6:45 p.m. ET | Nationals Park | Washington D.C.

RHP Adrian Houser (7-4, 2.88 ERA) vs. LHP Mitchell Parker (7-14, 6.01 ERA)

LHP Mitchell Parker (7-14, 6.01 ERA)

Mitchell Parker’s second season in the big leagues has been a study in growth, flashes of brilliance, and steady competitiveness. While his most recent outing in Philadelphia didn’t go as planned, Parker has already shown this year why the Nationals view him as such a key piece of their young rotation. He opened the season on a tear, going 3-1 with a 1.39 ERA through his first five starts — including a dominant, career-best performance in Baltimore when he tossed eight shutout innings of one-hit ball. Even when facing tough lineups, Parker has displayed an ability to limit damage and keep hitters off balance, as he did in his lone start against Tampa Bay, where he allowed just two runs over five innings despite taking the loss.

RHP Adrian Houser (7-4, 2.88 ERA)

Adrian Houser, a right-handed pitcher, picked up his first victory as a member of the Rays after pitching into the seventh inning during a 10-6 win over St. Louis on August 22 (W, 6.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, HR). Across his last ten starts combined between the Rays (3 starts) and White Sox (7 starts), the teams have won eight.

4:45 p.m. ET | Nationals Park | Washington D.C.

RHP Ryan Pepiot (9-10, 3.82 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Irvin (8-9, 5.40 ERA)

RHP Jake Irvin (8-9, 5.40 ERA)

Jake Irvin will make his second career start against the Rays, following an impressive debut on June 29 in Tampa Bay (win, 6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO). In Irvin’s last appearance, he pitched 2.1 innings, giving up three runs, walking two, striking out two giving up six hits.

RHP Ryan Pepiot (9-10, 3.82 ERA)

Ryan Pepiot (9–10, 3.82 ERA) is coming off a dominant outing on Aug. 24 against the Cardinals, tossing 5.0 shutout innings with only one hit and one walk allowed, striking out three. It was the fourth time in his career he’s logged at least 5.0 innings while limiting opponents to two baserunners or fewer. Pepiot has never faced the Nationals; against the NL East this season, his lone start came May 8 vs. Philadelphia, when he earned a no-decision with 6.0 innings of two-hit, one-run ball.

1:05 p.m. ET | Nationals Park | Washington D.C.

LHP Ian Seymour (2-0, 3.18) vs. RHP Brad Lord(8-9, 5.40 ERA)

RHP Jake Irvin (8-9, 5.40 ERA)

Brad Lord is set to make his first career start against the Rays. Since rejoining the Nationals’ rotation on July 22, Washington has gone 5–2 in his outings.

LHP Ian Seymour (2-0, 3.18)

CJ Stubbs makes his MLB Debut as Drew Millas has season-ending surgery. The biggest news coming out of Nationals Park is the call-up of catcher CJ Stubbs after Drew Millas had season-ending surgery to repair his finger.

Can the Nationals snap their losing streak? The Washington Nationals are currently on a five-game losing streak as they enter tonight’s game. Currently, the Nationals have a 25-39 record at Nationals Park and a 9-16 record for August.

James Wood is heating up. James Wood has been on a tear at the plate, reaching safely in 16 of his last 19 games while posting a .506 slugging percentage over that span, thanks to 10 doubles and a pair of homers. In his last eight contests, he’s batting .333 (11-for-33) with four doubles, a homer, three RBI and three walks. For the season, Wood is part of an exclusive group—one of just 12 players with at least 25 home runs and 15 stolen bases, joining the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Julio Rodríguez, among others. He has also racked up 31 doubles, making him, along with Pete Crow-Armstrong, the only player this year to pair 25+ homers with 15+ steals and 30+ doubles. With 83 RBI, Wood is closing in on 100—a milestone no Nationals hitter has reached since Anthony Rendon (126) and Juan Soto (110) in 2019.