Los Angeles @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 24, 2011 ) Washington 1, LA Dodgers 3
THE STORY: Two teams going in different directions will send two pitchers whose fortunes are going in different directions to the mound on Monday for the opener of a four-game series. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won nine of their last 10, will see if Hiroki Kuroda can claim his fifth straight win. For their part, the reeling Washington Nationals will see if John Lannan can snap his four-game losing skid. Washington has dropped eight of its last 10.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), MASN2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUPS: Dodgers RH Hiroki Kuroda (11-14, 3.03 ERA) vs. Nationals LH John Lannan (8-11, 3.54 ERA)
Kuroda has won his last four starts and five of his last six. He's coming off a six-inning win over the San Diego Padres. Kuroda was 5-1 with a 2.75 ERA in six starts in August, with 30 strikeouts and 10 walks in 39 1/3 innings. He lost his only start versus Washington this season, when he allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings. He's 1-1 in three career starts against the Nationals.
Lannan has lost four straight starts, including a 3-1 decision against the Atlanta Braves in his last outing. Lannan has pitched better than his record might indicate; he was 1-4 in August, but had a 3.21 ERA in 33 2/3 innings. He has one start against the Dodgers this year - allowing two runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings. Lannan is 3-1 with a 2.84 in four career starts against the Dodgers.
ABOUT THE DODGERS (68-71): Dee Gordon is 9-for-19 in four games on the current road trip; he was 7-for-16 against the Braves. Matt Kemp had gone seven games without a homer, ending the streak on Sunday with his 32nd homer against Atlanta rookie Randall Delgado. Kemp was 2-for-7 against the Braves, but was walked six times. James Loney is 7-for-15 on the road trip, despite going 0-for-4 on Sunday. Blake Hawksworth has been hammered for eight earned runs in six innings over his last five games and has given up at least one run in each outing.
ABOUT THE NATIONALS (64-74): Ivan Rodriguez was activated from the disabled list and is expected to play down the stretch, but veteran starter Livan Hernandez has made his final starting assignment of the year. Rodriguez has been on the disabled list since July 7 with a strained right oblique. Hernandez (8-13) will give way to some of the club's younger prospects, but told management he'd like to return to the club in some capacity. Wilson Ramos may not give up the catching job with ease; he's hit in eight straight, going 11-for-31, and has three consecutive two-hit games.
FINAL PITCH: The Dodgers have said that Nathan Eovaldi has made his final start of the season and will move to the bullpen in order to preserve his arm. Eovaldi is 1-2 with a 3.09 in six starts for the Dodgers and limited the Braves to one run in six innings on Saturday.