When It Rains It Pours, Dodgers Rained Out Doubleheader Scheduled Today

Game one-Aaron Harang-9-9 vs. Jordan Zimmerman-10-8

Game two-Josh Beckett-6-13 vs. John Lannan-3-0

Dodgers Lineup vs. Washington-Game 1

M.Ellis 4

Ethier 9

Kemp 8

Gonzalez 3

Ramirez 6

Victorino 7

Cruz 5

Ellis 2

Harang 1

The Dodgers/Nationals game was postponed due to rain. Sorry guys, but no Dodger Baseball will be played today. However the good news is, today we get two games, for the price of one! Yes a good old fashioned double header will be played this afternoon. This reminds me of the last time the Dodgers were in Washington, which was last September. They were supposed to play a four game series at the time, and rain cancelled one of the games. This year it is a three game series. The Dodgers have won 14 of 17 east coast time zone games, and are 3-0 against Washington this season. The Dodgers are 76-71, and remain one game behind the Cardinals for the second NL Wild Card. The Nationals are enjoying a tremendous season of resurgence. Their franchise has never made the playoffs in Washington, and have only made the postseason once back in 1981 as the Montreal Expos. Washington is 89-57, and are five games in front of the Atlanta in the NL East. The Nationals have had one of the top ranked pitching staffs in all of Baseball the entire season. Of course the big news from the Nation’s Capital is the shut down of Steven Strasburg, also known to us as Hypesburg. The Dodgers don’t have to face Hypesburg, or Gio Gonzalez. We lucked out there. The Nationals are a bit banged up as well. Micheal Morse, also known to us as Practice Swing Boy, (for his annoying super slow-mo practice swings) has just returned from a wrist injury. Shortstop Danny Espinosa however may miss some of the series with a bone bruise in his shoulder. The Dodgers will also have to put up with former Dodger Jayson Werthless, Bryce Harper (Kid Hype), and Tyler Moore(Hype Jr.)

The Dodgers received good news for once on the injury front. According to a tweet from Dylan Hernandez[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/dylanohernandez/status/248188210159689728″] Kershaw’s hip injury is not as serious as first believed. It is a hip impingement, and it does not look like he will need surgery. The hip joint pinches when he rotates. It was feared he would need the same operation that Jhair had, and could miss up to a month of the 2013 season. The doctors have said that Kershaw’s hip won’t get any worse from pitching on it. Don Mattingly has said there is a good chance he will pitch in 2012, but they want to wait until the pain subsides. As so as that happens he’ll be able to pitch. As of now, he is listed as day-to-day, which is very good news. Kershaw is once again having another fantastic season. Once again his utter domination against all opponents has been a refreshing joy for Dodger fans. Kershaw is 12-9 this season with a 2.70 ERA, and has whiffed 206 in 206.2 innings pitched.

The Big Show-Brad Penner-US PRESSWIRE

Kenley Jansen was also cleared to pitch, and has rejoined the team. If you remember, Jansen has been suffering from an irregular heartbeat, but will have to have surgery during the winter to correct the issue.

Game one will feature the same pitching match-up of Aaron Harang-9-9 vs. Jordan Zimmerman-10-8. Game one will be at 1PM pacific time. You can check out Stacie’s Pregame of Game one here-Dodgers-visit-D.C.-to-open-final-road-trip. Since this is a traditional doubleheader, game two will begin immediately after the first game ends. Normally there is a 15 minute break between games. In the second game of the twin bill, Josh Beckett-6-13 will start for the Dodgers, and the Nationals will counter with lefty John Lannan-3-0

Beckett has a career mark of 7-2 versus Washington, with a 2.37 ERA. He has whiffed 101 in 95 innings pitched. Washington batters are hitting .276 (16 for 58), with no home runs, and a .685 OPS. However only six batters have ever faced him, only three have any significant at-bats against him. Mark DeRosa is the only hitter with any kind of success. He is batting .333 (7 for 21) with three doubles. Beckett is 6-13 overall, and 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA with the Dodgers.

Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE

Washington will counter with lefty John Lannan. The 27 year old lefty from Mineola New York has pitched his entire career with Washington. Last season you may remember him hitting a home run at Dodger Stadium, and beating Hiroki Kuroda. This season, Lannan struggled and lost his spot in the rotation to Ross Detwiler. He was recalled on July 21, and since then has pitched well after making an adjustment to his pitching motion. This season Lannan is 3-0 in three games with a 2.41 ERA. He has always pitched well against the Dodgers. Posting a 4-1 record, and a 2.64 ERA, in five starts and 30 innings pitched. The Dodgers however are hitting .272 (31 for 114), with a .764 OPS, and three home runs, and 15 RBI. Hanley Ramirez, and Andre Ethier are the top hitters versus Lannan. Ramirez is batting .429 (9 for 21), with three doubles, and a home run. Ethier is batting .375 (3 for 8), with a home run. Shane Victorino has also taken Lannan deep in the past.

Both games will be televised on KCAL 9. Join us tomorrow for seven straight hours of Dodger Baseball! Stacie and I will be splitting coverage and will bring you all of the story lines during the day. I’ll be covering the first game, and Stacie will be covering the second game. We never take the day off guys, regardless of the weather. We’re here every day, rain or shine. Go Blue.