Keagan Smith gives you a preview, prediction and pick for today\u2019s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals on Saturday\u2019s MLB slate.<\/p>\n
The opening days of the 2026 MLB season have been an absolute blast to watch, and as we head into the second weekend of action on the diamond, there are plenty of games for fans and bettors alike to choose from.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the Los Angeles Dodgers (5-2) opened their series against the Washington Nationals (3-4) with a standout 13-6 win in the nation\u2019s capital. After the offensive explosion, the visitors are surely looking to follow it up with another big outing on Saturday. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. EST.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a betting prediction and pick for today\u2019s Dodgers vs. Nationals matchup courtesy of MLB odds and lines on DraftKings Sportsbook.<\/p>\n
Dodgers vs. Nationals prediction, preview<\/p>\n
As the games pile up in these early stages, stats turn from a blip to a trend as we learn about who these rosters will be this season. The Dodgers are easily the favorites to win the NL West and World Series at that, and they\u2019ve started the campaign in pretty strong fashion. The bats have produced the fifth-most runs per game with 5.14 thanks to a .790 OPS that ranks fifth in the sport and a .264\/.336\/.454 slash line. Not too shabby, right? Couple that with their MLB-leading 12 home runs and the second-best ISO at .189 and suddenly Los Angeles feels like the contender that was promised. The Dodgers have also kept strikeouts down for the most part and have a respectable 0.42 BB\/K, too. Somehow, Andy Pages is the hottest player at the plate with a .480\/.500\/.760 slash line and team-high 12 hits with two homers\u2026 just as we all expected. The pitching has proven quite productive as well with a 3.29 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, both of which are top-10 marks.<\/p>\n
Looking toward the Nationals, nobody expects them to contend this season. Growth is the goal for this roster, and a 3-4 record thus far isn\u2019t bad by any means. They\u2019re averaging an impressive 6.29 runs per game, second most of any team in the MLB. A .783 OPS ranks sixth just behind the Dodgers, coming off a .283\/.350\/.433 slash line with the best AVG in baseball. They\u2019re 14th in ISO at .150 with eight homers as well, and while a .342 BABIP paces the sport, it\u2019s certainly not sustainable moving forward. Washington also has an 0.41 BB\/K. While James Wood is slumping to start the year with a 4-for-31 line, young outfielder Daylen Lile has the team lead with 12 hits in an excellent start to his second MLB season. Despite the scorching offense, the arms may be a problem for this team. The Nationals have a 5.46 ERA that ranks third worst along with the second-worst WHIP at 1.51. <\/p>\n
RHP Tyler Glasnow gets the starting nod for the Dodgers having gone six innings with two earned runs allowed on four hits and a walk in his opening game. He also struck out six batters. Last season, he compiled a 3.19 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 90.1 innings, striking out 106 hitters with an 87th-percentile K% of 29.0%.<\/p>\n
RHP Jake Irvin is on the mound for the Nats after lasting five innings with seven punchouts, plus three hits and two earned runs allowed with one walk in his opening start. He\u2019s looking to keep improving after a horrible 2025 in which he gave up more homers than any other MLB pitcher, finishing that campaign with a 5.70 ERA and 1.43 WHIP.<\/p>\n
Dodgers vs. Nationals pick, best bet<\/p>\n
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Dodgers as -308 Moneyline favorites on the road this Saturday. The Nationals are listed at +244 odds to win outright with the run total set at a combined 9.5.<\/p>\n