Dodgers at Nationals
The Washington Nationals are hoping to complete a contest for the first time since the beginning of the week when they open a three-game series versus the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. The Nationals (24-18) had won 13 of 15 before Mother Nature cooled them down by effectively suspending one contest, its subsequent make-up game and a regularly scheduled outing heading into their series opener against the Dodgers (17-26).
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, who was slated to pitch against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, will take the mound on Friday as Washington bids for its eighth victory in its last nine home contests. Bryce Harper answered an 0-for-16 effort by going 5-for-18 with a homer and two doubles in four outings before the suspended contest for the Nationals, who embark on a stretch of playing 12 consecutive games against teams with losing records (Dodgers, San Diego, Miami and Baltimore). Los Angeles hadn't been faring well against last-place teams, as it had lost six in a row to such clubs before Justin Turner matched a career high with five RBIs in Thursday afternoon's 7-0 romp over the Marlins. "We had felt like we were close to breaking out and having a good day. Hopefully this can stick, and we can put together a run," said Turner, who finished 6-for-13 in the series.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet LA, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (0-1, 2.20 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (7-1, 1.69)
Stripling remains in search of his first win this season despite allowing just two runs and striking out seven without walking a batter in 5 1/3 innings of Saturday's no-decision against Cincinnati. The 28-year-old got a brief taste of facing the Nationals in September, as he permitted one run in one-third of an inning of relief on Sept. 16 before serving up a three-run homer to Ryan Zimmerman the following day. Zimmerman aside, the rest of the current crop of Nationals are 2-for-14 with four strikeouts against Stripling.
Scherzer has won six straight decisions after defeating Arizona with seven innings of one-run ball last Friday on the road. The 33-year-old struck out 11 batters in the outing to record his sixth double-digit effort in that category this season. Scherzer fanned nine in six innings of a 5-2 win against the Dodgers on April 20, improving to 4-4 with a 2.79 ERA in 12 career appearances versus the club.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles OF Yasiel Puig has hit all three of his homers this season in the last four games.
2. Washington's Pedro Severino is expected to see consistent playing time after fellow C Matt Wieters underwent surgery on Thursday to repair a left hamstring strain that landed him on the disabled list last week.
3. Dodgers CF Chris Taylor went 5-for-11 with three runs scored in his last three games.