Monday morning notes on Roark, Werth and the Dodgers

OAKLAND, Calif. - It got lost in the shuffle amid all those ninth-inning runs Sunday afternoon, but Tanner Roark pitched yet another impressive game and continues to resurrect what was beginning to look like a wayward season.

With 7 2/3 strong innings against the Athletics, Roark extended his recent hot stretch and further distanced himself from the struggles that had consumed him only a few weeks ago.

"He was in control," manager Dusty Baker said.

For six innings, Roark certainly was. He allowed only one hit (Khris Davis' leadoff double in the second) and needed only 71 pitches to get there.

A two-run homer by Davis on a curveball, though, put a dent into Roark's outing. And even though he was allowed to start the eighth inning after the Nationals re-took the lead, he was pulled after allowing another run via Chad Pinder's RBI double.

"I felt good the whole game," the right-hander said. "It was just two bad pitches that I should have had more focus on that cost the four runs. But we won. I guess that's all that matters."

The curveball actually has been among Roark's best pitches during his resurgence and has helped him put away hitters that he previously was struggling to finish off with two strikes.

"It's more 12-6 (breaking straight down), which is what I want," he said. "I notice at times that it'll be more 1-7. That does work. That does play, too. But when I'm facing a righty, I don't want to do that for a strike. It's a strikeout pitch. But it feels good. Everything feels good right now."

Combining dominant starts against both the Mariners and Giants prior to this one, Roark has now tossed a total of 21 2/3 innings in his last three outings, allowing five runs and walking only two batters. He has reduced his ERA from 4.73 to 3.95.

* Jayson Werth was out of the lineup Sunday and he may remain out of the lineup for the time being after fouling a pitch off his left foot.

Werth was hopeful after suffering the injury in the ninth inning Saturday that he'd be OK, likening it to previous times he has fouled a ball off that area of his foot. But he woke up Sunday in more pain than expected, and after arriving at Oakland Coliseum, required an X-ray.

That test came back negative for any fractures, but Werth still couldn't put any weight directly on his left foot. He was forced to hobble around on crutches, then left the stadium with his foot in a protective boot.

Werth missed a few spring training games due to a similar injury. He may be looking at something similar now.

"He's not looking good," Baker said. "The X-rays were negative, but he's on crutches. It's not looking good for now."

* The Nationals have posted a 35-20 record to date thanks in no small part to a sizeable slate of games against sub-.500 competition. (Not that there's much they can do about that, considering there are only six teams with winning records in the National League right now.)

This week, though, will present the Nats with perhaps their toughest challenge to date in 2017: a three-game series against the red-hot Dodgers.

The series, a rematch of last fall's epic playoff series, features one especially intriguing pitching matchup in Wednesday's finale. First up, it'll be Gio Gonzalez versus Hyun-Jin Ryu in a matchup of left-handers. Tuesday night's game features Max Scherzer versus Brandon MCarthy.

Then comes the main event Wednesday afternoon: Stephen Strasburg versus Clayton Kershaw.

That matchup was supposed to take place last summer when the Nationals traveled to Dodger Stadium. It was so highly anticipated that Vin Scully (who was battling a sore throat) pushed himself to call the game because he specifically wanted to see that showdown in person.

But then Strasburg was a last-minute scratch due to a back injury, Yusmeiro Petit had to make an emergency start in his place, and the dream matchup never happened.

One year later, they'll give it another try. Perhaps Scully will even come out of retirement for one game to call it.