Sports Today Sunday, September 13
← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 13, 2026
Los Angeles Angels
56-92 · 5th in AL West, 18.5 GB
Offense cooling lately
RHP Grayson Rodriguez · Balanced starter
@
Washington Nationals
69-81 · 5th in NL East, 19.5 GB
Offense cooling lately
RHP Riley Cornelio · Balanced starter
MLB · Nationals Park · 10:35 AM PT

Team Identity

Los Angeles Angels
Season-to-date, 148 games, 5,733 PA.
A below-league-average offense across most categories this season. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Well Below12
Contact
Well Below15
Plate Discipline
Below Avg31
Speed
Below Avg42
RISP
Well Below13
Recent Form
Trending Down
Walk rate is down 24% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Washington Nationals
Season-to-date, 150 games, 6,012 PA.
A power-hitting, aggressive offense that does damage on extra-base hits. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Elite94
Contact
Average60
Plate Discipline
Average46
Speed
Elite90
RISP
Below Avg44
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 16% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

Nationals' offense is defined by being power-hitting, and this game tests whether Angels can match it.

Swing Factor

Nationals rank in the 94th percentile in extra-base production, while Grayson Rodriguez sits in the 6th percentile at suppressing total bases.

Momentum

Angels are trending down and Nationals are trending down over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can Grayson Rodriguez limit Nationals' power?
Nationals rank in the 94th percentile in extra-base production, while Grayson Rodriguez sits in the 6th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · NationalsNationals: 0.363 TB/PAGrayson Rodriguez: 0.434 TB/PA allowed (376 PA)High confidence
Can Riley Cornelio limit Angels' power?
Angels rank in the 12th percentile in extra-base production, while Riley Cornelio sits in the 92nd percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · Riley CornelioAngels: 0.321 TB/PARiley Cornelio: 0.248 TB/PA allowed (121 PA)Low confidence
Can Riley Cornelio miss enough bats?
Riley Cornelio strikes hitters out at a 22.3% clip (59th percentile); Angels carry a 24.4% strikeout rate.
Edge · AngelsRiley Cornelio: 22.3% K rateAngels: 24.4% K rateLow confidence
Can Grayson Rodriguez miss enough bats?
Grayson Rodriguez strikes hitters out at a 19.9% clip (39th percentile); Nationals carry a 20.9% strikeout rate.
Edge · NationalsGrayson Rodriguez: 19.9% K rateNationals: 20.9% K rateHigh confidence
Can Riley Cornelio command the strike zone?
Angels walk in 7.9% of trips; Riley Cornelio allows walks at a fairly typical rate (17.4%).
Edge · Riley CornelioAngels: 7.9% walk rateRiley Cornelio: 17.4% walks allowedLow confidence

Pitcher Trends

Grayson Rodriguez
Grayson Rodriguez
Los Angeles Angels · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts5.6/start
Hits allowed5.0/start
5+ Strikeouts — 4 of last 65 or fewer Hits Allowed — 3 of last 6
20% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Moises Ballesteros
Moises Ballesteros
Los Angeles Angels · 0.281 hit rate · 0.500 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L106 / 10L2514 / 25
Total bases per PA is up 189% over his prior baseline, with hits in 6 of his last 9 games.
Keibert Ruiz
Keibert Ruiz
Washington Nationals · 0.400 hit rate · 0.733 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L107 / 10L2517 / 252-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 82% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 5 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 7%.
Denzer Guzman
Denzer Guzman
Los Angeles Angels · 0.261 hit rate · 0.435 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L105 / 10L2513 / 25
Total bases per PA is up 41% over his prior baseline, with hits in 4 of his last 7 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 22%.
Daylen Lile
Daylen Lile
Washington Nationals · 0.105 hit rate · 0.184 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L50 / 5L102 / 10L2512 / 25
Hit rate is down 53% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 10 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 32%.
Adam Frazier
Adam Frazier
Los Angeles Angels · 0.125 hit rate · 0.188 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L102 / 10L259 / 25
On-base rate is down 61% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 7 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 31%.
CJ Abrams
CJ Abrams
Washington Nationals · 0.174 hit rate · 0.283 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L105 / 10L2511 / 252-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is down 35% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 10 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 30%.

Players Positioned to Succeed

77
Zach Neto
Zach Neto
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Angels
Why it stands out
Batting 1st, confirmed lineup
Main risk
Elevated recent strikeout rate
73
James Wood
James Wood
1+ Hit
Washington Nationals
Why it stands out
Batting 1st, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
73
Luis Garcia Jr.
Luis Garcia Jr.
1+ Hit
Washington Nationals
Why it stands out
Batting 4th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
70
Mike Trout
Mike Trout
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Angels
Why it stands out
Batting 2nd, confirmed lineup
Main risk
Elevated recent strikeout rate
67
Wade Meckler
Wade Meckler
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Angels
Why it stands out
Batting 3rd, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
67
CJ Abrams
CJ Abrams
1+ Hit
Washington Nationals
Why it stands out
Batting 4th, confirmed lineup
Main risk
Elevated recent strikeout rate

Expected Game Shape

BalancedLow confidence

Competitive profile without a clear stylistic tilt. Nationals bring more power.

Early edge Nationals Driver No single dominant factor Volatility Moderate
  • Both probable starters grade around the 41st percentile in combined suppression.
  • Angels are trending down; Nationals are trending down.

Storylines to Watch

Does Nationals' power tilt the game?
Nationals bring a clearly stronger extra-base profile into this matchup.
Angels power pct 12 vs Nationals 94
Can Angels handle Riley Cornelio's strikeout stuff?
Angels have been a below-average contact team while Riley Cornelio misses bats at an above-average rate — a swing factor early.
Angels contact percentile: 15
Is Moises Ballesteros the one to watch?
Moises Ballesteros enters as Angels' hottest bat. Total bases per PA is up 189% over his prior baseline, with hits in 6 of his last 9 games.
0.281 hit rate · 0.500 TB/PA · 0.144 hit rate · 0.173 TB/PA
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-13, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.