The Washington Nationals enter Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Angels with a 34–48 record and find themselves once again attempting to reboot a season that has veered off track due to inconsistent pitching, underwhelming defense, and an offense that sparks only in short bursts, and they’ll turn to right-hander Michael Soroka, whose 2025 campaign has been emblematic of the team’s overall struggles. Soroka holds a 3–5 record with a 5.06 ERA over 53.1 innings, showing occasional glimpses of the command and ground-ball efficiency that once made him an elite talent, but his lack of swing-and-miss stuff and frequent trouble working out of jams have plagued him in several outings, often forcing the bullpen into action earlier than desired. Offensively, the Nationals have leaned heavily on breakout rookie James Wood, whose 22 home runs and 64 RBIs have provided much-needed power in the middle of the lineup, with C.J. Abrams continuing to develop into a reliable top-of-the-order threat, batting .287 and using his speed to pressure defenses when he gets on base. However, outside of those two, the lineup has struggled with consistency, particularly with runners in scoring position, and the lack of depth in the batting order has left too many innings unproductive, especially against more disciplined pitching staffs like the Angels’.

The Nationals have tried to counter their offensive shortcomings by manufacturing runs through aggressive baserunning and situational hitting, but the results have been uneven at best, and their .241 team batting average and relatively low team OPS underscore a group still trying to find its offensive identity. Defensively, Washington has not helped its pitchers, as miscues and miscommunications have led to costly unearned runs, and their fielding percentage ranks among the lower third of MLB, making it imperative that Soroka pitches to soft contact and that the infield tightens up behind him. The bullpen has been another source of concern, with a mix of youth and inconsistency contributing to blown leads and late-game collapses, though there have been signs of progress with a few relievers stepping up in recent weeks to stabilize high-leverage innings. From a betting standpoint, the Nationals are 36–46 against the spread and haven’t covered well in most road spots, but they’ve managed to beat the number in four of their last six meetings with the Angels, suggesting that they’ve matched up well with Los Angeles’ style of play. To pull off a road win in Anaheim, the Nationals will need Soroka to give them at least five competent innings while avoiding the early-inning damage that has so often put them in a hole, and the offense must capitalize on any scoring chances against Kyle Hendricks, who can be effective when ahead in counts but has shown signs of vulnerability if forced to pitch from behind. With little margin for error and the pressure to show signs of progress before the All-Star break, this game could serve as a quiet litmus test for Washington’s competitiveness going forward, and if Wood, Abrams, and a few unsung contributors can rise to the occasion, the Nationals may yet prove capable of salvaging a tough road series with a key win.