Dodgers Seek Series Win Over Nationals in Sunday Showdown

LA looks to extend early-season lead over Washington in NL matchup

Apr. 5, 2026 at 1:02am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2) head to the nation's capital to take on the Washington Nationals (3-3) in a Sunday afternoon MLB matchup. The Dodgers are favored at -182 on the moneyline, while the Nationals are +150 underdogs. Roki Sasaki is expected to start for LA, facing off against Zack Littell for Washington.

Why it matters

This early-season NL clash features two teams with playoff aspirations looking to gain an edge in the standings. The Dodgers, perennial contenders, aim to build on their strong start, while the Nationals hope to bounce back after a .500 opening week.

The details

The Dodgers offense has been middling so far, averaging 3.8 runs per game, but their pitching staff has been stellar with a 2.83 team ERA. Sasaki, a young flamethrower, will look to continue that strong pitching. Meanwhile, the Nationals have been led by their bats, ranking 3rd in MLB in runs scored per game at 6.33. Littell will try to slow down LA's lineup.

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, April 5, 2026.
  • First pitch is set for 1:05 PM ET at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

The players

Roki Sasaki

A 23-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sasaki has a 4.26 ERA and 1.446 WHIP in his young MLB career so far.

Zack Littell

A 30-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals, Littell has a 3.90 career ERA and 1.219 WHIP in over 600 innings pitched in the majors.

Los Angeles Dodgers

A perennial National League powerhouse, the Dodgers are off to a 4-2 start this season and look to extend their lead in the standings with a win over the Nationals.

Washington Nationals

The Nationals are 3-3 to begin the year and will host the Dodgers as they look to bounce back and climb up the NL East division.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're excited to take on the Dodgers this weekend and show what we can do against one of the best teams in baseball.”

— Zack Littell, Starting Pitcher, Washington Nationals

“Our pitching staff has been carrying us so far, and we're confident Roki can go out there and give us another strong outing to help us get the win.”

— Dave Roberts, Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers

What’s next

The Dodgers and Nationals will play the rubber match of their three-game series on Monday, April 6th at Nationals Park.

The takeaway

This early-season clash between the Dodgers and Nationals features two teams with high expectations looking to gain an edge in the standings. The pitching matchup between Sasaki and Littell should be an intriguing one, as both teams aim to get the upper hand in this NL showdown.