Opposite dugout: As weather heats up, so have the Dodgers

Manager: Dave Roberts (2^nd season)

Record: 35-23

Last 10 games: 7-3

Who to watch: C Yasmani Grandal (.273 average with 6 HR, 24 RBIs); SS Corey Seager (.271 average with 55 hits); LF Cody Bellinger (12 HR, 31 RBIs); LHP Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.28 ERA); RHP Brandon McCarthy (5-2, 3.38 ERA); RHP Kenley Jansen (1.17 ERA with 9 saves).

Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (5-1 in 2016)

Pitching probables:

Monday, June 5: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, 10:00 p.m., MASN
Tuesday, June 6: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Brandon McCarthy, 10:10 p.m., MASN2
Wednesday, June 7: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw, 3:10 p.m., MASN

Inside the Dodgers:

The Dodgers began May one game above .500. They began June 11 games above .500. Following a so-so start to the season, the defending National League West champions appear to have found their groove and are part of a three-team race atop the division.

And as their offense and pitching heats up, tonight's series against the Nationals brings a bit of intrigue, as it's the first time the two teams will have met since the 2016 National League Division Series, which saw the Dodgers advance in a thrilling five-game matchup.

This clash features two of the top offenses in all of baseball. The Nationals lead the majors in hitting at .278, but the Dodgers aren't far behind with a team average of .255. That mark is helped out by third baseman Justin Turner, who was scorching with a .379 average, but a hamstring injury landed him on the 10-day disabled list. The 32-year-old isn't expected back until later this month. In his absence, catcher Yasmani Grandal is enjoying a nice season, hitting .273 with 24 RBIs. And it's rookie left fielder Cody Bellinger supplying the pop for the boys in blue, leading the team with 12 home runs and 31 RBIs. Also, don't forget about second-year shortstop Corey Seager. Last season, Seager's campaign proved to be the only thing standing between Nationals speedster Trea Turner and the NL Rookie of the Year award, and both players have dismissed the notion of a sophomore slump. Seager is arguably the team's best eye at the plate, as he leads the Dodgers with 55 hits and a .382 on-base percentage.

In terms of pitching, let's start with Wednesday's series finale, where you may not find a better matchup than this one: Stephen Strasburg vs. Clayton Kershaw. Both pitchers are multiple-time all-stars and could both end up in Cooperstown when all is said and done. As for the current situation, Strasburg brings his 2.91 ERA into Chavez Ravine, looking to separate himself from a quartet of pitchers tied atop the NL wins list with seven. Who's matching Strasburg win for win? Kershaw, of course. The left-hander is off to a 7-2 start and leads the senior circuit with a 2.28 ERA. This matchup could decide which team takes the three-game series and with a weekday afternoon start time, what better reason to "come down" with a pesky summer cold and head home early to catch the showdown. That's not to say the other matchups aren't enticing. Lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu posted 28 wins in his first two seasons in the majors and is still trying to recapture that magic. He's just 2-5 on the year but boasts a respectable 3.91 ERA and starts tonight's series opener opposite Gio Gonzalez. And veteran Brandon McCarthy has had a bit of an up-and-down year, but appears to be on the upswing, allowing two earned runs or fewer in each of his last three starts. He's faced the Nationals only twice, going 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA and will need to be sharp against ace Max Scherzer.

In the bullpen, the Dodgers boast a plethora (Three Amigos!, anyone?) of viable arms, three of which boast ERAs under 2.00. Relievers Pedro Báez and Josh Fields have combined to allow seven earned runs all season while closer Kenley Jansen sports a 1.17 ERA and is a perfect 9-for-9 in save chances.