27 Jordan Zimmermann, SP

Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann turned in another solid performance Monday night against the Dodgers. Zimmermann, who made his eighth start, allowed just two runs on nine hits over 7 2/3 innings in a 6-2 win, including an RBI groundout off the bat of Skip Schumaker.

The only other run he surrendered came on an RBI single off the bat of Matt Kemp in the bottom of the eighth, which chased the right-hander from the game. He was pulled after throwing 101 pitches, 67 for strikes, and finished with five strikeouts and no walks.

Zimmermann (7-1), who has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his eight outings, has won his last four starts and has posted a 0.95 ERA with 24 strikeouts and five walks over that span (31 2/3 innings).

Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann told ESPN.com on Monday that he has not engaged in any contract extension talks with the club. Zimmermann, who remains arbitration-eligible for the next two seasons, has continued his star development this year and posted a 1.59 ERA with two complete games among his seven starts.

"As far as I know, there's nothing going on," he said about the rumors. The 26-year-old is slated to take the hill Monday night on the road against the Dodgers.

Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, who posted two scoreless outings in his previous two starts, became the first National League pitcher to six wins by holding the Tigers to one earned run on seven hits and two walks in seven innings while striking out seven.

Zimmermann has allowed just nine earned runs in seven starts this season en route to a 6-1 record and 1.59 ERA. His next start will come in Los Angeles against the Dodgers Monday.

Tuesday's rainout against the Tigers forced the Nationals to push back starters Jordan Zimmermann and Dan Haren each a day. Zimmermann, who was slated to throw Tuesday, will start Wednesday and Haren will start Thursday's rescheduled game.

Zimmermann will now go a week between starts. He is 5-6 with a 3.59 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 16 career starts when he's had at least six days' rest. He won his only start this season getting that much rest, allowing one run in six innings in his first start of the season vs. Miami.

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg might garner most of the attention, but another starter is performing like the ace of the staff. After deciding to stop being overdependent on strikeouts, Jordan Zimmermann has elevated his confidence -- and production -- to an elite level this season.

The crafty right-hander is using an effective mix of pitches to force opposing hitters to put the ball in play and has vaulted to the top of nearly every pitching category in the majors. Through six starts, he owns a glistening 1.64 ERA and 0.75 WHIP while holding hitters to just a .168 batting average.

"He is consistent. He can throw all of his pitches for strikes," an AL scout told MLB.com. "He keeps the hitters off-balance. He is not predictable at all. He comes back and he challenges the hitter. He has really come a long way from the time he first came up to the person that he is today. He is a quality guy. In most cases, he would be the top pitcher in the rotation."

Pitching to contact has helped Zimmermann avoid high pitch counts and remain in games longer. He has already posted two complete games -- doubling his career total entering the season -- and is averaging more than seven innings per start.

"The biggest personal goal is the 200 innings," he said. "That means you are becoming one of the elite pitchers, if you can get 200 innings and have a solid ERA -- under 3.50 would be reasonable."