LA Dodgers (65-68) at Washington (48-85) 7:10 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- A visit to the nation's capital against 
the majors' worst team was supposed to cure the Los Angeles 
Dodgers' losing ways.  Instead, it has added to their 
frustration.

The Dodgers aim to halt their season-high six-game losing streak
on Thursday against the Washington Nationals.

A lethargic offense contributed to the Dodgers being swept  over
the weekend in Philadelphia, where they were outscored, 27-5, 
over four games.

Their play hasn't picked up in Washington.  The Dodgers, who 
entered this series with an 11-1 record over their previous 12 
games vs. the Nationals, dropped a 2-1 decision on Tuesday 
before losing again, 5-4, on Wednesday.

Los Angeles, which has been defeated in eight consecutive road 
contests, looks to avoid its first sweep by Washington since 
August 4-6, 1998 when the team was known as the Montreal Expos.

The Dodgers hope Clayton Kershaw (2-4, 4.11 ERA) can repeat the 
performance he had against Washington on July 27. The lefthander
posted his first major league victory in that game by posting 
six scoreless frames.  However, he will be coming off his worst 
start , surrendering six runs and seven hits over four innings 
in a 9-2 loss to the Phillies on Saturday.

John Lannan (7-12, 3.95), on the other hand, will try to build 
off a rare win.  The lefthander ended a five-start winless 
streak in Friday's 13-5 rout of the Chicago Cubs despite 
allowing five runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 frames.