Dodgers Vs. Nationals Preview: Greinke Goes For 6-0, Puig Out Of Lineup
Zack Greinke is back on the mound for the Dodgers and could earn the second 6-0 start of his career. More impressively, Greinke is also looking to extend his streak of pitching at least five innings and allowing two earned runs or less to 19 games. Greinke has made four lifetime starts against the Washington Nationals and is 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA.
Greinke has pitched at least six innings in his last three starts, allowing a combined four runs and striking out 25. Despite his four career starts against the Nationals, not many hitters have had an extensive number of at-bats against him. Denard Span leads all Nationals with 31 plate appearances against Greinke, and is hitting .290 with four RBIs.
Starting for the Nationals is right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. The 27-year-old is 2-1 on the season with a 3.27 ERA. Zimmermann is coming off perhaps his best start of the season, going 6.1 innings, striking out seven, and allowing no runs to the Houston Astros.
Zimmermann has been hit hard by Hanley Ramirez, who has a career .450 average with six RBIs against the right-hander. Adrian Gonzalez and Matt Kemp have also had success against Zimmerman, hitting .333 and .417 respectively, in 12 at-bats each.
Yasiel Puig is out of the lineup, one day after crashing into the right field fence as he attempted to catch what wound up being a game-winning double. Along with hitting the fence hard, Puig was also hit on the side of the head by the ball. Puig passed a concussion test after the game, but may be sitting out due to general soreness.
Dodgers Lineup
2B: Gordon
LF: Crawford
SS: Ramirez
1B: Gonzalez
CF: Kemp
RF: Ethier
3B: Uribe
C: Olivo
P: Greinke
Nationals Lineup
CF: Span
3B: Rendon
RF: Werth
1B: LaRoche
SS: Desmond
2B: Espinosa
LF: McClouth
C: Leon
P: Zimmermann
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Dodgers Matt Kemp And Yasiel Puig Struggling
