Los Angeles Angels at Washington Nationals

Neither dugout has committed to a starter yet, which tracks for two rotations that have taken a beating all year. Los Angeles is still working around long-term injuries to George Klassen and Jack Kochanowicz, and Washington is doing the same with Connelly Early and Josiah Gray, both trying to fight back from elbow trouble. Whoever gets the ball Friday, it's two staffs running on fumes by this point in September.

The lineups aren't much healthier. The Angels are still missing Nolan Schanuel, who's only just been cleared to resume swinging a bat, and Anthony Rendon and Yoán Moncada remain a long way from the field. Washington, for its part, is piecing together a bullpen with Orlando Ribalta freshly on the 15-day IL and Richard Lovelady still working through a rehab assignment down in Single-A.

There are still reasons to watch. James Wood has climbed to 30 home runs and 100 runs scored this season, numbers that put him in the conversation for the league's best young hitters, and Luis García Jr. is hitting .283 with 23 homers and 76 RBI. On the Angels' side, Ryan Johnson, Yusei Kikuchi and Walbert Ureña have all turned in strong recent starts, a sign of life in a rotation that's otherwise been picked apart.

Both clubs are in a rough patch as of now. The Angels have dropped 2 straight and gone 1-4 over their last 5, a stretch that includes taking 1 of 3 from Pittsburgh despite pitching well enough to win more than that. The Nationals have lost 5 straight and been swept 0-3 by the Dodgers, and they've still got 2 more games against San Diego to play before this one kicks off in Washington.

There's no playoff race or division lead riding on this series opener — both teams are long since out of it. What's left is two rebuilds sizing each other up, with young pieces like Wood, García and Schanuel worth watching even in a game that won't move any standings. First pitch is 6:45 PM ET.

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