Dodgers @ Nationals

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Dodgers (51-31)

@ Washington Nationals (40-40)

Starting Pitchers:

Kershaw (LAD): 9-7; 3.25 ERA

Espino (WSH) 2-2; 2.02 ERA

Current odds:

Los Angeles Dodgers: (-240)

Washington Nationals: (+210)

• With two key contributors potentially out of Washington’s lineup, Clayton Kershaw seemingly has a good chance to continue his success against the banged-up Nationals and keep the Los Angeles Dodgers rolling. Kershaw looks to help the visiting Dodgers match a season high with their eighth consecutive victory on Saturday night against the Nationals.

• Trying to win at least 10 games for the first time since 2019, Kershaw (9-7, 3.25 ERA) has been solid of late, posting a 2.08 ERA with 38 strikeouts and four walks while splitting his past four starts. He allowed a solo homer, three other hits and struck out a season-high 13 over eight innings of Sunday’s 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

• Kershaw allowed five hits and struck out six without a walk over six innings of a 3-0 victory over Washington on April 11 to improve to 14-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 20 career regular and postseason starts against the team.

• Washington’s Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner are a combined 14-for-31 all-time against Kershaw. However, Turner could miss a third consecutive game with a finger issue while Schwarber suffered an apparent right-hamstring injury during Friday’s 10-5 loss to the Dodgers. Schwarber was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday morning.

• They are the two latest in a series of injuries for Washington, which has dropped the first two of this four-game set after closing June on a sizzling 14-3 stretch.

• Washington has been outscored 29-12 while losing all five meetings this season with the Dodgers, who used a nine-run seventh inning to rally for a seventh straight victory Friday.

• Los Angeles, which won eight straight games from April 9-17 and from May 17-25, might not even be hitting its stride as some in the clubhouse see things.

• The Dodgers are set to get their first look at scheduled Washington starter Paolo Espino (2-2, 2.02 ERA) on Saturday. Making another spot start, the right-hander allowed five hits without a walk over five scoreless innings of an 8-4 win against the New York Mets on Monday.

• Washington’s Juan Soto is batting .348 in his past 13 home games.

• Los Angeles’ Justin Turner, who hit his 13th homer and had two other hits on Friday, is 10-for-18 against the Nationals this season.