Dodgers at Nationals (Game 1)
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: 2:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet LA, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (0-1, 2.20 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Tanner Roark (2-3, 3.33)
Stripling remains in search of his first win this season despite allowing just two runs and striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings of Saturday's no-decision against Cincinnati. He got a brief taste of facing the Nationals in September, permitting 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.
Roark went seven innings for the fourth time in eight starts but had to settle for a no-decision last time out at Arizona despite allowing one run and four hits and not walking a batter for the first time. It was the third consecutive quality start overall and sixth this season for the 31-year-old, who is 0-1 with a 3.48 ERA in three appearances (one start) against Los Angeles. Matt Kemp, who had three hits Thursday, is 6-for-18 with a pair of homers versus Roark.
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 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.