Nationals at Dodgers
Max Scherzer looks to halt a stretch of five straight winless starts when the Washington Nationals visit the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday for the third contest of their four-game series. Scherzer recorded his lone victory in eight outings this year on April 7 and has gone 0-2 with three no-decisions since.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner leads the National League with 72 strikeouts and has issued just eight walks but also is giving up more than a hit per inning - 53 in 52 1/3 frames - which he hasn't done over a full season since 2011. The Nationals have lost five of their last six games, including Friday's 5-0 setback in which they recorded just four hits. Joc Pederson went deep twice for the Dodgers on Friday for his third multi-homer performance of the season and the 11th of his career while David Freese added a two-run blast as the club won at home for the 11th time in 12 games. "Credit to Joc and his production," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters of Pederson, who has belted 12 homers. "He's a big part of what we're trying to do."
TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN2 (Washington), SportsNet LA, KTLA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (1-4, 3.78 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Walker Buehler (4-0, 4.95)
Scherzer registered 10 strikeouts over six innings against Milwaukee in his last turn but settled for a no-decision despite allowing two runs - one earned - and six hits. The 34-year-old has seen the Nationals win just one of his eight starts, and that came with 12 runs of support in the April 7 win over the New York Mets. Scherzer is 4-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 13 career appearances (11 starts) against the Dodgers.
Buehler beat Atlanta in his last turn, when he gave up three runs and five hits over seven innings. The 24-year-old matched his season high of eight strikeouts in the triumph but also served up two homers after giving up the same amount over his first six starts. Buehler is 6-3 with a 2.67 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 19 career home appearances (15 starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers SS Corey Seager was scratched shortly before Friday's game to handle a family matter and returned to the bench in the middle innings.
2. Washington LF Juan Soto (back) is expected to be activated prior to Saturday's game.
3. Los Angeles traded Travis d'Arnaud to Tampa Bay for cash considerations and recalled fellow C Rocky Gale from Triple-A Oklahoma City.