Kershaw, Greinke bookend Dodgers' starters for series at Nats Park

The Nationals will face three-time National League Cy Young Award Clayton Kershaw when the Dodgers come to D.C. on Friday night. Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly plans to send right-hander Mike Bolsinger to the mound for Saturday's matinee and NL All-Star starter Zack Greinke will take the ball on Sunday for the series finale.

After winning the 2014 NL MVP, Kershaw got off to a bit of an uncharacteristic start this season. But the left-hander rebounded in dominant fashion. In his last start before the break on July 8, Kerhshaw tossed a complete game shutout, fanning 13 to vault into the major league lead with 160 strikeouts. He took the loss in last night's All-Star Game after surrendering a couple runs on three hits while pitching the fifth inning.

Greinke's 1.39 ERA led the majors in the first half. The 31-year-old right-hander has been simply devastating to hitters lately. Opponents have failed to score against Greinke in his last five starts, spanning 35 1/3 innings. During the stretch, Greinke has walked only three while striking out 31.

Nationals manager Matt Williams has not announced how he will arrange his starting rotation for the second half. However, it's expected Max Scherzer will take the mound Friday night, setting up a real heavyweight pitching matchup.

Jordan Zimmermann is likely to follow Scherzer in the rotation just as he did to start the season. Zimmermann wasn't sharp in his previous outing, but the right-hander still came away with the win after lasting just five innings in the Nats' 7-4 win in Baltimore on Saturday.

The question is where Doug Fister fits in? The tall righty is on a long layoff after last taking the mound on July 6. Fister's inconsistent first half included a trip to the 15-day disabled list with a flexor strain in his throwing arm. He is 3-4 with a 4.08 ERA.