The Washington Nationals head to Sacramento to take on the Athletics on Saturday, July 18, with first pitch scheduled for 10:05 PM ET at Sutter Health Park. Zack Littell gets the ball for Washington against Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn in a late-night West Coast matchup that gives the Nats a chance to pick up a road win against a Sacramento-based club still building its identity. Nationals fans can catch the action on Nationals.TV or tune in on WJFK 106.7 The Fan.

Starting Pitchers: Littell vs. Ginn

Zack Littell draws the start for Washington. The veteran right-hander has been a reliable arm in the Nationals rotation, valued for his ability to eat innings and generate weak contact. He'll be tested against an Athletics lineup that is capable of putting runs on the board in bunches.

On the other side, J.T. Ginn gets the nod for Oakland. The 24-year-old has shown flashes of the raw stuff that made him a highly regarded prospect, but consistency has been the question mark surrounding his development. This is exactly the kind of start the Athletics will want to see from him — a chance to go deep into a game and prove he belongs at this level.

Athletics Lineup to Watch

The Athletics are rolling out a lineup with some genuine intrigue. Jacob Wilson leads things off at shortstop, with Tyler Soderstrom hitting second and sliding over to left field. Shea Langeliers bats third and handles the catching duties — he's a legitimate power threat in the middle of this order. Carlos Cortes slots in at cleanup in right field, giving Oakland a right-handed bat with pop in the lineup's most important spot.

• Jacob Wilson (SS) — A contact-first leadoff man with developing plate discipline.
• Shea Langeliers (C) — One of the more dangerous bats in Oakland's order, capable of doing damage against right-handers.
• Lawrence Butler (CF) — Batting eighth, Butler is a speed and athleticism piece Oakland is counting on for range and baserunning.
• Jeff McNeil (1B) — The former batting champion batting ninth adds another professional at-bat to the bottom of this lineup.

Keys to the Game for Washington

The Nationals don't have a confirmed lineup posted yet, so the focus shifts to what Littell can control on the mound. His ability to work efficiently and avoid the big inning will be critical against a lineup with power scattered throughout. Washington will need to manufacture runs on the road and make Ginn throw strikes early to get into the bullpen before damage is done.

Defensively, Sutter Health Park can play differently than Nationals Park — a West Coast road environment that demands focus and execution. Any miscues behind Littell could snowball quickly against this Athletics offense.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for Washington if Littell is sharp and the offense can solve Ginn for at least a handful of runs. The Athletics lineup has enough talent to make things uncomfortable, but Ginn hasn't fully established himself as someone who dominates over six or seven innings consistently. Expect a competitive game that stays close into the sixth. Edge: Nationals, 4-3.