Washington Nationals @ Los Angeles Dodgers - June 22, 2025

As I settle in for another game at the beloved Dodger Stadium, there’s an air of anticipation buzzing through the crowd. This Sunday matchup features the Washington Nationals taking on our Los Angeles Dodgers, a classic battle that carries with it a mix of hope and expectation.

On the mound for Washington will be Mike Soroka, who comes in with a 3-5 record and a 4.96 ERA. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, he has shown flashes of potential this season, particularly when his secondary pitches are working effectively. However, as any seasoned coach will tell you, consistency is key in this sport. The Nationals have struggled recently; they’re sitting at 32-45 overall and are just 2-12 in their last 14 games. With such a turbulent stretch behind them, one must wonder how Soroka will fare against a lineup that can be explosive on any given day.

On the opposing side is Shohei Ohtani—an electrifying talent who brings plenty of excitement but finds himself with an unusual start to his season at 0-0 and an inflated ERA of 9.00 thus far. It’s hard to imagine he’ll stay down for long though; we’ve seen pitchers like him rise from adversity throughout baseball history time and again. The Dodgers’ offense is potent—they average over five runs per game and boast a batting average of .259 along with a solid on-base percentage exceeding 77%.

The Dodgers’ recent form reflects their resilience; although they dropped their last outing against these very Nationals as -275 favorites (losing 7-3), they’ve been adept at bouncing back after losses—partly thanks to their strong home-field advantage where fans rally behind them relentlessly.

It’s also worth noting that both teams tend towards high-scoring games lately—the total has gone OVER in nine out of LA’s last thirteen games, while Washington has seen four out of its last six do likewise. Given these trends alongside each team’s offensive capabilities—and let’s face it, every pitcher has off days—I would predict that today’s total will likely end up over the set line of 9.5 runs.

When you break it down further: The Dodgers lead in virtually every offensive category—runs scored, hits per game—all while maintaining pressure on opposing pitchers through disciplined plate appearances (just under five-and-a-half RBIs per contest). In contrast, Washington finds itself struggling offensively with just over four runs per game and too many inefficiencies reflected by their .233 team batting average.

All things considered, I foresee the Los Angeles Dodgers emerging victorious today—there’s simply too much talent on that roster coupled with home-field support to overlook against a beleaguered Nationals team searching for footing amidst their difficulties.

So grab your peanuts and cracker jacks—it promises to be an exhilarating afternoon filled with camaraderie among fans cheering for what should be an entertaining match-up!