Venue: Nationals Park — Washington, D.C.
First Pitch: 6:45 PM ET
Probable Pitchers: NYY — Ryan Weathers (LHP) vs. WSH — Carson Palmquist (LHP)
Weather Outlook — Washington, D.C.
Early July evenings in D.C. are typically warm and humid:
Temperature: 83–88°F at first pitch
Wind: 5–9 mph blowing out toward right field
Humidity: High
Rain: Low chance of scattered showers Impact: Warm, humid air + slight breeze to right = mildly hitter‑friendly for left‑handed pull hitters.
Team Records & Recent Form
New York Yankees (51–42)
Last 10: 5–5
Road Record: Slightly above .500
Trend: Offense inconsistent; pitching stabilizing after June struggles
Strengths:
Power bats (Judge, Soto)
Improved bullpen performance
Weaknesses:
Strikeout‑heavy lineup
Occasional defensive lapses
Washington Nationals (48–46)
Last 10: 6–4
Home Record: Slightly above .500
Trend: Young lineup heating up; pitching staff showing resilience
Strengths:
Speed and contact hitters
Solid bullpen in late innings
Weaknesses:
Limited power outside top bats
Struggles vs. elite velocity
Starting Pitcher Breakdown
NYY — Ryan Weathers (LHP)
Profile: Lefty with improved command and a sharper slider in 2026
Strengths:
Generates weak contact
Effective vs. left‑handed hitters
Keeps ball in the park
Weaknesses:
Vulnerable to right‑handed power
Occasional fastball command issues
Matchup vs. WSH: Nationals’ lineup leans right‑handed (Thomas, Meneses, House), making this a challenging matchup.
WSH — Carson Palmquist (LHP)
Profile: Young lefty with deceptive delivery and strong strikeout ability
Strengths:
High K‑rate vs. lefties
Effective sweeper/slider combo
Weaknesses:
Can struggle with walks
Vulnerable to elite right‑handed power
Matchup vs. NYY: Yankees’ right‑handed bats (Judge, Stanton, Volpe) pose problems.
Injury Report
New York Yankees
Aaron Judge: Healthy
Juan Soto: Healthy
Anthony Rizzo: Day‑to‑day (back tightness)
Bullpen: No major injuries among high‑leverage arms
Washington Nationals
CJ Abrams: Healthy
MacKenzie Gore: IL (shoulder)
Lane Thomas: Healthy
Bullpen: One middle‑relief arm out; high‑leverage core intact
Key Player Matchups
1. Aaron Judge vs. Carson Palmquist
Judge’s OPS vs. left‑handed pitching remains elite. Palmquist must avoid middle‑in fastballs.
2. CJ Abrams vs. Ryan Weathers
Abrams’ speed and contact profile challenge Weathers’ pitch‑to‑contact approach.
3. Juan Soto vs. Palmquist
Soto’s plate discipline vs. Palmquist’s occasional wildness = major advantage for NYY.
4. Brady House vs. Weathers
House’s emerging power makes him a key threat if Weathers leaves sliders up.
Series History
Yankees lead the all‑time series.
Nationals have won 3 of the last 5 meetings at Nationals Park.
Games between these teams tend to be low‑scoring early, high‑scoring late due to bullpen volatility.
Betting Trends
New York Yankees
Yankees are 7–3 in their last 10 games vs. left‑handed starters.
Over has hit in 6 of their last 8 road games.
NYY is strong ATS when Judge and Soto both start.
Washington Nationals
Nationals are 5–1 in Palmquist’s last six home starts.
Under has hit in 5 of their last 7 games.
WSH performs well vs. mid‑tier left‑handed pitching.
Game Odds
New York Yankees – 157
Washington Nationals 9.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, July 9, 2026
