The Washington Nationals host the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on Thursday, August 13 at 4:05 PM ET, with right-hander Cade Cavalli drawing the start against veteran Kevin Gausman. This is a late-summer regular-season matchup with playoff positioning implications for both clubs. Washington's young lineup — packed with prospects and developing pieces — gets a stiff test against a Cubs roster that includes Alex Bregman, Seiya Suzuki, and Dansby Swanson. You can catch the game on Nationals.TV or listen on WJFK 106.7 The Fan.

Probable Pitchers: Cade Cavalli vs. Kevin Gausman

Cade Cavalli gets the ball for the Nationals. The hard-throwing right-hander has had a winding road through injury and development, and every start he makes at Nationals Park is a data point the organization is watching closely. His stuff has never been in question — the challenge has always been commanding it consistently across a full outing. Thursday is another opportunity to prove he belongs at the top of a major-league rotation.

Gausman is the assignment standing in the way. The veteran right-hander is a quality starter who generates weak contact and works efficiently. He presents a tough matchup for a Nationals lineup that trends young. Washington hitters will need to stay disciplined and work counts if they want to do damage against him.

Washington Nationals Starting Lineup

• CJ Abrams — SS
• Abimelec Ortiz — 1B
• Dylan Crews — RF
• Daylen Lile — LF
• Brady House — 3B
• Jorbit Vivas — 2B
• Andrés Chaparro — DH
• Keibert Ruiz — C
• Andrew Pinckney — CF

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineup

• Pete Crow-Armstrong — CF
• Seiya Suzuki — RF
• Michael Busch — 1B
• Alex Bregman — 3B
• Ian Happ — LF
• Pedro Ramírez — 2B
• Dansby Swanson — SS
• Michael Conforto — DH
• Miguel Amaya — C

Keys to Watch at Nationals Park

Cavalli's Command Early

If Cavalli can establish his fastball and stay out of deep counts in the first three innings, this game stays competitive. The Cubs have enough experienced bats — Bregman, Happ, Conforto — to make a pitcher pay for falling behind. Cavalli needs to attack the zone early and keep the Cubs off-balance rather than letting them work counts against him.

CJ Abrams Setting the Table

With Abrams leading off and Dylan Crews hitting third, Washington has genuine on-base threats at the top of the order. How much damage Abrams can do against Gausman in his first at-bat will set the tone. Getting runners on for Crews and Daylen Lile is the formula Washington needs to generate offense against a pitcher of Gausman's caliber.

Brady House in the Middle of the Order

House hitting fifth offers a glimpse at where the organization sees his ceiling. Flanked by Crews and Lile, he has the lineup construction around him to do damage if he gets a pitch to drive. His performance against a veteran arm like Gausman is worth tracking.

Prediction

This is a tough draw for Washington. Gausman is a proven arm, and the Cubs lineup from top to bottom is experienced enough to put up runs in bunches if Cavalli has any command lapses. The Nationals have the youth and the upside to steal a game like this, but the edge goes to Chicago. Cubs 5, Nationals 3.