Andy Pages Is Batting .480 and the Nationals Have No Answer For the Dodgers' Explosion

The Los Angeles Dodgers just put on an offensive clinic in Washington on Friday, and they're coming back for more this weekend. After dropping 13 runs and 16 hits in a 13-6 blowout over the Nationals, the Dodgers are looking to sweep the series and keep the momentum rolling. This isn't some flash in the pan, either. The Dodgers scored more runs in that one game than they had in their previous four games combined.

Pages Is Making a Statement Early

Here's what should scare Washington: Andy Pages is absolutely raking right now. The young Dodgers outfielder went 3-for-3 on Friday and is currently batting .480 (12-for-25) through the early part of the season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has noticed, and he's not shy about it.

"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."

The top four guys in the Dodgers lineup all went deep on Friday, and the team connected for five home runs total. That's the kind of firepower that can end a series in a hurry.

Glasnow Takes the Mound With Confidence

Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 3.00 ERA) will start for the Dodgers on Saturday after a solid second start to his season. In his last outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he tossed six innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts and one walk in a no-decision. The Dodgers won that game 3-2.

Glasnow knows he gave up runs early in that start, but he's using it as fuel. "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," he said. He's 2-1 with a 6.49 ERA against Washington in seven career appearances.

Washington's Pitching Staff Is In Trouble

The Nationals are in a rough spot defensively. Their pitching staff has allowed 19 runs over the past two games. As a team, Washington owns a 5.46 ERA, the worst in the National League and only better in all of baseball than the Tampa Bay Rays (5.92) and Chicago White Sox (7.63).

Jake Irvin (1-0, 3.60 ERA) will try to reverse the trend on Saturday. He pitched well in his first start, allowing two runs in five innings against the Chicago Cubs with seven strikeouts. Nationals rookie manager Blake Butera was impressed with what he saw. "I was fired up to see him attacking," Butera said. "The velocity, I saw a couple 95s up there. Good to see him going right at guys."

The problem? Irvin is 2-2 with a 4.64 ERA in six career starts against the Dodgers, and he's given up four home runs to Los Angeles. That's not a great resume heading into Saturday.

Washington shortstop C.J. Abrams did his part on Friday with a home run and four RBIs, and he's leading the club with 10 RBIs on the season, but one guy isn't enough when the Dodgers lineup is firing on all cylinders.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.