Opposite dugout: First-year skipper Roberts keeping Dodgers focused

Manager: Dave Roberts (1st season)

Record: 52-42

Last 10 games: 5-5

Who to watch: SS Corey Seager (.301 with 17 HR, 43 RBIs), 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.286, 44 RBIs), 3B Justin Turner (15 HR, 50 RBIs), LHP Scott Kazmir (7-3, 4.52 ERA), RHP Kenley Jansen (27 saves, 1.36 ERA)

Season series vs. Nationals: 3-0

Pitching probables:

July 19: LHP Scott Kazmir vs. RHP Reynaldo Lopez, 7:05 p.m., MASN2
July 20: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN2
July 21: RHP Bud Norris vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 12:05 p.m., MASN2

Inside the Dodgers:

Injuries and the microscope that comes with managing in Los Angeles haven't made it easy, but first-year skipper Dave Roberts has the Dodgers in the thick of the postseason chase, no small achievement for a rookie manager. The Dodgers are 5 1/2 games back of the first-place Giants in the National League West, and if the regular season ended today, they'd host the NL wild card game. Ace Clayton Kershaw has been on the disabled list since June 27 with a mildly herniated disc in his back, promising center fielder Joc Pederson is nursing a sprained AC joint, and key players like outfielder Yasiel Puig and catcher Yasmani Grandal have spent time on the DL. The rotation has been in a constant state of flux and the bullpen has been overused, pitching more than 311 innings.

But the Dodgers persevere, perhaps feeding off the vibe of their high-energy, preparation-focused manager, a baseball lifer getting a chance to run his own team. They've had to compensate for an offense that doesn't rank in the top half of the majors in any key category. Shortstop Corey Seager is leading the Dodgers in home runs (17) and batting average (.301), and should have been the NL starter in the All-Star Game. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez hasn't been a power source with only seven homers, but has still driven in 44 runs. Third baseman Justin Turner has 15 home runs and a team-leading 50 RBIs, and is off to a good start in July, slashing .300/.379/.600. Puig has regressed, hitting only seven homers and driving in only 31 runs so far.

Lefty Scott Kazmir starts Tuesday's series opener for L.A., and is 5-0 in 11 starts since May 9. But he's prone to the home run ball, having yielded 15 round-trippers in 97 2/3 innings so far in 2016. In three career starts against the Nationals, he's 1-0 with a 4.02 ERA, but he's never pitched in D.C. Wednesday will mark left-hander Hyun-Jim Ryu's second start since coming off the DL following shoulder surgery that caused him to miss all of 2015 and the first half of this season. Velocity may be an issue, since the two-time former 14-game winner dropped into the 86 mph range as he went deeper into his season debut, a 6-0 loss to the Padres in which he allowed six runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. He'll be making his first career start against the Nationals. Right-hander Bud Norris has revived his career since being dealt to the Dodgers by the Braves on June 30, going 2-0 with a 3.94 ERA in three starts. In 13 starts this season, he's been a mixed bag, with a 5-5 record and 4.76 ERA. He's 4-0 in his past seven starts. In nine games (six starts) against Washington in his career, Norris is 2-3 with a 5.5.4 ERA, including a 2-1 record and 5.33 in six games (four starts) on South Capitol Street.

Closer Kenley Jansen has been a rock at the back end of the bullpen, saving 27 of 31 games with a stingy 1.36 ERA and 0.71 WHIP. He's been getting support from converted starter Joe Blanton, a righty who has posted a 2.05 ERA, and righty Pedro Baez, who has recorded a 3.05 ERA. But that trio has made a combined 127 appearances.