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Dodgers-Nationals Preview

Apr 24, 2010 - 4:30 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (7-8) at Washington (8-8), 1:05 p.m. EDT

In the NL, only the three division leaders have reached the 10-win mark. With one more victory, the Washington Nationals - a team that had the major's worst record in each of the past two seasons - will join that group.

The Nationals look to continue their surprising start Saturday when they play the middle game of a weekend set with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After losing more than 100 games in both 2008 and '09, Washington (9-8) is now on pace for more than 85 wins. The Nationals are closing in on their 10th victory - a mark they didn't reach last season until their 28th game May 8.

Adam Dunn homered twice and drove in three runs in Friday's 5-1 series-opening win over the Dodgers. The slugger entered the weekend batting .176 with one home run and four RBIs.

"I've been feeling good all along, I just haven't been doing much," Dunn said. "Hopefully things will start heating up."

Washington may need Dunn to carry more of the offense if Ryan Zimmerman and Ivan Rodriguez are unable to play.

Zimmerman, batting .341 with seven doubles and 10 RBIs, is listed as day to day with a sore right hamstring, while Rodriguez, hitting .423 with seven doubles and eight RBIs, will sit out Saturday after leaving the series opener in the sixth inning due to lower back tightness.

The Dodgers (7-9) are also without one of their top bats. Manny Ramirez landed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained right calf. The 12-time All-Star, batting .415 with two homers and 12 RBIs this season, injured himself while running out a single in Thursday's 8-5 loss to Cincinnati.

The two-time reigning NL West champion Dodgers are off to a disappointing start. They've lost four of six, plating two runs or fewer in three of those game.

Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 3.18 ERA) will get the ball Saturday, trying to help Los Angeles avoid its first three-game skid of the season.

Kershaw has done a good job of pitching out of jams, but could make things easier on himself if he cut down his walks. In 17 innings over three starts, he has allowed six runs and 12 hits with 20 strikeouts, but has also walked an NL-high 15.

The left-hander gave up one run, four hits and four walks with nine strikeouts Sunday, but didn't receive a decision in a 2-1 win over San Francisco.

Kershaw is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA in four games against Washington, including three starts.

The Nationals counter with Craig Stammen (1-0, 8.16), who looks to build on his first win of the year.

After being knocked around for 11 runs in 6 1-3 innings over two starts against Philadelphia, Stammen fared much better Monday against Colorado, allowing two runs and five hits in eight innings of a 5-2 victory.

The right-hander credited teammate Livan Hernandez - who told him to relax - for the improvement.

"Sometimes it's better to be calm than so intense and fired up out on the mound," Stammen said. "If I overpitch, I don't throw the ball straight."'

Stammen has never faced the Dodgers.