Worth noting

• After sitting out the All-Star Game with lingering stiffness in his neck, Jordan Zimmermann threw a bullpen session on Friday and said that he expects to make his scheduled start against the Dodgers on Sunday.

• Right-hander Ryan Mattheus joined Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday and continues to make progress in his Minor League rehab assignment, but Johnson thinks that he needs four more outings before returning to the Nationals.

Johnson specifically mentioned that he would like to see Mattheus pitch multiple innings in one outing.

"That's where he gets stretched out and where he needs to be," Johnson said.

• Entering Friday night's game, the Nationals were one of two teams in the Major Leagues with a winning record (48-47) and negative run differential (-14), joining the Yankees (51-44, -2).