At 6:45 PM EDT, the Angels will set down at Nationals Park (yes, the real one in Washington, D.C.) for a live‑streamed showdown on MLB.TV, Nationals.TV and Angels.TV. Left‑hander Yusei Kikuchi (LHP #16, 1‑5, 4.96 ERA, 1.47 WHIP) gets the ball and the dubious honor of trying to keep his club’s .235 batting average from looking like a collective “meh.” The Angels are already shorthanded—first‑baseman Nolan Schanuel is on a 10‑day IL and reliever Sam Bachman on a 15‑day IL—so the lineup will need more fireworks than the 591 runs they’ve managed so far.
On the other mound, right‑hander Cade Cavalli (RHP #24, 12‑5, 3.12 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) is primed to remind the Angels why a 4.75 team ERA isn’t just a number—it’s a warning sign for anyone thinking they can stroll through Washington’s home‑field advantage. The Nationals’ .247 average and 33‑40 home record suggest they’ve got enough depth to exploit those Angels’ holes, especially when the Angels’ ERA of 4.20 looks about as intimidating as a lukewarm cup of coffee. Make your pick and join the banter on StreakChat.