The Nationals are slated to host the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series that begins Friday night at 7:05 p.m., though rain is in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.
Washington is 24-18 and entered Thursday just two games back of the first-place Atlanta Braves.
The Dodgers were 16-26 and had lost six in a row before their game at the Marlins on Thursday afternoon. Here are three things to watch for:
Rest for the weary
The Nationals were off Monday, played less than six innings Tuesday and then were rained out Wednesday with the New York Yankees in what was supposed to be a doubleheader of sorts.
Washington also had a scheduled off day on Thursday.
So that has allowed the Nationals bullpen to get some rest.
Lefty Sammy Solis has pitched in 23 games, Brandon Kintzler has pitched in 22 and Ryan Madson has thrown in 21 games for a team that has played 42 times.
More rest for Scherzer
Scherzer was slated to pitch Wednesday night at home against the Yankees but that game was rained out.
He last pitched on May 11 at Arizona and struck out 11 batters in seven innings in the 3-1 win.
He is 7-1 with a 1.69 ERA and leads the National League in victories. He has not lost since April 4 at Atlanta and has six wins and a non-decision in his last seven starts.
Tanner Roark (2-3, 3.33) is slated to pitch against the Dodgers on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
Washington’s Stephen Strasburg (5-3, 3.28) is scheduled to pitch in the finale on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
Who are these guys?
Los Angeles is without standout shortstop Corey Seager, who is out for the season with a right UCL sprain.
And left-handed ace Clayton Kershaw went on the disabled list May 6 with left bicep tendinitis. The same day, the Dodgers signed former Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa to a minor league contract. He was in the spring training with the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. He played with the Nationals from 2010 to 2016.
The Dodgers lost for the ninth time in 10 games on Wednesday to the Marlins and fell into last place in the National League West.
The Dodgers beat the Nationals in five games in the NLDS in 2016, but this hardly looks like the same team.
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