Nationals at Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson has been a forgotten man early this season, but manager Dave Roberts remains a believer. One night after rewarding his skipper’s faith with a solo homer, Pederson could be in the lineup again on Sunday as the Dodgers host the Washington Nationals for the rubber match of their three-game series.
Pederson has lost playing time to Matt Kemp while struggling at the plate, but the 25-year-old started his third consecutive game and went 2-for-4 in Saturday’s 4-0 victory. “We’re trying to get him going a little bit,” Roberts told reporters. “He’s a big part of what we’re trying to do. I still want to be mindful of Joc staying current and getting those at-bats, because we’re going to need him.” The Dodgers have won five of their last six contests while Washington is 3-2 on its nine-game road trip and hoping to have third baseman Anthony Rendon back in the starting lineup as soon as Sunday. Rendon has missed seven straight games with a toe injury but was available for pinch-hitting duty on Saturday.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Alex Wood (0-2, 3.91)
Hellickson made his Nationals debut on Monday against the New York Mets but did not factor in the decision after giving up two runs over 4 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old native of Iowa was signed to a minor-league contract in March after pitching for both Baltimore and Philadelphia last season. Kemp is 7-for-22 with a home run against Hellickson, who is 0-1 with a 6.88 ERA in four career starts versus the Dodgers.
Wood bounced back from a rocky outing against Oakland by giving up an unearned run and two hits over 5 1/3 innings versus San Diego on Tuesday. The 27-year-old still is seeking his first victory despite limiting batters to a .186 average and recording 22 strikeouts against one walk. Wood has gone 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 career starts against Washington, including six scoreless innings at Nationals Park on Sept. 15.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Nationals are 7-13 against the Dodgers since the start of the 2015 season.
2. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner (wrist) hit off a tee for the first time on Friday and remains on schedule to return in mid-May.
3. Washington placed LHP Matt Grace (groin) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP Trevor Gott from Triple-A Syracuse.