Final Apr 29
MIN 1 +118 o8.0
CLE 2 -127 u8.0
Final Apr 29
NYY 15 -170 o9.5
BAL 3 +156 u9.5
Final Apr 29
CHC 9 -146 o9.0
PIT 0 +134 u9.0
Final Apr 29
WAS 6 +168 o8.5
PHI 7 -185 u8.5
Final Apr 29
KC 3 +139 o8.0
TB 1 -151 u8.0
Final Apr 29
BOS 10 -130 o7.5
TOR 2 +120 u7.5
Final Apr 29
AZ 3 +117 o8.0
NYM 8 -126 u8.0
Final Apr 29
MIL 7 -244 o8.0
CHW 2 +220 u8.0
Final Apr 29
ATH 2 +176 o8.5
TEX 15 -193 u8.5
Final Apr 29
DET 4 +102 o8.0
HOU 6 -111 u8.0
Final Apr 29
ATL 8 -200 o11.0
COL 2 +182 u11.0
Final Apr 29
SF 4 -115 o7.0
SD 7 +106 u7.0
Final Apr 29
LAA 3 +193 o7.5
SEA 5 -214 u7.5
Final Apr 29
MIA 2 +181 o8.5
LAD 15 -200 u8.5

Los Angeles @ Washington preview

Nationals Park

Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2016 ) LA Dodgers 6, Washington 3


Everybody agrees that Clayton Kershaw is one of the top pitchers in baseball but his postseason history hasn't come close to matching his regular season success. The left-hander gets another opportunity to alter his October reputation when the Los Angeles Dodgers open the National League Division Series against the host Washington Nationals on Friday.

Kershaw, a three-time NL Cy Young Award winner, is 2-6 with a 4.59 ERA in 13 career postseason appearances (10 starts) and bristles at the notion that he is an underachiever on baseball's big stage. "Nobody talks about the success I've had in the postseason," Kershaw told reporters. "That's fine. Ultimately, what it comes down to is if we win the World Series, everybody will stop saying everything, good or bad. That mindset is what I have to think about." Washington counters with Max Scherzer and the right-hander - a candidate to win his second Cy Young award - has experienced mixed results in the playoffs by going 4-3 with a 3.73 ERA in 12 career appearances (10 starts). Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy (strained buttocks muscle) said he expects to be in the starting lineup and manager Dusty Baker said he thought the 2015 playoff hero looked good during Thursday's workout.

TV: 5:38 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (12-4, 1.69 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96)

Kershaw has thrived against Washington with a 10-2 mark and 2.02 ERA in 14 career appearances (13 starts), including a victory June 20 when he gave up one run and six hits over seven innings. The left-handed hitting Murphy smacked two homers off Kershaw in last season's NLDS as a member of the New York Mets. Kershaw missed more than two months with back issues but finished the season strong by compiling an 0.72 ERA over his last four starts.

Scherzer didn't face the Dodgers this season and is 2-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 10 career appearances (eight starts) against Los Angeles. The 32-year-old won his past eight decisions and aims to carry his regular-season success into the postseason when he faces Kershaw. "It's what you play this game for. You don't measure yourself against the worst; you measure yourself against the best," Scherzer said at Thursday's press conference. "And I think this is best opponent I could possibly face with the Dodgers and Kershaw throwing."

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers went 5-1 against the Nationals in the regular season.

2. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner hit 24 of his career-best 27 homers after the start of June.

3. Slumping Washington RF Bryce Harper, who homered once in his final 27 contests, is 1-for-15 with 10 strikeouts against Kershaw.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Nationals 2

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