The Washington Nationals head to Sutter Health Park on Sunday, July 19, to face the Oakland Athletics in a 4:05 PM ET first pitch. Foster Griffin gets the ball for Washington against Athletics right-hander Jacob Lopez in what shapes up as a mid-July interleague contest that carries real stakes for both clubs as the second half of the 2026 season gets rolling. Nationals fans can catch the action on Nationals.TV or tune in on WJFK 106.7 The Fan.

Pitching Matchup: Foster Griffin vs. Jacob Lopez

Griffin draws the start for the Nationals in Sacramento. He is a left-handed presence in Washington's rotation who will need to navigate an Athletics lineup that features legitimate professional hitters up and down the order. The Nationals will be looking for length and efficiency from Griffin — keeping Oakland's bats off-balance and giving the bullpen a breather matters as much as the final line.

Lopez takes the hill for Oakland. Like Griffin, specific ERA and record figures were not available heading into this one, but he will be working in front of a home crowd and a lineup the Athletics have constructed with purpose. Washington's hitters will need to make adjustments early.

Oakland Athletics Starting Lineup to Watch

• Jacob Wilson leads off at shortstop — the kind of table-setter who can put pressure on a pitcher from pitch one.
• Tyler Soderstrom bats second in left field, giving Oakland a quality bat near the top of the order.
• Shea Langeliers slots in at DH batting third, one of the more dangerous spots in this lineup.
• Jonah Heim hits cleanup behind the plate — a catcher batting fourth signals Oakland's confidence in his bat.
• Joshua Kuroda-Grauer at third base and Colby Thomas in right round out a middle section of the order that will not give Griffin free outs.
• Tommy White at first base, Henry Bolte in center, and Alika Williams at second base complete the nine — depth that keeps a pitcher honest deep into counts.

Keys to the Game for Washington

Griffin Must Work Deep Into the Game

The Nationals' bullpen is a resource that needs to be managed across a long season. If Griffin can push through five or six innings while limiting damage against a lineup that features athleticism and balance from top to bottom, Washington puts itself in a position to win.

Washington's Offense Needs to Be Selective Against Lopez

The Nationals' lineup will be announced closer to first pitch, but the approach matters regardless of who is in the box. Working counts against Lopez and finding the gaps early will be critical. Oakland pitchers at Sutter Health Park have home-field familiarity working in their favor.

Situational Execution

In close interleague games on the road, small-ball execution — runners in scoring position, contact with two outs — tends to be the difference. Washington needs to convert when opportunities arise rather than leaving runs on the base paths.

Prediction

This one projects as a competitive, low-scoring game with both starters settling in after the first couple of innings. The edge goes to whoever gets the bigger early-inning contribution from the middle of their lineup. Nationals 4, Athletics 3 — Washington steals one on the road in Sacramento.