LaRoche, Span get night off as Nats face Kershaw

LOS ANGELES - Adam LaRoche and Denard Span both get the day off with the Nationals facing Cy Young Award favorite Clayton Kershaw tonight at Dodger Stadium. LaRoche's back has been bothering him and he's considered day-to-day after leaving Monday's game with tightness. Span isn't in the lineup for the first time since Aug. 13. The Nats center fielder had played every inning of each of the 18 games since, but he is 0-for-5 in his career against Kershaw. With those two not starting, Bryce Harper is in center field, Scott Hairston is in left and Kevin Frandsen is at first. Hairston has posted strong numbers against Kershaw, batting .360/.360/.400 in 25 at-bats. This should be an excellent pitching match-up with right-hander Doug Fister taking a 12-5 record and a 2.55 ERA into the contest against Kershaw, who's 16-3 and leads the majors with a 1.73 ERA. Fister has allowed eight earned runs in 11 2/3 innings for a 6.17 ERA over his last two starts. He lost both outings. Kershaw is 6-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) against the Nats, including 4-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his last four starts against them over the last three seasons. For the Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon 2B Asdrubal Cabrera RF Jayson Werth SS Ian Desmond C Wilson Ramos CF Bryce Harper LF Scott Hairston 1B Kevin Frandsen RHP Doug Fister For the Dodgers 2B Dee Gordon SS Hanley Ramirez 1B Adrian Gonzalez RF Matt Kemp LF Carl Crawford 3B Juan Uribe CF Joc Pederson C A.J. Ellis LHP Clayton Kershaw