Ryan Dempster (5-4, 4.99 ERA) was originally slated to take the mound for the Cubs on Monday, but he's been scratched from the start due to a sore back. Instead, Casey Coleman (2-4, 7.78 ERA) is expected to be recalled to start in his place.

Righthander Coleman last started for the Cubs on May 25 against the Mets, getting pounded for six runs on seven hits in just 1 1-3 innings of work in a loss. Chicago is 3-5 over Coleman's eight starts so far this season.

The Nationals are in the middle of their most successful post-Montreal season with a record around .500 and a strong mark at their home stadium.

Jordan Zimmermann (5-7, 2.63 ERA) is expected to pitch for the Nats in Monday's matinee, and he hasn't turned in a bad outing since April. In 11 starts in May and June Zimmermann held the opposition to three or fewer runs 11 times, and two or fewer runs 10 times.

Against the Angels last time out the righthander was stuck with a hard-luck loss after allowing just one unearned run on four hits over eight innings of work. Washington couldn't score any runs in support of Zimmermann in that defeat.

Overall the Nationals are 6-4 in Zimmermann's last 10 starts, and 5-1 in his past six outings.

On the MLB futures at Bodog the Cubs and Nationals aren't that far apart right now despite Chicago's woes: The public Cubs are at 200/1 odds to win the World Series this season, while the Nationals are just slightly ahead of them at 175/1. Bodog has updated lines for both the World Series and the league pennants on its MLB page.

Get all your MLB odds at Bodog.