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The Washington Nationals have been one of the best stories in baseball, starting with the pitching staff, which has a 2.20 ERA. Friday night, they get their biggest test of the season, facing the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Pitcher Ross Detwiler takes the mound for the Nationals, with a 2-0 record with a 0.56 ERA. He is coming off on of the best performances of his career, going six innings and striking out seven against the Miami Marlins on April 20.
The Los Angeles Dodgers send defending Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw to the hill on Friday. Kershaw has a 1-0 record with a 1.61 ERA. In his last start on April 21 saw him scatter three hits and strike out nine batters in seven innings against the Houston Astros.
Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will miss his fifth straight game with shoulder inflammation, so the rest of the Nationals roster needs to step up offensively to give them some offensive production against one of the National League's best pitchers.
Friday's game is set for a 10:10 p.m. first pitch from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Television coverage will be provided by MASN 2 with radio coverage on 106.7 The Fan, 1500 WFED AM and 1580 WFHS AM.
Here's the Nationals starting lineup:
#Nats Lineup: Desmond SS, Lombardozzi 3B, Werth CF, LaRoche 1B, DeRosa RF, Espinosa 2B, Nady LF, Flores C, Detwiler LHP
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 27, 2012
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