Stephanie: Shohei Ohtani is out again. The Dodgers are dealing with a neck and arm soreness that has sidelined their superstar for a third straight game, but the Los Angeles club still sits first in the NL West at 83-57. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals are fighting to stay relevant in the wild card hunt at 67-77, fourth in the NL East. This is Beatline.
Sean: And we are live. Good evening, Washington faithful. It’s Sean here, ready to break down what happens when you take on the best team in baseball, especially when your own roster is decimated by injury.
Stephanie: We just watched the Nationals fall 6-5 to the Dodgers last night in a thriller. Before that, Blake Snell tossed six shutout innings and Kyle Tucker ended his home run drought to secure a 5-3 win on Friday. Tonight, it’s Game Three of this series. We’ve got three things coming up: First, we’re looking at the pitching matchup and who starts for LA without Ohtani in the lineup. Second, we’re diving into the Nationals' bullpen crisis with Brusdar Graterol on the 60-day IL and how the rest of the staff handles the load. And third, we’re giving our final predictions for tonight’s game.
Sean: It’s been a tough week. We talked about the injury crisis yesterday, specifically Keibert Ruiz and Cade Cavalli being day-to-day. That context is critical because you can’t look at these box scores in a vacuum. The Nationals are trying to build around young talent like CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, and James Wood while navigating a depleted rotation.
Stephanie: Let’s jump into Segment One: The Series and the Pitching Probables. Last night was a close one, 6-5. But before that, Snell was dominant. With Shohei Ohtani out of the lineup again due to that neck and right arm soreness, does that change the tactical approach for Washington tonight?
Sean: Absolutely. You have to adjust. When Ohtani is in the order, you’re playing deeper in, respecting the power from both sides of the plate. Now he’s out, Dalton Rushing, Max Muncy, and others are day-to-day or questionable, which weakens their middle of the order. But remember, the Dodgers are 83-57. They don’t collapse just because their star is resting. They’ll lean on depth.
Stephanie: Right, and Washington’s starting pitcher isn't named in the brief for today's probable, but we know Cade Cavalli is day-to-day with that injury we discussed. Who do you see stepping in? Is it Jackson Kent or Andrew Alvarez?
Sean: It’s likely going to be one of the younger arms. If it’s Jackson Kent, expect him to try to miss bats. If it’s Andrew Alvarez, he needs to keep the ball in the park. The key here is avoiding early deficits. The Dodgers score runs. Even without Ohtani, they have Kyle Tucker hitting well and Edman having a four-hit game recently.
Stephanie: Edman with four hits is dangerous. So if Washington’s starter struggles, the bullpen has to step up. But let’s talk about the bullpen. We know Brusdar Graterol is out for the season on the 60-day IL. That’s a huge loss for late-inning stability.
Sean: It is. Graterol provides that high-leverage relief. Without him, you’re looking at Clayton Beeter, Riley Cornelio, Will Dion, Brad Lord, Luis Perales, Orlando Ribalta, Jared Simpson, Jack Sinclair, Erik Tolman, and Matt Waldron. That’s a lot of names, but also a lot of uncertainty. Do you trust any of them to close out a tight game against a team like LA?
Stephanie: Jared Simpson had some success earlier in the week against Atlanta, didn't he? We mentioned him in yesterday's preview as a bright spot.
Sean: He did. But one good outing doesn’t erase the lack of depth. You’re asking a bunch of different guys to eat innings and hold leads. Against a Dodgers lineup that can explode, that’s risky business. The ABS challenge system tracker shows how much pressure is on batters and umpires right now, but pitchers are feeling it too. Every pitch matters more when you don’t have your ace reliever.
Stephanie: So, no Graterol, no Ohtani for LA, but still a very strong Dodger team. Let’s move to Segment Two: Key Hitters and Bullpen Questions. We know Keibert Ruiz is day-to-day. Who is catching for Washington tonight?
Sean: It’s likely Harry Ford taking the mask. This is where defense matters. Against a Dodgers offense that relies on placement and contact, having a catcher who can frame pitches and manage the strike zone is vital. If Ruiz were healthy, he’d provide offensive pop, but Ford brings defensive reliability.
Stephanie: Offensive pop is exactly what Washington needs. They lost 6-5 last night. They need runs. Dylan Crews and James Wood are the big guns in the outfield. How do you want them attacking this Dodgers staff?
Sean: They need to be aggressive early in counts. The Dodgers’ bullpen might be tired if they used heavily last night. If Crews and Wood can lay off the bad pitches and drive the ball to the gaps, they can exploit defensive positioning. Launch angle is key here. You don’t need home runs every time; you need extra-base hits to string together rallies.
Stephanie: And what about CJ Abrams? He’s the engine at shortstop. If he gets on base, he creates problems for the defense.
Sean: Abrams is essential. His speed forces errors and puts pressure on infielders. If the Dodgers are playing shallow to protect against Crews and Wood, Abrams can hit behind them. It’s about platoon splits and situational hitting. You have to respect the entire lineup, not just the stars.
Stephanie: Speaking of stars, Ronald Acuña Jr. became the fastest to 200 homers and 200 steals recently, beating the Nationals 9-0. That was a blowout. Can Washington avoid another lopsided loss tonight?
Sean: That 9-0 loss was painful, but that was against Atlanta. Tonight is LA. The challenge is different. The Dodgers are better than the Braves were on that day. But Washington has improved. They won games against decent teams. The key is staying within striking distance. If you go down by five early, the bullpen panic sets in.
Stephanie: Panic is the enemy. We saw Brady House mentioned in yesterday’s preview as a potential spark. Does he start tonight?
Sean: If he’s healthy, yes. He adds power from the left side. Against a right-handed starter, he could be the difference-maker. But you also have Andres Chaparro and Yohandy Morales at first base. It’s a committee approach now. Everyone needs to contribute because no single player can carry this team over a full series against LA.
Stephanie: So, defense, speed, and opportunistic hitting. It’s a tall order. Let’s head into Segment Three: Keys to the Series and a Bold Prediction. We predicted a split earlier in the week. Stephanie said 5-4 Nationals, Sean said 4-2 Dodgers. Where do we stand now?
Sean: I’m sticking with my Gunslingers. The Dodgers have too much depth. Even with Ohtani out, their bench and bullpen are superior. I think they grind out a win tonight. Maybe 4-2 again. They control the pace.
Stephanie: I’m going to disagree. I think the Nationals snap out of the slump. They played hard last night, lost 6-5. They were right there. I think they find a way to steal this one. 5-4 Nationals. They need the momentum.
Sean: You’re optimistic, Steph. I respect it. But tactically, LA wins the bullpen battle. Washington’s arms are wearing thin. Graterol’s absence is felt. I see the Dodgers pulling away in the late innings.
Stephanie: We’ll see. But one thing is clear: this series is critical. A split keeps hopes alive. A sweep hurts. We’re asking a lot of these young players. It takes a lot of work to put out a fresh show every single day, covering all these injuries and matchups, but having a handful of supporters makes that possible. If you love this team, please chip in via the link in the episode description. It helps us keep the coverage free and daily.
Sean: That’s a great ask. Thank you to everyone who supports the network. It allows us to bring you this deep dive into the Nationals’ plight.
Stephanie: To recap: The Nationals face the Dodgers in Game Three. Ohtani is out, Graterol is gone, and the bullpen is stretched thin. Our prediction is split, but tonight is crucial for morale.
Sean: Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Share this with a fellow Nats fan.
Stephanie: Go Nats! See you tomorrow.