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For the first time in four weeks, the Dodgers have a chance to sweep a series, with one more game against the Nationals on Sunday night in Washington D.C.
Unlike the first two games of the series, the Dodgers will face a pitcher they would likely see in a potential playoff matchup between these two teams, with Stephen Strasburg starting for the Nationals in the series finale.
The Nationals right-hander enters Sunday as hot as any pitcher in the game. He hasn’t allowed a run in any of his last four starts, and has a 34-inning scoreless streak dating back to Aug. 19. That’s the longest streak by a starting pitcher since Clayton Kershaw had 37 scoreless innings from July 3 to Aug. 1, 2015.
Strasburg struck out eight in six innings at Dodger Stadium on June 7, allowing just two runs (one earned), but suffered the 2-1 loss in a showdown with Kershaw.
In games started by potential Nationals playoff pitchers (Gio Gonzalez, Max Scherzer and Strasburg in June at Dodger Stadium), the Dodgers have scored five total runs in three games.
In games started by potential Dodgers playoff pitchers (Kershaw in June, then Alex Wood and Rich Hill this weekend), the Nationals have scored three total runs in three games.
The Dodgers have 16 series sweeps this season, including 13 sweeps of three or more games. The franchise record for series sweeps of three or more games is 14, set by Brooklyn in 1953.
Hyun-jin Ryu is staked with finishing the task on Sunday night, pitching on 11 days rest. He has allowed two or fewer runs in six of his last seven road starts dating back to May 31, posting a 2.79 ERA in those games, with 35 strikeouts and 11 walks in 38⅔ innings.
Walks have been an issue of late for Ryu, who walked a season-high five in his last start, on Sept. 5 against Arizona. Ryu has walked 14 batters in his last four starts, covering 21 innings. That matches his total walks in his previous 66 innings, over 12 games, including 11 starts.
Game info
Time: 5:08 p.m. PT
TV: ESPN