The set-up: The Dodgers opened a three-game series in Washington against the Nationals last night and came away with an impressive 7-0 win. Justin Turner, Yasiel Puig and Corey Seager all homered in the first two innings, while Alex Wood delivered a dominant pitching performance (three hits over six scoreless innings with eight Ks). Los Angeles has now won three in a row, after dropping 16 of 17 from Aug. 26-Sep. 11. The Nationals were able to muster only four hits against Wood and two relievers, while falling for the third time in four outings. The offense has been lacking for the NL East champions over that stretch, as the Nats have totaled just seven runs while getting shut out twice. The defeat also left Washington six games back of the Dodgers for the NL's best record.

The pitching matchup: Rich Hill (9-8 & 3.67 ERA) starts for LA and A.J. Cole (2-4 & 4.30 ERA) for Washington. Hill needs to get things turned around, as he has lost four starts in a row, beginning with his near-perfect game back on August 23 at Pittsburgh. He was obviously brilliant in that outing vs. the Prates but he owns a 6.14 ERA over his last three outings. Hill last faced Washington twice in the 2016 NL Divisional Series and permitted five runs across seven innings over two starts. He's 1-2 with a 5.11 ERA all-time vs. the Nats (teams are 3-2). Cole will be making his first start for the Nationals since getting the win at Miami back on Sep. 4, having pitched twice in relief over that span. He worked two scoreless innings against Philadelphia last Saturday but was roughed up for three runs on five hits across two innings versus Atlanta on Tuesday. This is Cole's first career start against the Dodgers.

The pick: Hill has looked pretty shaky these last three starts and note that he enters this contest having given up at least one HR in eight consecutive outings. However, one could have said the same of Wood, before last night. The Dodgers look as if they have 'righted the ship' and today face Cole, who has spent most of this year at Triple-A Syracuse He has pitched in just eight games with Washington, including six starts, going 2-4. He has given up six HRs in 37 2/3 innings at the major league level this year. The Dodgers will post their most wins in a season since going 98-64 in 1977 with one more win. That win comes right here! Make the Dodgers an 8* play.