Can Nats prove they own Dodgers?

DODGERS AT NATIONALS (Sept. 15-17)

As a potential playoff opponent, the Nats are to the Dodgers this year what the Chicago Cubs were to the Dodgers last year: a daunting foe with a powerful rotation. Against the Nats in June, L.A. batted just .137 and had run totals of two, one and two. Other than who was 4for-12 with the team’s only homer, Dodgers hitters largely washed out.

was 0-for-10 with five strikeouts. It took Seager’s homer and the dominance of ace

closer to prevent a three-game sweep.

BREWERS AT MARLINS (Sept. 15-17)

When these teams met on June 30-July 2, the Brewers were still in first place in the National League Central and the Marlins still had one of the worst records in the league. They’ve both been right around .500 since then, good enough to keep the Brewers in the playoff race but not the Marlins. At the end of that threegame series at Miller Park, in which the Brewers won twice,

and were tied with 21 home runs. Stanton didn’t homer in that series, making the Brewers one of just three NL teams he hasn’t homered against this season (the Cincinnati Reds and the Dodgers are the other two).

CARDINALS AT CUBS (Sept. 15-17)

The Cardinals get an opportunity to cut into the Cubs’ NL Central lead during a three-game series at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have won eight of 12 meetings this season, including five of six at home. Catcher Contreras, who returned last weekend after recovering from a strained right hamstring, has homered five times off the Cardinals this year, and rookie outfielder Happ and left fielder Schwarber have hit three apiece. Closer has converted all seven save opportunities while allowing one unearned run in seven innings. Cardinals outfielder

is hitting .400 with five homers against the Cubs.

MARINERS AT ASTROS (Sept. 15-17)

Houston, which has won three of the four series between the teams this year and is 11-5 against the Mariners, emphasized that dominance when they met last week by sweeping three games at Seattle. The Mariners are hoping their rotation is bolstered by the return of several injured starters. If nothing else, (groin) should be back to roam center and get Seattle’s running game in gear as it tries to stay in the American League wild-card race.

TWINS AT YANKEES (Sept. 18-20)

The AL’s top wild-card teams as the week began meet for the second and final time in the regular season. The Twins hold a 2-1 advantage so far, their first series victory against the Yankees since 2014 and first at home since 2008. Before that, the Yankees had won 14 of the teams’ previous 20 games. Twins second baseman has a nine-game hitting streak against the Yankees and is batting .412 in that span. went 4-for-11 in the previous series against the Twins.

INDIANS AT ANGELS (Sept. 19-21)

While the Indians are cruising toward the AL Central title, the Angels are fighting for a berth in the wild-card game. The Indians swept a three-game series from July 25-27 at Cleveland in the teams’ only other meeting this year as rookie center fielder went 6-for-13 (.462) with two doubles, two home runs and two stolen bases. The Indians are 13-3 against the Angels since the start of the 2015 season.