Game 9: Dodgers at Nats
After back-to-back lopsided losses, the Nationals need to find a way to flip the script to avoid getting swept by the back-to-back World Series champs
Well, this has turned into a less-than-inspiring weekend for the Nationals. After feeling good about the way they played during a 3-3 opening road trip, they’ve come home to be ransacked by the mighty Dodgers, blown out in back-to-back games to leave them facing a four-game losing streak entering today’s series finale.
Starting pitching has been the No. 1 problem area, with both Miles Mikolas and Jake Irvin getting battered around by this potent lineup. Now it’s Foster Griffin’s turn to attempt to hold L.A.’s hitters in check. Griffin may have a few things going in his favor that his predecessors did not: 1) He’s left-handed, possibly making for a better matchup against the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker and Freddie Freeman, and 2) Among the entire Dodgers roster, only Ohtani has ever faced him before (and that was one at-bat, a strikeout, on June 22, 2022, in a Royals-Angels game).
The Nats lineup, though, is equally unfamiliar with Roki Sasaki, who has never faced them before. The Japanese right-hander makes his first career start in D.C., coming off a four-inning appearance against the Guardians in which he allowed only one run but threw a whopping 78 pitches. Patience truly could be a virtue for the Nationals this afternoon.
Patience may be required for everyone today if the forecasted rain lingers beyond 1 p.m. Though it’s supposed to clear up (and cool down) this afternoon, it’s possible the game won’t be able to start on time. Stay tuned for updates ...
LOS ANGELES DODGERS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Rain ending, 61 degrees, wind 11 mph out to right
DODGERS
DH Shohei Ohtani
SS Miguel Rojas
LF Teoscar Hernández
1B Freddie Freeman
CF Andy Pages
RF Alex Call
3B Santiago Espinal
C Dalton Rushing
2B Andy Freeland
RHP Roki Sasaki
NATIONALS
RF James Wood
2B Nasim Nuñez
1B Luis García Jr.
LF Daylen Lile
CF Joey Wiemer
SS CJ Abrams
3B Jorbit Vivas
C Keibert Ruiz
DH José Tena
LHP Foster Griffin
UPDATE at 2:50 p.m.: The tarp is being pulled as we speak, and first pitch will be at 3:45 p.m
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Here's why you don't give up on James Wood. Despite taking a fastball down the pipe for strike one, then swinging poorly at an 0-1 slider in the dirt, he then proceeded to destroy an 0-2 splitter to left-center for a three-run homer. As much as he looks lost at times, he still has the ability to do that at any given moment. Nats lead 6-1.
Just announced: First pitch at 3:45 p.m.