Sports Today Saturday, September 5
← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 5, 2026
Washington Nationals
67-76 · 4th in NL East, 18 GB
Offense cooling lately
RHP Cade Cavalli · Elite strikeout stuff
@
Los Angeles Dodgers
84-57 · 1st in NL West
Offense cooling lately
RHP Tyler Glasnow · Elite strikeout stuff
MLB · UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, hits run 7% below average here · 6:10 PM PT

Team Identity

Washington Nationals
Season-to-date, 143 games, 5,736 PA.
A power-hitting, aggressive offense that does damage on extra-base hits. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Elite96
Contact
Average64
Plate Discipline
Average47
Speed
Elite88
RISP
Average46
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 8% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Season-to-date, 141 games, 5,543 PA.
A contact-oriented, opportunistic offense that puts the ball in play and avoids empty at-bats, though it can be station-to-station. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Above Avg79
Contact
Elite95
Plate Discipline
Elite91
Speed
Below Avg30
RISP
Elite92
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 24% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

Dodgers bring the more contact-oriented profile, while Nationals lean on being power-hitting.

Swing Factor

Cade Cavalli strikes hitters out at a 26.9% clip (85th percentile); Dodgers carry a 19.9% strikeout rate.

Momentum

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

Key Matchups

Can Cade Cavalli miss enough bats?
Cade Cavalli strikes hitters out at a 26.9% clip (85th percentile); Dodgers carry a 19.9% strikeout rate.
Edge · DodgersCade Cavalli: 26.9% K rateDodgers: 19.9% K rateHigh confidence
Can Tyler Glasnow miss enough bats?
Tyler Glasnow strikes hitters out at a 30.4% clip (96th percentile); Nationals carry a 20.7% strikeout rate.
Edge · NationalsTyler Glasnow: 30.4% K rateNationals: 20.7% K rateModerate confidence
Can Cade Cavalli command the strike zone?
Dodgers walk in 9.6% of trips; Cade Cavalli allows walks sparingly (7.0%).
Edge · Cade CavalliDodgers: 9.6% walk rateCade Cavalli: 7.0% walks allowedHigh confidence
Can Cade Cavalli limit Dodgers' power?
Dodgers rank in the 79th percentile in extra-base production, while Cade Cavalli sits in the 58th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · DodgersDodgers: 0.361 TB/PACade Cavalli: 0.319 TB/PA allowed (658 PA)High confidence
Can Tyler Glasnow limit Nationals' power?
Nationals rank in the 96th percentile in extra-base production, while Tyler Glasnow sits in the 91st percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · NationalsNationals: 0.365 TB/PATyler Glasnow: 0.245 TB/PA allowed (204 PA)Moderate confidence

Pitcher Trends

Cade Cavalli
Cade Cavalli
Washington Nationals · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts7.2/start
Hits allowed4.0/start
7+ Strikeouts — 5 of last 64 or fewer Hits Allowed — 3 of last 6
27% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.
Tyler Glasnow
Tyler Glasnow
Los Angeles Dodgers · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts7.5/start
Hits allowed3.4/start
6+ Strikeouts — 6 of last 64 or fewer Hits Allowed — 4 of last 6
30% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Daylen Lile
Daylen Lile
Washington Nationals · 0.262 hit rate · 0.619 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L106 / 10L2515 / 25
Total bases per PA is up 70% over his prior baseline, with hits in 6 of his last 10 games.
Brady House
Brady House
Washington Nationals · 0.290 hit rate · 0.484 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L107 / 10L2517 / 253-game hit streak
Hit rate is up 43% over his prior baseline, with hits in 6 of his last 8 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 19%.
Teoscar Hernandez
Teoscar Hernandez
Los Angeles Dodgers · 0.302 hit rate · 0.442 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L55 / 5L107 / 10L2516 / 255-game hit streak
On-base rate is up 48% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 9 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 21%.
CJ Abrams
CJ Abrams
Washington Nationals · 0.075 hit rate · 0.075 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L51 / 5L103 / 10L2512 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 83% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 9 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 35%.
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani
Los Angeles Dodgers · 0.128 hit rate · 0.205 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L104 / 10L2514 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 54% over his prior baseline, with hits in 4 of his last 8 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 33%.
Max Muncy
Max Muncy
Los Angeles Dodgers · 0.057 hit rate · 0.057 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L51 / 5L102 / 10L2511 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 87% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 9 games.

Players Positioned to Succeed

82
Tommy Edman
Tommy Edman
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Dodgers
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
75
Freddie Freeman
Freddie Freeman
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Dodgers
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
75
Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Dodgers
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
75
Teoscar Hernandez
Teoscar Hernandez
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Dodgers
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
71
Dylan Crews
Dylan Crews
1+ Hit
Washington Nationals
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Recent hit rate has cooled
71
Luis Garcia Jr.
Luis Garcia Jr.
1+ Hit
Washington Nationals
Why it stands out
Low recent strikeout rate
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted

Expected Game Shape

Power-orientedModerate confidence

Both lineups can change the game with one swing. Nationals bring more power. Starting pitching is likely to set the tone.

Early edge Dodgers Driver Extra-base damage Volatility Moderate
  • Both probable starters grade around the 78th percentile in combined suppression.
  • Nationals are trending down; Dodgers are trending down.

Storylines to Watch

Can CJ Abrams snap out of it?
CJ Abrams has cooled off. Total bases per PA is down 83% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 9 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 35%.
0.075 hit rate · 0.075 TB/PA · 0.236 hit rate · 0.451 TB/PA
Is Daylen Lile the one to watch?
Daylen Lile enters as Nationals' hottest bat. Total bases per PA is up 70% over his prior baseline, with hits in 6 of his last 10 games.
0.262 hit rate · 0.619 TB/PA · 0.218 hit rate · 0.364 TB/PA
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-05, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.