The Los Angeles Dodgers will look to keep their N.L. Wild Card hopes alive as they face the N.L. East leading Washington Nationals in the first game of the three game series in Washington D.C. on Tuesday.
Matt Kemp is in the three hole for the Dodgers despite posting a .133 batting average since Aug. 28, a game in which he had a violent collision with the centerfield wall at Coors Field.
The Dodgers will send right-hander Aaron Harang (9-9, 3.79) to the mound. He's 1-2 with a 3.90 ERA in his last five starts. Los Angeles currently trails the St. Louis Cardinals by one game for the second N.L. Wild Card spot.
The Nationals will counter with right-hander Jordan Zimmerman, who has struggled in his last five starts, posting a 1-1 record with a hefty 6.66 ERA. Tuesday night's game also marks the return of left fielder Michael Morse, who has been out of the Nats lineup since last week with a bone bruise in his left wrist.
The lineups for Tuesday night's game are as follows:
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Mark Ellis (R) 2B
- Andre Ethier (L) RF
- Matt Kemp (R) CF
- Adrian Gonzalez (L) 1B
- Hanley Ramirez (R) SS
- Shane Victorino (S) LF
- Luis Cruz (R) 3B
- A.J. Ellis (R) C
- Aaron Harang (R) P
Washington Nationals
- Jayson Werth (R) RF
- Bryce Harper (L) CF
- Ryan Zimmerman (R) 3B
- Adam LaRoche (L) 1B
- Michael Morse (R) LF
- Ian Desmond (R) SS
- Kurt Suzuki (R) C
- Steve Lombardozzi (S) 2B
- Jordan Zimmermann (R) P
First pitch is slated for 4:05 p.m. PT, and the game will be televised on KCAL and The MLB Network.
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