Dodgers at Nationals
Stephen Strasburg is tied for the major league lead in victories and will look to become the first pitcher to reach 14 wins when the Washington Nationals wrap up a three-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday afternoon. Strasburg will attempt to prevent a sweep by Los Angeles when he matches up against fellow right-hander Walker Buehler.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Friday that Will Smith will be the primary catcher going forward and the rookie made the decision look brilliant in his first game upon his recall from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Smith homered, doubled twice and drove in six runs to spark Saturday's 9-3 shellacking in the best offensive performance by a Los Angeles catcher since just-demoted Austin Barnes had seven RBIs on June 30, 2017. Washington surged into contention on the heels of a 23-8 run before dropping its last three games, the team's worst losing slide since a five-game skid from May 19-23. Adam Eaton had an RBI triple to extend his hitting streak to six games while Yan Gomes is 5-for-10 with two homers and three RBIs in his last three for the Nationals.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TBS, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Walker Buehler (9-1, 3.23 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (13-4, 3.37)
Buehler has gone nearly 2 1/2 months since his last loss on May 18 in Cincinnati, turning in another gem by overpowering Miami with 11 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings last weekend. The former Vanderbilt star, who will celebrate his 25th birthday Sunday, is 5-0 during his unbeaten string and flustered the Nationals with seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball in a no-decision on May 11. Anthony Rendon has two doubles in four at-bats versus Buehler, who is 5-1 with a 3.68 ERA on the road.
Strasburg matched his career high by winning his sixth consecutive start last time out against Colorado, striking out eight while yielding only three hits over six scoreless innings. The former No. 1 overall pick has not allowed a run in three of his last four turns and racked up 44 strikeouts against 10 walks during the six-game stretch. A.J. Pollock is 6-for-11 with a homer off Strasburg, who fell to 2-5 with a 2.67 ERA against the Dodgers after giving up two runs over six innings on May 12.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers 3B Justin Turner has hit safely in all five games versus Washington this season while becoming the team's fifth player to reach 20 doubles.
2. Nationals OF Gerardo Parra has reached base in seven straight pinch-hit appearances.
3. Dodgers 2B Kike Hernandez (hand) is expected to be placed on the injured list Sunday or Monday.