Dodgers at Nationals (Game 2)
The Washington Nationals are in the midst of their hottest stretch of the season but they are also mired in an 0-fer this week, unable to complete a game since last Sunday. Winners of four games in a row and 13 of 15, the Nationals will hope the weather finally cooperates when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday in a day-night doubleheader.
Friday night's series opener was postponed by rain, following a bleak trend this week for Washington in which Tuesday's game was suspended before both the conclusion of the suspended game and regularly scheduled contest were washed out Wednesday. "They're itching to play. They want to play, but we can't do (anything) about the weather," said Nationals manager Dave Martinez, who will send right-handers Tanner Roark and three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer to the mound on nine and seven days' rest, respectively. Los Angeles had dropped six in a row -- all against last-place teams -- before halting the slide with Thursday afternoon's 7-0 romp over the Marlins. Justin Turner, who made his season debut Tuesday, matched a career high with five RBIs in the win for the Dodgers, who will go with Ross Stripling in Saturday's opener and Rich Hill in the nightcap.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Rich Hill (1-2, 6.20 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (7-1, 1.69)
Hill absorbed the loss against Cincinnati on Sunday despite his best performance since his season debut, going 5 2/3 innings and yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits. He failed to pitch beyond five innings in each of his three previous turns, surrendering 15 runs and six homers over 13 innings. Ryan Zimmerman is 6-for-11 with a pair of home runs off Hill, who is 2-1 with a 3.80 against the Nationals.
Scherzer has won six consecutive 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.
3. Dodgers LF Clayton Kershaw (biceps) said Friday that he expects to throw a bullpen session in the next few days.