The Dodgers open a 10-game road trip with three games against the Nationals, beginning on Tuesday at RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The road trip includes a four-game series in Pittsburgh and three games in San Diego.

Brad Penny will make the start in the opener against the Nationals as he goes for his seventh win of the season. Penny is 11-5 with a 2.33 ERA in 18 career starts against the Nationals/Expos.

Penny is currently second in the NL with a 2.26 ERA and is tied for second in the NL with six wins.

The Dodgers will face Nationals' right-hander Jason Simontacchi, who has pitched one inning against the Dodgers in his career, allowing no runs and no hits.

Pitching matchup
LAD: RHP Brad Penny (6-1, 2.26 ERA)
Penny picked up his sixth win Wednesday against the Brewers, allowing just three hits while striking out four over seven innings for the win.

WSH: RHP Jason Simontacchi (2-2, 4.37 ERA)
Simontacchi allowed just one run over 5 1/3 innings in Washington's 12-7 win on Wednesday at Cincinnati. The win was his first on the road as a starter since June 18, 2003, for St. Louis at Milwaukee. Tuesday's game will be his fifth start of the season.

Player to watch
Andre Ethier is 6-for-17 (.353) with two homers, a triple and five RBIs in six career games against the Nationals. Ethier hit a pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning of Sunday's game to tie it at 1.

Tickets
 Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• PRIME

On radio
• KFWB, KWKW (Español)

Up next
• Wednesday: Dodgers (Derek Lowe, 4-5, 3.64) at Washington (Mike Bacsik, 1-0, 1.98), 4:05 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Dodgers (Mark Hendrickson, 2-2, 3.62) at Washington (Micah Bowie, 1-2, 3.91), 4:05 p.m. PT
• Friday: Dodgers (TBD) at Pittsburgh (TBD), 4:05 p.m. PT