The Dodgers can clinch manager Joe Torre’s record-tying 14th straight postseason appearance Friday night when they open a four-game set against the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh (56-95) has lost six in a row, nine of 10 and 23 of 26 amid the franchise’s worst September swoon since it went 5-22 in 1998. That includes a three-game sweep by the Dodgers from Sept. 14-16 in which the Pirates managed seven runs.
Jon Garland (11-11, 4.02 ERA) gets the start for the Dodgers, and looks to remain unbeaten since being acquired from Arizona on Aug. 31. The veteran right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA in four starts with Los Angeles.
His last effort Saturday against San Francisco was outstanding. Garland gave up an unearned run and seven hits over eight innings in a 12-1 victory.
He’s 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against the Pirates, earning a 6-2 win Sept. 14 by yielding two runs and six hits over six innings.
Pittsburgh’s Jeff Karstens (3-5, 5.53) will make his first start since June 5. He is taking the place of Ross Ohlendorf, who has been shut down for the season.
Manager John Russell chose Karstens because of the right-hander’s experience. Karstens went 2-3 with a 5.30 ERA in 10 starts before being shifted to the bullpen when Charlie Morton(notes) was acquired June 4 from Atlanta.
In his lone previous start against the Dodgers on Sept. 16, 2008, Karstens allowed five runs and 11 hits over five innings in a 6-2 loss.
Playoff spots aren't for champagne celebrations, division titles are -- or so the Dodgers feel from their perch atop the National League.
The Dodgers have elected to not throw themselves a clubhouse party until they can wrap up the NL West. Their magic number for clinching a playoff spot is at one after their victory at Washington on Thursday. Their magic number to clinch the division is four after the Rockies lost Thursday to San Diego.
"To me it's sort of a steppingstone to where we want to wind up, and that's to win the division," manager Joe Torre said of the playoff berth. "It's something to feel good about, but we're not all the way to where we want to get."
The Dodgers figure to have everything settled by the time they return home Oct. 2 from their current road trip. If not, a three-game series Oct. 2-4 at Dodger Stadium against the second-place Rockies will get awfully interesting.
The Dodgers also are vying for the best record in the National League and home-field advantage through the league playoffs. Heading into play Friday, the Dodgers (92-61) are 2 1/2 games better than the Phillies.
DODGERS 7, NATIONALS 6: Rafael Furcal hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and had four hits for the second time in three nights. Furcal had 10 hits in the three-game series. Vicente Padilla needed 103 pitches to get through five innings in a no-decision.
NOTES,QUOTES
CF Matt Kemp hit a three-run home run in the first inning Thursday to give him his first 100-RBI season. Kemp and Andre Ethier became the first Dodgers duo to record at least 100 RBIs since Shawn Green and Gary Sheffield in 2001. Kemp's previous high for RBIs was 76, set last season.
LHP Clayton Kershaw, on pitching two innings Tuesday for his first appearance since Sept. 4 because of a separated right shoulder: "I don't care when I pitch, just as long as I get to. I'm just happy to be back. It's exciting for me to be out there again and get my feet wet. I wasn't too worried about anything, really. I feel fine, my shoulder feels great, no ache or anything."
By The Numbers:
41—Doubles for Andre Ethier through Sept. 19, the first time a Dodgers player has reached 40 doubles since Shawn Green did it in 2003.
Quote To Note:
"As Yogi (Berra) would say, it's deja vu all over again. You've seen him do it, you want to visualize it and when he does it, it's just surreal. We talk about guys growing up and this kid is just growing as he goes."
—Manager Joe Torre, on Andre Ethier, who hit his fourth walk-off home run of the season Sept. 15 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
ROSTER REPORT
SS Rafael Furcal is batting .388 (26-for-67) in his last 16 games dating to a two-hit night Sept. 5. He has had six multi-hit games since then, including one in each of the last three games. Furcal, who is traditionally stronger in the second half, is hitting .284 since the All-Star break. He hit .256 in the first half.
RHP Ronald Belisario led all major league pitchers in ERA since July 30 (minimum 15 innings) with a 0.49 mark. He then went out and gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning Thursday.
RHP Jon Garland is on a roll as he heads into his start Friday at Pittsburgh. Garland has five consecutive quality starts, four of those coming since he joined the Dodgers Aug. 31. He is 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA in his four Dodgers starts after not allowing a run over eight innings in his last start Sept. 19 against the Giants.
Medical Watch:
2B Orlando Hudson (sore left wrist) left the Sept. 23 game, and he didn't play Sept. 24. He is day-to-day.
LHP Clayton Kershaw (separated right shoulder) missed his Sept. 11 start. He appeared Sept. 22 in relief, and he is scheduled to start Sept. 27.
RHP Jason Schmidt (strained right shoulder) went on the 15-disabled list retroactive to Aug. 6, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Aug. 27.
OF Xavier Paul (staph infection) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 21, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 27. His recovery was slowed in July by a microfracture in his left ankle.
LHP Eric Milton (lower back strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 28, and he was transferred to the 60-day disabled list July 20. He had surgery July 14, and he might miss the remainder of the season.
LHP Will Ohman (sore left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 29, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 30. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Inland Empire on June 16, but he was shut down June 24 due to an ailing elbow.
LHP Travis Schlichting (back) was recalled from the minors and placed on the 60-day disabled list Sept. 1.