The Washington Nationals head to Truist Park on Sunday, August 2, looking to pick up a road win against the Atlanta Braves in a 1:35 PM ET afternoon contest. Cade Cavalli gets the ball for Washington, squaring off against one of the National League's most dangerous lineups. The Braves counter with a formidable top half of their order, and for Cavalli, keeping Atlanta's bats quiet will be the defining challenge of his afternoon. Nationals fans can catch all the action on Nationals.TV or on radio via 680 AM/93.7 FM and WJFK 106.7 The Fan.

Cade Cavalli Starts for Washington Against a Loaded Atlanta Lineup

Cavalli is the named starter for the Nationals, and the assignment is a stiff one. Atlanta's confirmed lineup puts Ronald Acuña Jr. batting second as the designated hitter, with Matt Olson slotted third and Michael Harris II hitting cleanup. That is a lot of firepower packed into the middle of the order, and Cavalli will need to work efficiently and attack the zone to keep this game manageable for Washington.

The Braves are also running Drake Baldwin at catcher and leadoff, which gives Atlanta a lineup that mixes veteran production with emerging contributors. Ozzie Albies sits fifth, Austin Riley is down at eight, and rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis rounds out the nine-hole. Atlanta's depth here is genuine — there are few easy outs anywhere in this order.

Atlanta has not yet announced a probable starter of their own, so Washington will be preparing for multiple scenarios on the mound front from the Braves side.

Keys to Watch in Washington's Road Matinee

• Cavalli's command against Acuña and Olson: Both hitters are capable of doing serious damage with pitches left over the middle of the plate. How Cavalli attacks them early in counts will set the tone for his entire outing.
• Containing Atlanta's lineup depth: The Braves do not have a soft spot in their batting order. Cavalli cannot afford to cruise through the heart of the lineup only to give up runs to Dubón, Yastrzemski, or Riley in the seven and eight slots.
• Washington's offensive response: The Nationals' lineup has not been released, which means evaluating their offensive approach will be a live exercise. Watch for how Washington's hitters handle whoever Atlanta sends to the mound.
• Bullpen availability: If Cavalli runs into trouble early, Washington's relief corps will need to be sharp in a road environment against a lineup that can put up crooked numbers quickly.

Prediction: Atlanta Makes It Tough, But Cavalli Keeps Washington Competitive

This is a challenging road assignment for the Nationals. Atlanta's lineup, anchored by Acuña, Olson, and Harris II, is built to punish any mistake. That said, Cavalli has the stuff to compete in games like this — the question is whether he can string together enough consistent innings to give Washington a real shot. Expect a tight, competitive game into the middle innings. Atlanta's lineup depth gives them the edge at home, but Washington is capable of making this one interesting if Cavalli is on. Braves 4, Nationals 3.