Cubs-Nationals preview (The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON -- Nationals manager Dusty Baker said this weekend that his team can't look too much ahead to an upcoming west coast trip, which begins Thursday with a game in San Diego.

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"We have not played the west (coast teams). You want to get some momentum before you go there," Baker said.

The Nationals, who have won six of the last seven, will certainly get a chance to do that when they begin a three-game series at home Monday with the Chicago Cubs in a showdown of first-place teams.

Last year, manager Matt Williams took some heat when he did not set up his rotation to have Max…