Washington Nationals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Predictions July 4th 2026

Pirates’ Braxton Ashcraft charged with shutting down Nats’ hot offense

After launching two home runs during the Washington Nationals’ five-homer outburst Friday, Daylen Lile is sticking to his approach against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates entering a Saturday matinee.

Luis Garcia Jr. also hit two home runs and Jose Tena added a two-run shot in the Nationals’ 9-5 series-opening win on Friday.

“I’m trusting and believing in the process,” Lile said. “I’m not trying not to be someone that I’m not. I am trying to realize who I am as a hitter and player and trying to execute for myself and the team.”

Garcia produced 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in June. In two July games, he has two homers and five RBIs. He leads the Nationals in batting average (.283), RBIs (62), slugging (.559) and is tied for second on the team in homers (18).

As Washington moved to three games over .500, Lile said the club is only beginning to tap into its potential.

“(Luis) has put in the work,” Lile said. “It’s really paying off. It’s nice to see him capitalize for the team. It’s only the beginning, not just for him but for all of us.”

The Pirates are set to hand the ball to Braxton Ashcraft (8-3, 3.33 ERA) to try to slow down the Nationals’ offense, which has scored 27 runs in Washington’s three-game winning streak.

The 26-year-old right-hander is coming off a solid June in which he went 3-1 and pitched at least five innings in all five of his starts. He earned an 11-7 road win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, allowing five runs on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in six innings.

Ashcraft made his only career start against the Nationals on April 16, receiving a no-decision after allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly said his club’s success relies on starters going deep into the game.

“The starting rotation is the foundation,” Kelly said. “And we need them big time.”

Pittsburgh scored four runs in the ninth on Friday thanks to RBI doubles from Brandon Lowe, Bryan Reynolds, Esmerlyn Valdez and Nick Gonzales, but the Pirates still took their third loss in four games.

With only 20 games under his belt, Valdez has looked the part of a major-leaguer. He went 3-for-5 with a run and RBI on Friday, and he is 19-for-38 (.500) with four homers and 11 RBIs in his past 11 games.

“You see young guys get down on themselves and get discouraged early,” Kelly said, “but he has not. He stays in the fight, continues to battle and goes the other way with base hits and good at-bats.”

The Nationals are slated to counter with Zack Littell (7-6, 5.29 ERA). In his latest outing, Littell picked up a 6-4 win on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles. He gave up two runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts over five innings.

In five career appearances (one start) against the Pirates, Littell is 0-0 with a 7.27 ERA in 8 2/3 innings.

Littell will take outs however they come.

“I’d love to be different and have a crazy amount of swing and miss,” he said. “I wish I had a cool changeup that would be flashy and fun. There’s not a lot of guys in the game that are kind of like me now. I go out there and if I get 21 ground-ball outs and get through seven innings, I’ll be just as happy if I get 10 (strikeouts).”

–Field Level Media