First pitch: Thursday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: Los Angeles +140, Washington -150, Total: 7.0

After splitting the first four games of the National League Division Series, the Dodgers and Nationals square off in a do-or-die Game 5 at Nationals Park.

This is it. Win or go home. The stakes are high, and both teams are due. The NL East-champion Nationals (95-67) haven’t advanced to the NLCS since 1981—they were the Expos then—and the NL West-champion Dodgers (91-71) lost the NLDS the past two years. The teams split the first two games in Washington, D.C., then split the next two in Los Angeles, and now the deciding Game 5 will be in D.C. Ace Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96 ERA during the regular season) will get the start for the Nats. In Game 1, Scherzer took the loss after allowing four earned runs in six innings pitched. LHP Rich Hill (12-5, 2.12 ERA during the regular season) will take the ball for manager Dave Roberts. Hill started Game 2 and lost, giving up four earned runs in just 4 1/3 innings pitched. The Dodgers have gone 7-3 overall against the Nationals this season, including a 3-2 mark at Nationals Park. The Dodgers struggled on the road during the regular season, going 38-43 away from Dodger Stadium. Dusty Baker’s club was brilliant at home, going 50-31.

3B Justin Turner (5-for-11, HR, 3 RBI) has had a terrific division series, and CF Joc Pederson (3-for-12, 2B, 2 RBI), 2B Chase Utley (3-for-13, 2 RBI), 1B Adrian Gonzalez (3-for-16, HR, 2 RBI) and SS Corey Seager (3-for-18, 2 HR, 2B, 3 RBI) have driven in some big runs. Roberts might consider starting OF Andre Ethier (1-for-1), who is 8-for-24 against Scherzer with a homer and two doubles. IF Howie Kendrick (2-for-8, 2B) is 5-for-14 with a double against Scherzer and RF Josh Reddick (3-for-11, RBI) is 5-for-11 with two RBIs against him. Gonzalez has gone just 5-for-26 against the four-time All-Star. For his career, Hill is 1-2 against the Nationals with a 5.32 ERA. In two career postseason starts (7 1/3 IP), he’s 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA. Lefties (.218, 0 HR) actually hit Hill better than righties (.188, 4 HR) did during the regular season.

2B Daniel Murphy (6-for-13, 6 RBI) has followed up his historic 2015 postseason with the Mets with a very strong NLDS. LF Jayson Werth (7-for-15, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI), CF Trea Turner (6-for-17, RBI) and 1B Ryan Zimmerman (5-for-15, 2B, 2 RBI) have also had excellent series. RF Bryce Harper (3-for-14, 2B, RBI), who had a down year in 2016, has seen his struggles continue in the playoffs. The Nationals have seen very little of Hill, though Zimmerman (6-for-9, 2 HR, 2B, 3 RBI) has feasted against him. C Jose Lobaton (2-for-7, HR, 3 RBI) has two doubles and an RBI in three at-bats against the left-hander. In nine career starts against the Dodgers, Scherzer is 2-5 with a 3.75 ERA. In 68 2/3 postseason innings pitched—11 starts and two relief appearances—the 2013 Cy Young Award winner is 4-4 with a 3.93 ERA.

*Stats provided are from 2016 MLB postseason, unless otherwise noted