Washington @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 25, 2008 ) LA Angels 4, Washington 5

THE STORY: Davey Johnson will manage his first game with the Washington Nationals when they begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. Johnson was named as the manager of the Nationals on Sunday, three days after Jim Riggleman decided to resign. The Angels are 9-5 in their last 14 games after starting the month 1-7.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MASN, KCOP

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH John Lannan (5-5, 3.40 ERA) vs. Angels RH Ervin Santana (3-8, 4.22 ERA)

Lannan allowed one run on three hits and no walks in 5 2/3 innings last Wednesday against the Mariners. It was just the second time in his last nine outings that Lannan failed to complete at least six innings. The Nationals are 1-6 in Lannan’s last seven Monday starts.

Santana is winless in his last five starts, posting a 4.83 ERA in that span. He has allowed two earned runs or less in six of his last 11 starts. The Angels are 6-2 in Santana’s last eight Monday starts.

ABOUT THE NATIONALS (40-38): According to general manager Mike Rizzo, Johnson will manage the rest of the season, and it’s possible he could keep the job into next season. The 68-year-old Johnson hasn’t managed in the majors since 2000, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Interim manager John McLaren went 2-1 in his three-game stint after taking over for Riggleman. It will be interesting to see where Johnson places Jayson Werth in the batting order. Riggleman used Werth in the leadoff spot for short time in order to spark the offense, but Werth hit second behind Roger Bernadina on Sunday. Johnson won’t have closer Drew Storen available on Monday since he’ll be attending his grandmother’s funeral. Storen earned his 19th save on Sunday. Jordan Zimmermann lowered his ERA to 2.85 after pitching seven scoreless innings on Friday. Zimmermann has posted 10 consecutive quality starts and allowed just four runs in his last 34 1/3 innings.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (39-40): Fernando Rodney (back) played catch on Friday and could begin throwing off a mound early next week. Rodney was originally expected to return from his upper back strain on June 24. It’s still possible he won’t need a rehab assignment. Angels manager Mike Scioscia is hoping that Torii Hunter (ribs) can return to the lineup Monday. Hunter is still recovering after bruising his ribs while crashing into the right field wall in Wednesday’s game. He had started 75 of the Angels’ first 76 games this season before the injury. Vernon Wells has finally shown signs of leaving his early-season slump behind with seven home runs in his last 24 games. His ninth-inning home run off Clayton Kershaw on Sunday was his second in as many games. The Angels’ current 25-man roster features eight players ages 25 or younger, and 11 players on the 25-man roster have less than two years of service time in the majors.

FINAL PITCH: The Nationals are 6-20 in their last 26 interleague road games.