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(Sports Network) - Despite their recent struggles, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still within striking distance of a wild card spot. Dennis Pitta Camo Jersey . The Dodgers are two games off the pace for the final playoff berth in the National League and will continue their four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals Friday from Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers dropped the opener, 2-1, on Thursday after Allen Craig stroked the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh. Paco Rodriguez served up the hit and was dealt the loss, while Los Angeles starter Josh Beckett struck out six and gave up one run in 5 1/3 innings. Adrian Gonzalez had a first-inning RBI double for the Dodgers, losers of four in a row and seven of eight. Los Angeles has scored a total of three runs during its four-game slide. Taking the hill for L.A. tonight will be Chris Capuano. Capuano is 0-2 in his last five starts and 1-5 over his previous six decisions. He did not factor in the outcome of a 3-2 win at San Francisco on Saturday, as he gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings. Capuano, a left-hander, is 11-10 with a 3.59 earned run average in 29 starts. He was pounded by St. Louis in a 7-4 loss on July 26, when he permitted six runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings. Capuano is 5-6 with a 5.70 ERA in 16 career matchups, 15 of which have been starts, with the Cardinals. The Cardinals and Dodgers have split eight matchups this season. St. Louis has won the last four meetings between the clubs. Nationals at Braves In what could be a possible playoff preview, the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals will collide Friday in the opener of a three- game series at Turner Field. The Braves are 8 1/2 games behind the NL East-leading Nationals and were just swept in three games at Milwaukee. The brooms were busted out by the Brewers in Wednesdays 8-2 decision in which Braves starter Paul Maholm allowed eight runs -- six earned -- and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Jason Heyward homered and Freddie Freeman had a team-high two hits for the wild card-leading Braves, who were swept after winning five in a row. Pirates at Cubs The Pittsburgh Pirates are in danger of continuing several years of futility with their recent fall from grace. The once-hyped Pirates are mired in a season-high six-game losing streak and look to take out their frustration on the Chicago Cubs today in the opener of a four-game series at Wrigley Field. The Pirates are three games off the pace for the last wild card berth in the National League. Mets at Brewers Right-hander Mike Fiers tries for the 10th win of his major-league career Friday when the Milwaukee Brewers host the New York Mets to begin a three-game weekend series at Miller Park. The Brewers have won five of six to move three games behind St. Louis for the final wild card spot in the National League. Phillies at Astros Theres no team in baseball that can afford to blow leads in the heat of a postseason run. The Philadelphia Phillies are guilty of that, but look to stay the course when Cole Hamels takes the mound in the second installment of a four-game series against the lowly Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Philadelphia slipped to four games off the final wild card spot in the National League with Thursdays loss to the Astros. Bryant McKinnie Jersey . MacDougall began the day by edging Quebecs Mike Fournier 8-7, and followed that by pounding Ontarios Cory Heggestad 11-4. The Nova Scotia rink is tied with Quebec for first place at 7-2, and holds the all-important tiebreaker. Ed Reed Pink Jersey . A couple weeks later, theres a whole new picture. Tommy Hanson shut down another AL East team, Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer and the Braves beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 on Saturday for their season-best sixth straight win. www.theravensfanstore.com/authentic-torrey-smith-super-bowl-jersey/ . A left-handed hitter with power, Duda appeared to establish himself in the majors with a strong second half last year and a solid start to this season. Dennis Pitta Pink Jersey . -- Jeff Stoughton can finally exhale. Torrey Smith Purple Jersey . The ice dancers are second after Fridays short dance program at Cup of China with 65.59 points. Frances Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat led the dance with 69.MONTREAL -- The Montreal Impact are still hunting for that elusive designated player to boost the clubs entry into Major League Soccer. Impact president Joey Saputo sent a Twitter message on Thursday that said: "DP or not DP. On my way to Europe to meet with one of our prospects. Need to be patient." He added in French that "we are continuing to work on finding a DP." The Impact have had talks with a few veteran stars from European leagues, including Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet and Nicolas Anelka, so far to no avail. Saputo was accompanied on the trip by technical director Nick De Santis. A team spokesman gave no other details of the trip. MLS allows clubs to sign up to three designated players, who are paid more than the league salary cap limit. The Impact became the leagues 19th franchise this year. They play their opening game March 10 against the Whitecaps in Vancouver. Meanwhile, former Impact coach Marc Dos Santos has been named director of the academy of one of Brazils top clubs, Palmeiras. Maake Kemoeatu Jersey. The 34-year-old Dos Santos, who led Montreal to a North American Soccer League title in 2009, resigned in mid-season last summer with the team struggling to win games in its final year in second division. "The job hasnt been defined 100 per cent yet, but for the club whats important is that I get to know the people, the culture and how things work," Dos Santos told The Canadian Press. "Its a very different reality from what Ive known in the past." After leaving the Impact, Dos Santos coached the junior squad for one of Brazils regional clubs. He said eight-time Brazilian league champion Palmeiras was impressed that he took Primeira Camisas under-20 team to its best finish ever at the Copa Sao Paulo last month. Palmeiras is managed by Luiz Felipe Scolari, who coached Brazil to a World Cup title in 2002 and later coached Portugals national team. ' ' '