The Washington Nationals head to UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium for a Saturday night matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with first pitch set for 9:10 PM ET on September 5, 2026. Cade Cavalli gets the ball for Washington against Tyler Glasnow in a tough road assignment that pits the Nationals against one of baseball's most formidable rosters. This is a measuring-stick game for a young Nationals club still building toward relevance — how they compete in Los Angeles matters heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Pitching Matchup: Cavalli vs. Glasnow at Dodger Stadium
Cade Cavalli draws the start for the Nationals in what is, on paper, a difficult assignment. Glasnow is one of the more imposing starters in the National League — a big, power arm capable of racking up strikeouts in bunches. The Nationals will need Cavalli to keep Los Angeles's lineup in check long enough to give Washington a legitimate chance to compete deep into the night.
Cavalli's ability to command his fastball and secondary offerings will be the central question. Against a Dodgers lineup that punishes any lack of precision, leaving pitches over the heart of the plate will be costly. A quality start from Cavalli — six innings, three or fewer runs — would be a genuine win for the Washington pitching staff and set a positive tone heading into the final stretch of the season.
Keys to Watch for the Nationals
- Cavalli's pitch efficiency: The Dodgers work counts and grind at-bats. If Cavalli burns through his pitch count early, Washington's bullpen will face extended high-leverage work in a tough environment.
- Capitalizing on early opportunities: Glasnow can be nearly unhittable when he's locked in. The Nationals need to attack him in the early innings before he finds a rhythm, and cannot afford to fall behind and chase strikeouts late.
- Road composure: Playing at Dodger Stadium late on a Saturday night, in front of a large home crowd, tests a young roster's ability to stay focused and execute. How the Nationals respond to adversity on the road will define their character down the stretch.
- Bullpen management: With Cavalli's workload an open question, manager Dave Martinez will need to match up wisely against Los Angeles's deep lineup if the game gets to the middle innings close.
Broadcast Information
Washington-area fans can catch the game on Nationals.TV or listen on WJFK 106.7 The Fan. Dodgers fans have coverage on SportsNet LA and Dodgers Radio AM570, with Spanish-language radio available on KTNQ 1020.
Prediction
This is a steep hill to climb. The Dodgers are playing at home, and Glasnow gives Los Angeles a significant advantage on the mound. That said, road upsets happen, and the Nationals have shown enough fight this season to make things interesting if Cavalli delivers a strong outing. Realistically, Washington needs everything to break right — a sharp Cavalli, timely hitting, and a clean bullpen. Expect the Dodgers to win a competitive game, but don't count the Nationals out if they can keep it close through six innings. Dodgers 5, Nationals 3.
