Washington Nationals-Dodgers Game 1 NLDS Preview

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Sep 5, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

We get you set for Game 1 of the 2016 NLDS between the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon

The day is finally here. This afternoon, the Washington Nationals will begin their NLDS series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. During the regular season, the Dodgers won five of the six meetings against the Nats. But, in the postseason, it’s a whole new ballgame.

Wednesday night, there was a classic pitcher’s duel at Citi Field between Madison Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard. Today, the pitching matchup has a chance to live up to what those two pitchers did. It will be a battle of Cy Young winners as Clayton Kershaw goes for the Dodgers against Max Scherzer for the Washington Nationals.

There is good news for the Washington Nationals heading into this matchup. It looks like Daniel Murphy will be back in the lineup for the first time since September 17. Last October, Murphy homered off Kershaw in Games 1 and 4 of the NLDS when he was with the New York Mets.

Before today, Kershaw and Scherzer have never faced each other in their respective careers. This includes 2008 and 2009 when they were both in the NL West (Scherzer was with the Arizona Diamondbacks).

You can watch the game today at 5:38 p.m ET on FOX Sports 1 if you are not heading out to the ballpark. Before this matchup gets underway, here is my breakdown of the two starting pitchers and my prediction for Game 1

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