The Los Angeles Dodgers play the Washington Nationals on Wednesday in Game 3 of their series. The game starts at 1:05 p.m. ET. Listen to the radio broadcast via the links below.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw started for the first time in six weeks on Tuesday against Washington. He showed no signs of rust en route to giving up no runs and striking out nine batters, helping the Dodgers to an 8-3 win.
"I'm always nervous, every time I start," Kershaw told the Associated Press. "You want to do well. Same type of nerves tonight, but after the first inning I was able to settle in OK."
Kershaw's return to the rotation was immediately felt by his team.
"He shows you right away what you've been missing," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "Just a guy that brings that to the table every five days. It's a little reminder of who he is and what he means to you. ...
"With Kersh you get a guy that's going to just be kind of all in every day, in every aspect, from running to hitting to fielding, the whole package."
Dan Haren (4-0, 2.39 ERA) is tasked with following Kershaw's performance. The former Nationals pitcher has played well on the road, where he's posted a 3-0 record with a 2.95 ERA, according to the Associated Press.
Haren is coming off a 9-4 win on Thursday against Minnesota; he gave up three runs on six hits and fanned three batters.
Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg (2-2, 3.60) is scheduled to oppose Haren. Strasburg didn't allow any unearned runs in his last start, which came on Friday against Philadelphia. The right-hander struck out five batters and gave up only six hits.
