Washington Nationals’ lineup for series opener with the LA Angels in D.C. + Dusty Baker on the Angels...

Washington split two games with the LA Angels in Anaheim last month, taking the first before dropping the second, with the loss ending a six-game winning streak.

Nationals’ skipper Dusty Baker talked after the finale in Angel Stadium about what he saw from Mike Trout in the Angels in the quick, two-game set.

“Trout makes their lineup,” Baker said after the 26-year-old outfielder went 2 for 7 with two home runs.

“They’re still in the thick of things for the Wild Card over there,” Baker continued.

“They’ve got a lot to play for, and [Mike] Scioscia’s a great manager, and they got some talent over there, and just, they got a long way to go.”

Scioscia’s Angels are 14-7 since that series, and 7-3 in their last ten, and they arrive in the nation’s capital a 0.5-game up in the race for the second Wild Card spot in the AL.

LA’s won six straight as well, and they look to keep things going against the Nationals, who’ve won seven of their last ten, improving to 34-24 at home in 2017 and increasing their lead in the NL East to 13.5 games.

Gio Gonzalez faces the Angels again tonight after giving up five hits, three walks, and four earned runs in 5 ²⁄₃ innings pitched in Anaheim.

In three starts since that outing, Gonzalez have given up three earned runs in 22 IP (1.23 ERA), with four walks, 19 Ks and a .169/.229/.234 line against over that stretch.

Angels’ lefty Tyler Skaggs takes the mound in Nationals Park coming off a 6 ¹⁄₃ inning start against Seattle in a 6-3 win in which he held the Mariners off the board, though he didn’t earn a decision.

He’s facing a Nationals team tonight that has a .287/.341/.476 line against lefties this season, good for 1st/7th/2nd across the line in the majors.

HERE’S THE NATS’ LINEUP FOR THE SERIES OPENER WITH THE ANGELS: