The Dodgers open a nine-game homestand Friday night against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. Hiroki Kuroda starts the opener for the Dodgers, in perhaps one of his final two starts this season before being traded. Southpaw John Lannan toes the rubber for the Nationals.
Kuroda has a 2.59 ERA in his last eight starts with nine unintentional walks and 37 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings. However, he has just a 1-6 record to show for it during that span, thanks to the Dodgers scoring 17 runs over those eight games. Kuroda is tied with J.A. Happ of Houston for the most losses in the National League, with 11.
Washington is 8-12 under new manager Davey Johnson, whose last major league managerial gig was in 2000 with the Dodgers. The Nats have lost seven of their last 10 games. Lannan is 6-6 this season with a 3.62 ERA in 20 starts.
Marcus Thames, who was released by the Dodgers earlier this week, has signed a minor league deal with the Yankees, per George A. King of the New York Post. The Dodgers split six games with the Nationals in 2010, including winning two of three at Dodger Stadium.
Tonight's 7:10 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.