Nationals @ Dodgers September 4, 2026: Snell opens the series against Washington’s high-powered offense, Ohtani remains out

Alex Campos 09/04/2026 Game Threads Leave A Comment

The Dodgers (83-57) looked dead in the water yesterday, as they went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position through eight innings and were three outs away from getting swept by the Cardinals to start September. Riley O’Brien came on for a save and after getting the first out of the inning, gave up a single to Tommy Edman (who stole second) and walked Mookie Betts. Teoscar Hernandez came up and worked a full count before doubling to the left center gap, scoring both runs for a 3-2 Dodger walkoff win. It was finally some life in a largely lifeless series and prevented their second sweep in the last three series.

Today, they welcome the Nationals (67-75) for a weekend series. Washington has struggled hard in the second half, as they entered the break a game under .500 and were two games over .500 on July 29, but lost seven straight and are 12-22 since. They have won five of their last seven and still have one of the best offenses in baseball. Their 106 wRC+ is tied with the Brewers for the third-best in baseball, as is their .754 team OPS. They’ve hit 193 homers this season which is the second-most in baseball and also 32 more than they hit all of last year. Their pitching is the opposite, with the third-worst team ERA (4.71) and the third-most homers surrendered. The Dodgers swept the Nationals in DC back in April, outscoring them 31-17 in the three games. Blake Snell gets the start for the Dodgers, and the Dodgers face another rookie in Jackson Kent.

Snell gets the ball coming off a Snelly start in Detroit. He needed 99 pitches to get through five innings and walked three batters for the third time in four starts since coming off the IL, but held the Tigers to a run on three hits and struck out 10. He ended up with a no-decision as the Dodgers only scored one run and lost in walkoff fashion in the ninth. Snell hasn’t faced the Nationals as a Dodger but did see them twice in 2024 with the Giants. He allowed three earned runs in both outings, one lasting three innings and one lasting six.

Kent makes his fifth career start and is coming off his first career win against the Marlins. Kent struggled pretty badly in his first three starts, giving up 11 runs and 11 walks in 12 1/3 innings in three National losses. Last time out, he allowed only one run and three hit in seven innings but did also issue four walks. He’s walked 15 in 19 1/3 total innings after only 30 walks in 94 1/3 innings across AA and AAA this season. All 15 of those walks have come against righties. Kent is the Nats’ ninth-ranked prospect on Pipeline

Shohei Ohtani remains out of the lineup, with Edman leading off again and Alex Call DHing again. Betts hits second with Freddie Freeman also getting the day off, giving Enrique Hernandez a start at first and hitting ninth. Kyle Tucker also falls down to eighth in the order.

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Ohtani is still day-to-day, but still a pretty bleak update on him.

In Roberts speak, that means he’s out until 2045. A decision will reportedly be made on Ohtani in the next couple days. He’s also stopped throwing plyo, which is a setback in any potential return to pitching this season.

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Other updates on Edwin Diaz, Roki Sasaki and Bobby Miller. Remember Bobby Miller?

Diaz could be nearing a rehab assignment after a reportedly successful BP session today. Sasaki also had a good bullpen and isn’t eligible to return until next weekend in Miami. Miller is also in the clubhouse today and is on the taxi squad. Sunday’s starter is still TBD and things were pointing to that being Emmet Sheehan, but we’ll see.

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First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM PT and will be on SportsNet LA.

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About Alex Campos

I've been writing about the Dodgers since I graduated from Long Beach State, where I covered the Dirtbags in my senior year. I'm either very good or very bad at puns.
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