Los Angeles Dodgers vs Washington Nationals June 20th 2025
The Washington Nationals take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday, June 20, 2025. The game begins at 10:10 PM under the clear night sky. Fans can catch the game on MASN.
The Nationals, managed by Dave Martinez, have a 31-44 record this season. They face a tough opponent in the Dodgers, who hold a 46-29 record. MacKenzie Gore will start for the Nationals, while Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for the Dodgers.
Nationals vs Dodgers Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Venue: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
- Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
- Betting Odds: Dodgers MoneyLine -206, Nationals MoneyLine +169
The Nationals Can Win If…
The Washington Nationals are coming off a close 4-3 win against the Colorado Rockies. James Wood was the standout player, hitting two home runs and driving in four runs. Trevor Williams pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out six batters.
The Nationals have shown they can hit for power, with 72 home runs this season. They also excel in stealing bases, ranking 7th in the league with 63 stolen bases. Their ability to create scoring opportunities gives them a chance to win.

MacKenzie Gore will start for the Nationals, boasting a 2.88 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. His strong pitching could be key against the Dodgers. With Gore on the mound and the Nationals’ power hitters, they have a solid chance to secure a victory.
The Dodgers Can Win If…
The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off a close win against the San Diego Padres, securing a 4-3 victory. Emmet Sheehan pitched four solid innings, allowing only one run and striking out six. Will Smith made a significant impact with a home run, contributing to the team’s success.
The Dodgers lead the league in several hitting categories, including batting average (.265), on-base percentage (.339), and slugging percentage (.460). Their power at the plate is evident, with 116 home runs this season, ranking them first in the league. With players like Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in the lineup, they are well-positioned to keep the momentum going.

Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for the Dodgers with an ERA of 3.25. His experience and skill can provide the stability the team needs on the defensive side. The Dodgers’ strong pitching and batting stats make them a formidable opponent in their upcoming game against the Washington Nationals.
The Lean
The Dodgers are favored to win with a moneyline of -206. The Nationals have a moneyline of +169. The Dodgers have the best batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage in the league. This gives them an edge in scoring. The model projects the Dodgers to win 5-3.
The over/under line is set at 8.5. The model projects a total score of 8 runs. The Dodgers’ pitching ranks higher in strikeouts, which may limit the Nationals’ scoring. The recommendation is to take the under 8.5.
Following Heated Stretch, Dodgers Set Sights on Nationals
After navigating a fiery 10-game stretch against division rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers are shifting their focus to the visiting Washington Nationals in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night.
Los Angeles went 7-3 in matchups against the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants, despite tensions boiling over at times. Thursday’s 5-3 loss to the Padres ended with both benches clearing after Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch for the third time in a week.
Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages were also plunked multiple times during the heated series.
“I thought we played good baseball,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Some of our guys didn’t really perform well, and we still found a way to win more than we lost. Now it’s about the Nationals — a team that’s going to try to right the ship by playing us.”
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Kershaw Eyes Milestone as Dodgers Refocus
Clayton Kershaw will take the mound in Friday’s series opener. The veteran lefty (2-0, 3.25 ERA) was sharp in his last outing, tossing seven scoreless innings against the Giants in an 11-5 win.
Kershaw is now just 12 strikeouts away from joining an elite club of pitchers with 3,000 career Ks — only the 20th in MLB history and fourth left-hander.
Historically dominant against Washington, Kershaw owns a 13-3 record with a 2.27 ERA in 19 career appearances (18 starts) vs. the Nationals.
Nationals Hope to Build on Rare Victory
The Nationals snapped an 11-game losing streak Thursday with a thrilling 4-3 win over Colorado, thanks to James Wood’s two home runs, including a walk-off shot in the 11th.
“It was just a sigh of relief, really,” Wood said. “We’ve been playing hard, things just haven’t gone our way. It felt good for that to change a little bit.”
Wood — a known thorn in the Dodgers’ side — hit three homers in the April series between these teams, including two on April 8. He was 4-for-10 with seven RBIs in that three-game set, when Washington took two of three from L.A.
Washington will counter with MacKenzie Gore (3-6, 2.89 ERA), who’s been brilliant of late with a 1.45 ERA over his last five starts. He took a tough-luck loss to Miami his last time out, despite yielding just two runs over six innings.
Gore is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers.
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Dodgers Looking to Reclaim Season Series
Though the Nationals got the upper hand earlier this season, Los Angeles hasn’t lost a season series to Washington since 2014. After a physical and emotional series with the Padres, the Dodgers aim to settle in and refocus on continuing their dominance over NL East opponents this weekend at Chavez Ravine.