WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals meet Thursday afternoon at Nationals Park in the second game of a split doubleheader, with rain and 69 degrees in the forecast. Minnesota (16-20) is expected to start RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-5) in the afternoon game, with RHP Jake Irvin (1-4) a likely candidate for the evening contest. Washington (16-20) had not announced its starter. The Twins enter on the heels of an 11-3 win Tuesday over the Nationals, a game in which RHP Taj Bradley was dominant: 6 innings, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 8 strikeouts. SS Brooks Lee went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, and CF Byron Buxton homered and drove in three runs. Washington counterpunched Wednesday with a 6-2 win, evening the series at one game apiece. Players to watch: Bradley has posted quality starts in four of his past five outings, including seven strikeouts in seven innings against Seattle on April 29. He’s scheduled to start Thursday’s nightcap. Nationals reliever Paxton Schultz has been effective in limited duty. In Tuesday’s blowout loss, Schultz threw two scoreless innings with one strikeout and no hits allowed. Over his past six appearances spanning 9 innings, Schultz has surrendered one earned run while striking out nine. Betting line: Minnesota is a -1.5 favorite, with the over/under set at 9. The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-4 Washington victory. Minnesota’s offense has been inconsistent during a 3-7 stretch in its past 10 games, but the Twins have won three of four meetings against the Nationals this season. The Twins have averaged 6.5 runs per game in those contests. Washington has struggled against Twins pitching, batting .214 in the two games this series. The Nationals have won four of their past six overall. Following Thursday’s twin bill, Minnesota travels to Cleveland for three games beginning Friday. Washington visits Miami for a three-game set starting Friday.