Nationals have hands full with menacing Dodgers lineup

After putting together their best offensive performance of the new season in the series opener, the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers will look to take the weekend set against the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

The star-studded lineup exploded for 13 runs and 16 hits in Los Angeles' 13-6 win over Washington on Friday. The Dodgers connected on five home runs in the victory, scoring more runs than they had in their previous four games combined.

"It was good to see those guys break out. The top four guys in our lineup all homered," Manager Dave Roberts said. "Rome isn't burning."

In a starting nine that boasts household names in Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Kyle Tucker, it's been Andy Pages leading the way so far.

After a three-hit outing, Pages is batting .480 (12-for-25).

"Andy is swinging the heck out of it," Roberts said. "He's just taking consistent at bats, getting on base, turning the lineup over. It's good to see those other guys catch up."

Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 3.00 ERA) is slated to make his second start of the year following a solid season debut. The right-hander tossed six innings of two-run ball, striking out six and walking one in a no-decision against the Arizona Diamondbacks last Saturday. The Dodgers won 3-2.

Glasnow allowed single runs in both the first and third innings, and he said a mental reset is needed when navigating through an order.

"It never feels good to give up runs early, but I think it kind of gets you in that mindset of locking in and just trying to keep the score small," Glasnow said.

In seven career appearances (four starts) against Washington, Glasnow owns a 2-1 record and a 6.49 ERA.

The Nationals' pitching staff has allowed 19 runs across the past two games. Washington's 5.46 team ERA is worst in the National League and only better in the majors than the Tampa Bay Rays (5.92) and Chicago White Sox (7.63).

Hoping to change that trend, Jake Irvin (1-0, 3.60 ERA) will take the mound for the Nationals on Saturday, looking to build off a solid beginning to his fourth major league season. Irvin allowed two runs in five innings against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, striking out seven and walking a batter in a 6-3 win.

Approaching his 92nd career start in a Nationals uniform, Irvin has already made a good impression on his rookie manager, Blake Butera.

"I was fired up to see him attacking," Butera said of Irvin's first start. "The velocity, I saw a couple 95s up there. Good to see him going right at guys. ... He's just so poised out there and we rely on him and expect him to be able to handle any type of situation."

Irvin has faced the Dodgers six times since debuting in 2023, compiling a 2-2 record and a 4.64 ERA. He has given up four home runs to Los Angeles.

Washington shortstop C.J. Abrams homered and drove in four runs on Friday. Abrams is batting .269 and leads the club with 10 RBIs.