(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to stay within striking distance of the top spot in the National League West when they open a three- game series with the Washington Nationals this evening at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers are a game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the division standings, and have lost two in a row and three of their last five games. In Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies, starter Hiroki Kuroda gave up five runs on nine hits through six innings to take the loss.

James Loney finished 3-for-4 in a losing cause for the Dodgers.

Taking the ball for LA on Friday will be Chad Billingsley, who is 9-9 with a 3.32 ERA this season. He has lost two of three starts and was beaten by Arizona his last time out on Saturday. He allowed three runs in 5 2/3 frames.

Billingsley is 2-0 with a 2.77 earned run average lifetime against Washington.

The Nationals have lost three in a row and six of eight games. They suffered a 1-0 loss to San Francisco on Thursday, despite Tim Redding pitching the first complete game of his seven-year career. He took the loss after allowing a run on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

Ryan Zimmerman and All-Star Cristian Guzman both had hits for Washington in the loss.

John Lannan gets the nod for the Nationals on Friday, and he is 6-9 with a 3.29 earned run average this season. Lannan has won back-to-back starts, including Saturday's victory over Atlanta.

Lannan held the Braves to one run in six innings of an 8-2 win. The lefty has never faced the Dodgers.

Washington and Los Angeles are meeting for the first time since the Dodgers won five of six games during the 2007 campaign.