Los Angeles @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 0, Washington 0

The Washington Nationals attempt to end a three-game losing streak when they open a three-game series with the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers by playing a doubleheader on Wednesday. The teams were rained out on Tuesday but the Nationals increased their lead over the Atlanta Braves to 5 1/2 games. Washington’s magic number to clinch a wild card spot stands at two. The Dodgers are 1 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL’s second wild card.

Los Angeles swept a three-game series from the Nationals in late April in the only previous meetings this season. The Dodgers got good news on the Clayton Kershaw front on Tuesday. Kershaw received a second opinion on his inflamed right hip and the verdict was that he won’t hurt it any further if he continues pitching this season. Washington has lost nine of its last 11 games against the Dodgers. Nationals outfielder Michael Morse (wrist) will be back in the lineup after a four-game absence.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET or 30 minutes after Game 1 ends. KCAL (Los Angeles), Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Josh Beckett (1-2, 3.38 ERA) vs. Nationals LH John Lannan (3-0, 2.41)

Beckett is making his fifth start for Los Angeles since being acquired from the Boston Red Sox. He received a no-decision in his last outing when he gave up one run and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Beckett is 7-2 with a 2.37 ERA in 16 career appearances (15 starts) against Washington.

Lannan tossed 5 2/3 shutout innings against the New York Mets on Sept. 12 in his first start since taking Stephen Strasburg’s spot in the rotation. The Nationals have shut down Strasburg for the rest of the season as a precaution due to his major arm surgery in 2011. Lannan is 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA in five career starts against the Dodgers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals 1B Adam LaRoche is batting just .133 and has struck out five times in 15 career at-bats against Beckett.

2. Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez is batting .429 with a homer and five RBIs in 21 career at-bats against Lannan.

3. Washington 2B Danny Espinosa (shoulder) has a chance to play Wednesday after an MRI exam determined his injury is just a bruise.