37-year-old settled down to toss a perfect fifth. While the outing wound up being on the uglier side for Lester, he did enough to pick up his second win. Lester will look to have a stronger month of July after finishing June having allowed 18 earned runs on 34 hits and 12 free passes across 28 innings. He lines up to take the ball Monday in San Diego.

Lester (1-3) was tagged with the loss Friday against the Marlins after allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks across 2.1 innings. He struck out one.

EDGE Analysis

Lester had a woeful performance Friday, as he tossed 64 pitches before being lifted and also showed big command issues, missing the strike zone in 29 of those deliveries. The veteran left-hander also ended a streak of five straight appearances allowing two or fewer runs. His next start is scheduled for next week at home against the Rays.

Lester (1-2) picked up the win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets, allowing two runs on seven hits over six-plus innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran southpaw blanked the Mets for six innings before Jose Peraza took him deep with nobody out in the seventh on his 100th pitch of the game. The quality start was Lester's second in 10 trips to the mound while the six strikeouts were a season high, and he'll carry a 3.96 ERA and 35:17 K:BB through 50 innings into his next outing.

Lester surrendered two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two over 5.1 innings Monday against the Pirates. He didn't factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Lester gave up a solo homer in the top of the second, and he managed to hold Pittsburgh in check until the top of the sixth, when he surrendered another run on a sacrifice fly. The veteran southpaw has allowed just five runs over his last four outings, but he's been unable to work deep into his starts, eating up just 18.2 frames over that stretch. He's pitched six innings just once all season, dating back to his second start May 6 against Atlanta.

Lester allowed one earned run on four hits and four walks while striking out two across 3.2 innings Tuesday against the Rays. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Lester did well to survive having surrendered only one earned run, as he managed to strand four runners and exited the game with the bases loaded. However, that was the only positive from the start, as he allowed eight baserunners and threw 91 pitches to record only 11 outs. Lester has limited runs against him to a fair degree, maintaining a 4.19 ERA across eight starts this season. On the other hand, he has a 1.50 WHIP and only 27 strikeouts across 38.2 innings.

Lester didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-3 win over Atlanta, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

The only blemish on the veteran southpaw's ledger was a second-inning solo shot by Dansby Swanson, but Lester got pulled just short of his second quality start of the season after tossing 87 pitches (53 strikes), as he was working on only three days rest. He'll take a 4.37 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 25:12 K:BB through 35 innings into his next outing.

Manager Davey Martinez said Tuesday that Lester will start Wednesday's game against Atlanta on three days' rest, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

EDGE Analysis

There was some hope that Erick Fedde (illness) would be able to be activated to start Wednesday, but the Nats did not feel that he will be stretched out enough to do so. Instead, the veteran left-hander will take the ball just three days after allowing one run across four innings (74 pitches) against the Brewers on Saturday.

Lester won't pitch Friday against the Brewers as scheduled, as the game has been postponed due to poor weather, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Saturday. Lester will likely start one of those games, though the Nationals have yet to announce which.

Lester (0-2) took the loss Monday, coughing up five runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- over 5.1 innings as the Nationals were thumped 7-3 by the Cubs. He struck out four without walking a batter.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran lefty's return to Wrigley Field didn't go well, as Lester was tagged for runs in four of the six frames in which he worked while serving up his first homers of the year. The outing inflated his ERA to 3.80, and he'll take a 14:7 K:BB through 21.1 innings into his next start.