Washington @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 1, Washington 4

The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to match their longest winning streak of the season when they host the Washington Nationals on Monday in the opener of a three-game series. The Dodgers posted their second straight victory Sunday against the visiting Miami Marlins. Prior to that, they had lost eight straight. The Dodgers last won three in a row while sweeping the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates April 5-7. Washington has lost two straight heading into its 10-game California road trip.

The Nationals wasted a great start by Gio Gonzalez on Sunday. After he departed with a 1-0 lead against the visiting Chicago Cubs, the bullpen gave up single runs in the eighth and ninth innings and Washington lost 2-1. The Nationals don't have a player hitting .300 or better. Bryce Harper was hitting .373 on April 27 but has gone 4-for-35 since to drop to .297. He also has just one extra-base hit this month after producing 16 in April. Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp has been missing his power surge all season, totaling seven doubles and one home run in 37 games. He does have an 11-game hitting streak, however.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Washington), Fox Sports Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (6-1, 1.59 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Josh Beckett (0-4, 5.13)

Zimmermann has been one of the hottest pitchers in the major leagues. He has allowed one earned run in his last 25 innings and that included starts against division leaders Atlanta and Detroit and second-place Cincinnati. A key to his success has been a more economical approach to his starts. He’s averaging 13.3 pitches per inning this spring compared to 15.8 last year. He pitched well against the visiting Dodgers last September, taking advantage of seven days' rest to allow one run in six innings of a 3-1 victory. His only other appearance against the Dodgers came in his rookie season in 2009.

The last time Beckett ventured this far into a season without recording a victory was in 2002, his first full season in the major leagues. He didn’t earn win No. 1 that season until May 14. Beckett, who will turn 33 on Wednesday, has pitched well enough at times this season to claim a win. He’s 7-2 in 16 career starts against Washington/Montreal with a 2.46 ERA. He also faced the Nationals in September, taking a 6-0 lead into the eighth inning before giving up three earned runs in a six-run inning that cost him the victory, though the Dodgers scored in the ninth to win 7-6.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kemp has a home run and four RBIs in six career at-bats off Zimmermann.

2. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez continues to experience discomfort from a neck sprain that occurred May 1 when he collided with a first-base umpire. He has played three complete games since.

3. The Nationals have committed 30 errors, one short of the major-league lead by the Cubs.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Dodgers 2