Washington @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 6, 2010 ) Washington 6, LA Dodgers 3
None of those trade rumors involving Adam Dunn have come to fruition yet and that resulted in a painful experience for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.
Dunn blasted two homers and drove in all six runs in the Washington Nationals’ victory in the opening game of the series. He will look to inflict more damage on Saturday night in the second contest of the three-game series at Dodger Stadium.
Dunn belted his National League-leading 29th and 30th home runs off Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw. It is the seventh 30-homer season of Dunn’s career.
The Nationals have been shopping Dunn and reportedly placed him on waivers earlier this week. An unidentified team claimed Dunn and the Nationals have until Monday to work out a deal with that club.
If that team turns out to be the Dodgers, they received a very close look at the slugger in Friday’s contest.
Dunn’s three-run homer in the first inning traveled an estimated 460 feet. He added a three-run homer in the third inning that hit the foul pole down the right-field line.
The slugger came up three more times and the Dodgers twice walked him intentionally. He struck out in the other at-bat.
All the trade speculation hasn’t distracted Dunn. In six games in August, he is batting with .333 (8-for-24) with six homers and 13 RBIs.
Dunn could be in line for another big game on Saturday night when the Dodgers send Hiroki Kuroda (8-10, 3.70 ERA) to the mound.
Dunn has fared well in his career against Kuroda. He is 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs with four walks against the hurler.
Kuroda has lost five of his last six starts and lasted just four innings in his previous outing against the San Diego Padres. He gave up five runs – four earned – and seven hits in four innings during a 10-5 loss.
Kuroda defeated the Nationals last season in his only career start against them.
Washington will counter with Livan Hernandez (8-7, 3.12 ERA), who has pitched splendidly in two of his past three starts after a five-start winless streak.
Hernandez went the distance in a 7-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on July 22 and held the Arizona Diamondbacks to one run and five hits over 7 1/3 innings in his last start. He lost to the Atlanta Braves in the other outing.
Hernandez will be making his 32nd career start against Los Angeles. He has a 9-15 record and 4.86 ERA overall, with a 5-6 mark and 3.90 ERA in 17 career starts at Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier has a .350 career mark against Hernandez and has been swinging the bat well lately after struggling mightily during the second half of July.
Ethier has hit in six consecutive games and homered in Friday’s loss to the Nationals. Ethier is 9-for-26 (.346) with two homers during the streak.
Los Angeles outfielder Manny Ramirez is slated to undergo an MRI exam Saturday on his slow-healing calf injury. Ramirez hasn’t played since July 16.
For its part, Washington placed leadoff hitter Nyjer Morgan (hip) on the disabled list on Friday.