Major League Baseball

LEADING OFF: Nats, Mets try to stop skids; Kershaw throws

Published Aug. 17, 2015 8:22 p.m. ET

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A look at what's happening all around the major leagues Tuesday:

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CAPITAL LOSSES

The Nationals look to snap a six-game skid as they hit the last leg of a 10-game West Coast swing at Colorado. The Nationals were swept in a four-game series at San Francisco last weekend after dropping two of three against the Dodgers to kick off the trip. Washington was shut out by Madison Bumgarner on Sunday, falling to 58-59, falling below .500 for the first time since May 6. The Nats have been blanked three times in their past six games, but following an off day Monday, they face an easier test in Rockies right-hander David Hale (3-4, 5.69 ERA) at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Jordan Zimmerman pitches for Washington.

EAST LEADERS

The Mets travel to Baltimore trying to put more space between themselves and the rest of the NL East. New York failed to capitalize on the Nationals' struggles over the weekend, dropping three straight to the Pirates to conclude a seven-game homestand while maintaining a 4 1/2-game lead in the division. Aside from a 12-run outburst against Colorado on Aug. 13, the Mets have failed to score more than four runs in nine straight contests. Jacob deGrom goes Tuesday with a 1.32 ERA in his past six starts. He hasn't lost a decision since July 2.

ACES UP

Clayton Kershaw seeks to win his sixth straight decision for the Dodgers as they begin a two-game series at Oakland. The left-hander is coming off eight scoreless innings in a win against Washington and has a 0.75 ERA over his last six starts. Kershaw is tied for third in the NL with a 2.39 ERA, nearly a full run behind league leader and teammate Zack Greinke, who homered and pitched seven strong innings in a win over Cincinnati on Sunday. The Dodgers are 113-54 in 167 combined starts by Greinke and Kershaw since the former signed as a free agent in December 2012.

OL' RELIABLE

Blue Jays veteran Mark Buehrle takes the rubber against Philadelphia with quality starts in 12 of his past 13 outings. He's 8-5 with a 2.16 ERA in that stretch and has won four straight decisions. The Phillies have dropped five of their past six, but send out rookie Aaron Nola (3-1, 4.25 ERA) - the team has won four of Nola's five big league starts.

CC GETS EXTRA REST

Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia will pitch against the Twins after getting an extra off day Monday. The 35-year-old had an eventful weekend, getting into a shouting match outside a Toronto nightclub - video of the incident ended up on TMZ. Bryan Mitchell started in Sabathia's place on Monday, a move the Yankees said had nothing to do with Sabathia's altercation. The left-hander is 4-9 with a 5.23 ERA in 22 starts this season.

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