This afternoon matchup at Nationals Park features two struggling clubs with significant pitching concerns. Cade Cavalli takes the ball for Washington sporting a concerning 4.60 ERA and 5.65 BB/9 rate through 14.1 innings, while his velocity has been inconsistent across recent starts. The young right-hander's command issues make him vulnerable to a Giants lineup that just erupted for 10 runs against this same Nationals pitching staff yesterday. Adrian Houser counters for San Francisco with his own struggles, posting a 5.06 ERA while allowing hard contact despite solid groundball rates from his sinker-heavy approach. The Nationals enter with conflicting momentum - they're riding a modest one-game win streak but remain a dismal 1-5 at home this season. CJ Abrams provides the primary offensive threat, slashing .371 with 6 home runs and 19 RBI in what's been a breakout start to 2026. Luis García Jr. adds pop from the left side, though the supporting cast remains inconsistent. For San Francisco, yesterday's offensive explosion was a rare bright spot for a team that's scored just 58 runs in 19 games. Luis Arraez continues his contact-heavy approach at .313, while Matt Chapman's 3-RBI performance yesterday suggests he may be finding his timing after a slow start. The pitching matchup heavily favors offensive production, with both starters showing control issues and elevated ERAs. Cavalli's recent velocity dip to 89.8 mph in his April 7th start is particularly concerning, while Houser's sinker-slider combination has been hittable despite generating ground balls. With both bullpens dealing with multiple injured arms, this game projects as a continuation of yesterday's run-heavy affair, though fatigue from the night game could limit late-innings fireworks.

Scoring Dynamics

Early (1-3) 4R Both starters vulnerable early with elevated ERAs

Middle (4-6) 4R Lineups work counts against struggling rotation arms

Late (7-9) 2R Bullpens settle in for lower-scoring finish

Matchup Analysis

Nationals

CJ Abrams hot streak (.371 avg, 6 HR)

Better home hitting splits historically

Recent offensive outburst vs Pirates

Terrible 1-5 home record this season

Cavalli's control issues (5.65 BB/9)

Giants

Just dominated Nationals 10-5 yesterday

Luis Arraez contact skills (.313 avg)

Houser's groundball tendencies limit damage

MLB-worst 58 runs scored in 19 games

Houser's elevated 5.06 ERA and hard contact allowed

Risk Factors

Both teams have inconsistent pitching depth

Day game after night game fatigue factor

Key Matchups

CJ Abrams vs Adrian Houser batter Abrams crushing righties, Houser allows hard contact

Luis Arraez vs Cade Cavalli batter Arraez works counts well vs wild Cavalli

Matt Chapman vs Cade Cavalli batter Chapman had 3 RBI yesterday, Cavalli struggles with command

Statistical Edges

First to Score Giants 58%

Strikeouts 12 10-15

Total Runs 10 8-12

Game Preview

Adrian Houser establishes early rhythm with his sinker, but CJ Abrams jumps on a first-pitch fastball in the bottom of the first for his seventh homer of the young season. The Giants respond immediately in the second when Luis Arraez works a patient at-bat against Cavalli, eventually singling home Matt Chapman who doubled off the wall in right-center. Cavalli's control issues surface in the third inning as he walks the leadoff hitter and plunks Chapman on a 2-2 count, setting up a two-run double by Willy Adames that gives San Francisco a 3-1 advantage. The middle innings become a chess match as both managers work their bullpens early due to elevated pitch counts. Washington scratches back with two runs in the fourth when Luis García Jr. takes Houser deep for a two-run shot that ties the game at 3-3. The lead changes hands again in the fifth when Daniel Susac, riding his torrid .563 start, delivers an RBI single that puts the Giants back ahead 4-3. Both teams add insurance runs through the sixth and eighth innings, with the Nationals tying it at 5-5 heading into the ninth. In the top of the ninth, Chapman delivers the decisive blow with an RBI single off Washington's closer, giving San Francisco a 6-5 victory and their second straight win in the series.

Moderate confidence based on both starters' early-season struggles and San Francisco's momentum from yesterday's dominant performance. However, the Nationals' terrible home record and both teams' pitching depth concerns create uncertainty in what should be a competitive, run-heavy affair.

Troliga pitchers

San Francisco Giants — Trupp

Spelare	Pos.	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Willy Adames	SS	.262	3	6	.311	.488
Luis Arraez	2B	.321	0	6	.353	.385
Matt Chapman	3B	.294	1	12	.333	.400
Rafael Devers	1B	.212	2	8	.256	.306
Casey Schmitt	DH	.317	2	7	.369	.517
Jung Hoo Lee	RF	.253	1	8	.310	.373
Heliot Ramos	LF	.257	2	13	.304	.378
Drew Gilbert	CF	.250	1	2	.357	.500
Daniel Susac	C	.500	0	5	.522	.682

Washington Nationals — Trupp

Spelare	Pos.	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
James Wood	RF	.256	7	18	.385	.570
Curtis Mead	1B	.200	1	5	.273	.350
Joey Wiemer	DH	.341	2	5	.426	.561
CJ Abrams	SS	.338	6	19	.448	.634
Jacob Young	CF	.254	2	8	.290	.424
Daylen Lile	LF	.283	1	8	.320	.380
Nasim Nuñez	2B	.177	0	5	.282	.194
Jorbit Vivas	3B	.310	0	2	.423	.357
Drew Millas	C	.182	0	3	.270	.242

Poängsituationer

▼ 1

James Wood homers (7) on a fly ball to left center field.

0-1

▲ 2

Drew Gilbert singles on a line drive to right fielder James Wood. Heliot Ramos scores.

1-1

▼ 2

James Wood hit by pitch. Nasim Nuñez scores. Jorbit Vivas to 3rd. Drew Millas to 2nd.

1-2

▼ 2

Luis García Jr. singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jung Hoo Lee. Jorbit Vivas scores. Drew Millas scores. James Wood to 3rd.

1-4

▼ 2

José Tena singles on a ground ball to left fielder Heliot Ramos. James Wood scores. Luis García Jr. to 2nd.

1-5

▲ 3

Casey Schmitt doubles (6) on a line drive to left fielder Daylen Lile. Luis Arraez scores. Matt Chapman scores. Fielding error by left fielder Daylen Lile.

3-5

▲ 6

Heliot Ramos homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Jung Hoo Lee scores.

5-5

▲ 7

Rafael Devers singles on a line drive to left fielder Daylen Lile. Willy Adames scores.

6-5

▼ 9

Giants challenged (timing play), call on the field was upheld: Brady House singles on a fly ball to center fielder Drew Gilbert. James Wood scores. Curtis Mead out at 3rd on the throw, center fielder Drew Gilbert to third baseman Matt Chapman.

6-6

▲ 12

Matt Chapman singles on a ground ball to left fielder Daylen Lile. Luis Arraez scores.

7-6

San Francisco Giants — Slagstatistik

Spelare	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Willy AdamesSS	6	1	1	0	0	2	0	.262	.799
Luis Arraez2B	6	2	2	0	0	0	0	.321	.738
Matt Chapman3B	6	1	2	1	0	0	0	.294	.733
Rafael Devers1B	6	0	1	1	0	1	0	.212	.562
Casey SchmittDH	6	0	2	1	0	2	0	.317	.886
Jung Hoo LeeRF	6	1	2	0	0	1	0	.253	.683
Heliot RamosLF	5	2	3	2	1	1	1	.257	.682
Drew GilbertCF	5	0	2	1	0	1	0	.250	.857
Daniel SusacC	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.500	1.204
Totalt	51	7	16	6	1	11	1

BATTING

2B: Ramos, H (3, Cavalli); Schmitt (6, Cavalli).

HR: Ramos, H (2, 6th inning off Parker, 1 on, 1 out).

TB: Adames; Arraez 2; Bailey; Chapman, M 2; Devers; Gilbert 2; Lee, J 2; Ramos, H 7; Schmitt 3.

RBI: Chapman, M (12); Devers (8); Gilbert (2); Ramos, H 2 (13); Schmitt (7).

2-out RBI: Gilbert; Devers; Schmitt.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Adames; Arraez; Gilbert; Ramos, H; Devers; Lee, J.

GIDP: Devers.

Team RISP: 4-for-18.

Team LOB: 12.

FIELDING

E: Adames (3, fielding).

Outfield assists: Gilbert (Mead at 3rd base).

Pickoffs: Bailey (Lile at 3rd base).

a-Flied out for Bailey in the 11th.

Washington Nationals — Slagstatistik

Spelare	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
James WoodRF	3	3	1	2	2	1	1	.256	.955
Curtis Mead1B	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.200	.623
Joey WiemerDH	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.341	.987
CJ AbramsSS	5	0	0	0	1	1	0	.338	1.082
Jacob YoungCF	6	0	2	0	0	0	0	.254	.714
Daylen LileLF	6	0	2	0	0	2	0	.283	.700
Nasim Nuñez2B	4	1	0	0	0	1	0	.177	.476
Jorbit Vivas3B	4	1	1	0	1	0	0	.310	.780
Drew MillasC	5	1	1	0	0	1	0	.182	.512
Totalt	44	6	10	6	5	8	1

BATTING

2B: Lile (6, Houser); Millas (2, Houser); Vivas (2, Walker, R).

HR: Wood (7, 1st inning off Houser, 0 on, 0 out).

TB: García Jr., L; House; Lile 3; Millas 2; Tena; Vivas 2; Wood 4; Young 2.

RBI: García Jr., L 2 (12); House (9); Tena (6); Wood 2 (18).

2-out RBI: House.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Wood; Wiemer; Young; Lile; Vivas 2.

SAC: Nuñez, N.

Team RISP: 4-for-19.

Team LOB: 12.

BASERUNNING

PO: Lile (3rd base by Bailey).

FIELDING

E: Vivas (2, fielding); Lile (1, fielding).

Outfield assists: Lile (Lee, J at home).

DP: (Nuñez, N-García Jr., L).

a-Popped out for García Jr., L in the 7th.

b-Struck out for Tena in the 7th.

1-Ran for House in the 10th.

San Francisco Giants — Kaststatistik

Kastare	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Adrian Houser	5.2	7	5	4	2	1	1	88-57	5.40
Ryan Borucki	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	6-3	6.75
Erik Miller(H, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	15-8	5.14
Matt Gage(H, 2)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6-6	1.93
Ryan Walker(BS, 1)	2.0	3	1	1	2	2	0	26-20	4.00
Caleb Kilian(W, 1-0)	2.0	0	0	0	1	2	0	17-12	0.90

Washington Nationals — Kaststatistik

Kastare	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Cade Cavalli	4.0	7	3	1	0	5	0	92-63	4.12
Mitchell Parker	3.0	5	3	3	0	2	1	53-36	5.40
Gus Varland	1.0	2	0	0	0	2	0	23-16	3.52
Richard Lovelady	2.0	0	0	0	1	2	0	23-17	3.48
Cionel Pérez(L, 1-2)	2.0	2	1	0	0	0	0	22-16	5.91

Matchinfo

Domare: Home Plate: Brennan Miller; First Base: Ryan Wills; Second Base: Chris Conroy; Third Base: Jen Pawol

Arena: Nationals Park, Washington

Väder: 76°F, Cloudy

Vind: 4 mph, R To L

San Francisco Giants — Nyheter

Posey: Giants utforskar deadline-alternativ, Webb är inte till salu

Webb (3,35 ERA, 1,12 WHIP, 0,297 xwOBA) förblir SF:s enda pålitliga startkastare medan laget spelar 15 spel under .500 med ett löpdifferential på -54. Giganternas motvilja att flytta sitt spade antyder att all försäljning före deadline kommer att rikta in sig på positionsspelare eller hyrda releifkastare snarare än hjälp för rotation.

Logan Webb

San Francisco Giants

Giants-ledaren kommenterar Devers-situationen efter avslag på vikarande löpare i nionde omgången

Devers slår .238/.303/.433 med 11 homeruns på 77 matcher—siffror som tyder på offensiva svårigheter snarare än attitydproblem. Förlusten med en poäng förvärrar SFs större problem: laget har ett rekord på 31-46 med en löpdifferential på -54 och har förlorat tre matcher i rad.

San Francisco Giants

Miami Marlins

Giants flyttar Houser till bullpen före Mahles återkomst

Housers ERA på 5,73 och xwOBA på 0,364 över 10 starter gör honom till den tydliga uteslutna när Mahle (ERA 6,04, 9,05 K/9) återvänder från IL. SFs rotation har nu bara Webb (ERA 3,46) som sin enda pålitliga starter, medan Ray och Roupp båda har ERA över 4.

Adrian Houser

San Francisco Giants

Giants utser Jared Oliva för tilldelning

Oliva noterade ett genomsnitt på .143 i begränsad speltid innan 60-dagarssperioden på skadelistan, även om hans xBA på .322 tyder på att bättre kontakt var möjlig. Åtgärden öppnar en plats på SF:s laguppställning, som sitter på 31-44 och -50 i målskillnad.

Jared Oliva

San Francisco Giants

Giants skickar Will Brennan till Triple-A

Brennan passerar waivers efter att ha registrerat ett genomsnitt på .087 med en xwOBA på .178 i begränsad speltid 2026. San Francisco (31-43, -49 run diff) fortsätter att byta ur sitt lag i källaren i NL West.

Will Brennan

San Francisco Giants

Washington Nationals — Nyheter

Nationals Hävdar Justin Lawrence från Waivers från Twins

Lawrence har ett ERA på 8.04 med ett xwOBA på 0.385 under begränsad speltid och har inga återstående alternativ, vilket gör detta till ett djupremiering för Washingtons rotation snarare än en meningsfull uppgradering. Nats utser Lara för att skapa utrymme medan deras nuvarande femannarotation innehåller Cavalli (4.07 ERA), Littell (5.40) och Mikolas (5.47) som alla presterar under förväntan.

Justin Lawrence

Minnesota Twins

Washington Nationals

Phillies besegrar Nationals i vild comeback; Padres slår Braves igen

PHI förbättrades till 43-36 trots en löpdifferential på -2, medan WSH (41-39) faller till 0-1 i sin senaste match. SD är nu 2-0 mot ATL (48-30, -3 på de senaste 10), vilket tyder på att Padres har hittat en formel mot Baseballs Eastern Division-ledare trots sin egen differens på -8.

San Diego Padres

Philadelphia Phillies

Atlanta Braves

Nationals stänger av DJ Herz med flexorförväning under Tommy John-rehabilitering

Herz' motgång eliminerar WSH:s topprospekt från rotationsschemat efter förra årets operation. Nationals (41-38) är nu beroende av Foster (3,15 ERA, 8-2) och Cavalli (4,07 ERA) som sina enda pålitliga startare, med Littell (5,45 ERA, 0-3) som börjar ikväll mot Luzardo.

DJ Herz

Washington Nationals

Nationals Släpper Julián Fernández

Fernández kastade aldrig 2026 (0 IP), vilket gör detta till ett mindre rosterhusarbete utan inverkan på Washingtons aktiva rotationsdjup.

Julian Fernández

Washington Nationals

Nationals Kräver Lara från Braves, Utser Fernández

Lara har ingen tillgänglig statistik för 2026, vilket indikerar att han inte har kastet i Major League denna säsong. Washingtons rotation förblir svag med Littell (4,76 ERA, 0-3) som startar idag mot Seattle.

Jhancarlos Lara

Atlanta Braves

Washington Nationals