Bryce Harper returns for matchup with Clayton Kershaw (with lineups)

Bryce Harper returns to the Nationals lineup for tonight's series finale against the Dodgers. The 22-year-old was scratched yesterday with soreness and swelling in his left knee, resulting from two diving attempts in right field in Monday's 8-3 win.

Harper looks to build on a current 10-game hitting streak. He's batting .361 (13-for-36) over the stretch, but - despite leading the National League with 29 homers - the young slugger hasn't left the yard since jacking two bombs in a win in Miami on July 29.

Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw welcomes Harper back. Harper is 1-for-9 with a solo homer and six strikeouts in his career against the reigning NL CY Young winner.

As Harper called it, Kershaw put on a "clinic" at Nationals Park back on July 18, striking out a season-high 14 while yielding just three hits over eight scoreless innings in a Dodgers' 4-2 win.

"He really went out there and pitched like the MVP he is," Harper said after Kershaw's dominating performance. "He was pretty devastating. We tried to go in there and do what we could, but he's the best pitcher in baseball, so he's pretty tough. Sometimes you gotta tip your cap and laugh because that was pretty impressive by him."

Kershaw went four straight starts without allowing a run until the Pirates tagged him for four in six innings in a Dodgers' 5-4 loss last Friday in Pittsburgh.

For the Nationals:
3B Yunel Escobar
2B Anthony Rendon
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Jayson Werth
SS Ian Desmond
C Wilson Ramos
CF Michael A. Taylor
RHP Jordan Zimmermann

For the Dodgers:
LF Carl Crawford
SS Kike Hernandez
1B Adrian Gonzalez
C Yasmani Grandal
RF Yasiel Puig
3B Alberto Callaspo
CF Joc Pederson
2B Jose Peraza
LHP Clayton Kershaw