Nationals vs Dodgers predictions
When it comes to the Washington Nationals, a lot of eyes are on James Wood lately, and rightfully so—he’s been powering their offense with a .278 average and a steady stream of home runs. For this matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, I see Wood putting together another solid performance, likely driving in at least one run and flashing that pop he’s shown all season. CJ Abrams will probably be creating some chaos on the base paths, pushing for a stolen base and piecing together a couple of quality at-bats. Michael Soroka is set to take the mound, and considering how the Dodgers love to test pitchers early, I’d expect Soroka to battle through five innings but give up a few earned runs along the way, maybe notching a handful of strikeouts if he can locate his breaking ball effectively.
On the Dodgers’ side, you can almost feel the energy ramp up when Shohei Ohtani takes the field, both in the lineup and as the probable arm to start. I’ve got Ohtani down for a multi-hit night, and don’t be surprised if he takes Soroka deep at some point—his power has just been that consistent out of the DH spot. Will Smith has been the picture of reliability with his .328 average, and I’d expect him to keep his hot streak alive, maybe racking up a couple of hits with men on base. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman? Those guys are just steady as always—I’d pencil them in for at least a hit each, and chances are good they’ll keep the pressure on the Nationals’ infield all night.
So who takes the game with the series hanging in the balance? With the Dodgers’ bats leading nearly every offensive category in the MLB and their comfort at Dodger Stadium, I’m putting my money on Los Angeles to pull away in this one. The Nationals have their moments—especially with young talent like Wood and Abrams—but the Dodgers’ depth and firepower are tough to match, especially at home with Ohtani in the mix. Expect the Dodgers to lean on their star power and stack up enough runs to secure the win and tip the series in their favor.
