Los Angeles @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 3, Washington 1
A torrid stretch has catapulted the Los Angeles Dodgers toward the top of the National League West. The Dodgers, winners of 19 of their last 24 contests, could find themselves in the penthouse should they complete a three-game series sweep of the reeling Washington Nationals on Sunday. Hanley Ramirez belted a two-run homer in the series opener before his go-ahead RBI double in the 10th inning lifted Los Angeles to a 3-1 triumph Saturday.
While the Dodgers reside a half-game behind Arizona in the NL West, Washington has dropped seven of nine to fall seven in back of NL East-leading Atlanta. The Nationals will look to stop their slide Sunday when they send Jordan Zimmermann to the mound. The right-hander, who owns a 9-0 mark at home with a slim 1.75 ERA and 0.91 WHIP, hasn't lost in the nation's capital since May 17, 2012.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TBS, KCAL (Los Angeles), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (8-6, 1.98 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (12-4, 2.58)
Kershaw suffered the hard-luck loss in his last outing despite striking out 10 over seven strong innings. The 2011 National League Cy Young Award winner saw the end of his three-game winning streak, in which he yielded just three earned runs and struck out 18 against two walks in 25 innings. Kershaw improved to 4-2 in his career versus the Nationals on May 14 after scattering five hits and striking out 11 over 8 2/3 scoreless innings.
Zimmermann suffered his first loss since May 29 after permitting just two runs over 6 1/3 innings in a loss to Philadelphia in his last outing. The 27-year-old improved to 2-0 in his career versus Los Angeles after limiting the Dodgers to just two runs over 7 2/3 innings in a 6-2 triumph on May 13. Zimmermann has kept the ball in the yard in six of his last eight outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles CF Matt Kemp remains on track to be activated from the disabled list prior to Sunday's game. Kemp has been sidelined since July 6 with an irritated AC joint in his left shoulder.
2. Washington LHP Ross Detwiler (back strain) isn't progressing as well as the team would have liked, prompting manager Davey Johnson to admit that the hurler will likely miss the remainder of the homestand.
3. Ramirez, who had three hits Saturday, is 8-for-18 in his career versus Zimmermann.
PREDICTION: Nationals 1, Dodgers 0