dominate some really high Division-I teams.Limiting Buchanan

WASHINGTON -- It will be a contrast in starting pitchers when the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.Veteran lefty Scott Kazmir (7-3, 4.52) is scheduled to make the start for the Dodgers while hard-throwing Reynaldo Lopez, who appeared in the Futures Game in San Diego, is slated to make his big league debut for the Nationals.Lopez, 22, will take the spot in the rotation of Joe Ross, who has been on the disabled list since July 3 with right shoulder inflammation. The Nationals bypassed Lucas Giolito, who made his big league debut June 28 against the New York Mets, in order to give Lopez a shot.Reynaldos physical, mental and emotional development has been very impressive this year and we are excited about the strides hes made in all areas, according to Mark Scialabba, the director of player development for the Nationals.Lopez began the season at Double-A Harrisburg before he was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse, where he has made two starts. He is 4-5 with a 3.19 ERA in 16 minor league starts this year.The improved feel and action on both his changeup and curveball have added more swings and misses to an already impressive arsenal, Scialabba said.Washington manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that lefty reliever Sammy Solis will go on the disabled list with right knee soreness to clear a roster spot for Lopez.He added that the Nationals decided to go with Lopez over Giolito, who is slated to pitch Tuesday for Syracuse, so Giolito can work on his breaking ball and command in the minors.He will face a Dodgers team that is 52-42 and is 5 1/2 games back of the first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West.Washington (56-37) was six games ahead of the New York Mets and Miami Marlins in the National League East going into play Monday. The Nationals were off Monday while the Mets and Marlins had games against the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, respectively.The last time the two faced off in late June, the Dodgers swept the Nationals in a three game series in Los Angeles. Kazmir, who has been in the majors since 2004, spent a great deal of time in the American League, thus he has limited exposure to the Nationals.Kazmir holds a 1-0 record and an ERA of 4.14 over three career starts against Washington in his career.Washington left fielder Jayson Werth is hitting .714 with one home run in seven at-bats against Kazmir.Bryce Harper also has a home run against the lefty in three at-bats, and Danny Espinosa has a homer in five at-bats against Kazmir.The Nationals hope that infielder Daniel Murphy returns to the lineup Tuesday. He has not started the last three games due to a hamstring injury. He did hit a pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth Sunday to tie the game at 1-1 while the Nationals lost 2-1 in 18 innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates.Washington also hopes Anthony Rendon, who had the flu and missed the game Sunday, can start at third base against the Dodgers.The Dodgers hope to get back outfielder Joc Pederson, who has been on the disabled list with a right shoulder separation.And of course star lefty Clayton Kershaw is still on the disabled list for the Dodgers.Clayton doesnt pitch every day, manager Dave Roberts told MLB.com after the Dodgers lost Sunday to Arizona. Even without Clayton, were good enough to win baseball games. Were 11-6 since hes been gone. With or without Clayton, we have to continue to get better. Jimmie Foxx Red Sox Jersey .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. David Price Red Sox Jersey . 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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- When sophomore Donta Hall checked out of the game for the last time on Thursday night, there was still over seven minutes remaining in what would become the Crimson Tides 78-61 victory over USC Upstate.He just scored a career-high 14 points against Oregon on Sunday in his first career start, but he managed to beat that mark on Thursday when he scored 15 against the Spartans.If he can continue to give us this type of production then well have somebody we can throw the ball to with Jimmie (Taylor) in the low post, Alabama coach Avery Johnson said. . I think this kid has a high ceiling.Malik Moore led the Spartans with 14 points and three teammates also finished in double figures. However, it was his teammate Michael Buchanan that had the Alabama coaching staffs attention all week, and he still finished one rebound shy of what could have been his sixth double-double in his teams last eight games.He (Buchanan) was our No. 1 priority tonight, Johnson said. His name was capitalized on the board because weve seen him dominate some really high Division-I teams.Limiting Buchanan helped the Crimson Tide (5-4) outscore the Spartans (7-6) in the paint 48-20.Johnson said his team struggles to grab what he calls dirty rebounds, but Thursday nights effort might be a step in the right direction.Alabama won the battle of the boards 44-33 behind Bola Olaniyan (10), Braxton Key (nine) and Hall (eight).Thats a pretty heavy number for us, Johnson said. Then you start becoming a really good basketball team if we can take care of the basketball.BIG PICTUREAlabama: After finishing with a seeason-low 56 points against the teams first ranked opponent (then-No.dddddddddddd 24 Oregon) in its last game, the Crimson Tide bounced back to score a season-high 78 points in this victory.USC Upstate: The Spartans defeated their last two opponents by 22 and 28 points, respectively, before suffering the teams worst loss since the first week of the season when the fell by 45 to Georgetown.FRESHMAN STANDOUTKey led Alabama in assists with five, and finished second on the team in both scoring (10 points) and rebounding (nine).QUOTABLEJohnson began his postgame press conference talking about broadcaster Craig Sager, who died Thursday. (In Sager) I saw the one person that could get my mentor, outside of me, I saw one person that could get (NBA) Coach (Gregg) Popovich to smile and cooperate during the sideline interview at the end of the first and third quarter. . My life is better because I had a chance to cross paths with him.UP NEXTAlabama: The Crimson Tide failed to flip the script when it fell for the second straight year to both Dayton and Oregon earlier this season, but now Alabama will get the chance to secure a victory for the second consecutive season over the Clemson Tigers when the teams meet in Birmingham, Alabama on Sunday.USC Upstate: The Spartans season-long three-game winning streak is snapped with the loss, but they will get the chance to start another streak when they host Jacksonville State on Sunday in the first of three consecutive home games. ' ' '