New York Yankees at Washington Nationals

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
NYY	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	5	13	3
WSH	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	3	8	0

Ryan Weathers gets the ball for New York looking to shake off a July 5 clunker against the Twins where he lasted just 4.0 innings and gave up 4 earned runs. His 4.29 ERA is respectable given the circumstances, but he's already blown past his career-high workload and the wear is starting to show. Across the field, Carson Palmquist takes the mound for Washington in just his 3rd start of the season, still searching for his first win after getting yanked after 1.0 inning and 4 earned runs against the Pirates on July 4.

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FINAL

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ML

Total

Yankees(51-42)

WLLWL

5

-1.5+108-144o9.5-122

Nationals(48-46)

WLWLL

3

+1.5-111+144u9.5+120

Best BetYankees -162

Pregame

New York's still the better roster even beat up, and Weathers gives them a real shot to slow down a Nationals lineup that's been hitting all week. Washington's price reflects real value given how well they've played lately, but Judge and Stanton being out doesn't change who's actually favored here. Back the Yankees, but don't expect it to be comfortable.

New York's rotation is a mess right now. Carlos Rodon and Max Fried are both on the 15-day IL with elbow issues, Clarke Schmidt is on the 60-day, and that's exactly why Weathers has been leaned on so hard. It's not just pitching, either — Aaron Judge is out until at least August and will get his rib re-imaged over the All-Star break, and Giancarlo Stanton is still working back from a calf injury. Washington isn't exactly healthy up and down its own staff, with Jake Irvin, Josiah Gray and DJ Herz all sidelined, but at least the lineup is rolling.

Ryan Weathers

(3-7)·4.40 ERA

Jul 5 vs Twins

L

4.0IP

4ER

6K

2BB

88P

07/10 Lineup

Carson Palmquist

(0-1)·8.74 ERA

Jul 4 vs Pirates

L

1.0IP

4ER

3K

0BB

37P

07/10 Lineup

That's really the story here — a Nationals team that was projected for 65-something wins is instead sitting at 48-46 and sent 2 players, CJ Abrams and James Wood, to the All-Star Game. New York, meanwhile, is 51-42 and still holding a playoff spot, but the last week and a half hasn't been pretty without Judge in the middle of the order. Something has to give in this first meeting of the season between the two.

New York Yankees

(51-42)

Jul 9W@ Rays12-4

Jul 8L@ Rays0-3

Jul 7L@ Rays4-6

Jul 6W@ Rays5-1

Jul 5Lvs Twins1-6

Washington Nationals

(48-46)

Jul 8Wvs Astros8-2

Jul 7Lvs Astros3-6

Jul 6Wvs Astros12-11

Jul 5Lvs Pirates5-11

Jul 4Lvs Pirates1-7

Washington's last 5 is a mixed bag — a blowout loss to Pittsburgh, an ugly 5-11 defeat, then a 3-game stretch against Houston where they split the difference with a wild 12-11 win and an 8-2 blowout. New York's stretch has been shakier: 2 losses to open a series against the Rays before a 12-4 statement win to close it out. Both clubs can clearly score in bunches when things click, which matters against 2 starters carrying ERAs north of 4.

New York Yankees

(5)

• 10-Day-ILGiancarlo Stanton (DH) — Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Thursday that Stanton (calf) has resumed running after receiving a PRP injection, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.07/09
• 10-Day-ILAaron Judge (RF) — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday that Judge will get follow-up imaging on his injured rib during the All-Star break, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.07/09
• 15-Day-ILCarlos Rodon (SP) — Rodon (elbow) will play catch Thursday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.07/09
• 15-Day-ILMax Fried (SP) — Fried (elbow) threw a successful 36-pitch live batting practice session Sunday and will face hitters again Thursday or Friday before embarking on a rehab assignment, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.07/05
• 60-Day-ILClarke Schmidt (SP) — Schmidt (elbow) tossed a side session Wednesday and is "a couple of weeks" away from facing live hitters, per MLB.com.06/19

Washington Nationals

(10)

• 15-Day-ILBrad Lord (RP) — The Nationals placed Lord on the 15-day injured list Thursday with left side tightness.07/09
• 15-Day-ILJake Irvin (SP) — Irvin (shoulder) is slated to face live hitters in batting practice Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.07/06
• 15-Day-ILRichard Lovelady (RP) — The Nationals placed Lovelady on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left triceps strain.06/29
• SuspensionCade Cavalli (SP) — Major League Baseball announced that Cavalli's seven-game suspension has been reduced to five games following an appeal, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports. The right-hander will begin serving the ban in Monday's series opener versus the Astros.07/06
• 60-Day-ILTrevor Williams (SP) — Williams (elbow) is slated to make his third rehab start Wednesday at Triple-A Rochester, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.07/06
• 60-Day-ILMitchell Parker (RP) — The Nationals transferred Parker (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.07/02
• 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP) — Herz (elbow) was diagnosed Monday with a left flexor strain, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.06/22
• 60-Day-ILMax Kranick (RP) — Kranick (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Single-A Fredericksburg on Sunday, striking out two over 1.2 perfect innings.06/22
• 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP) — Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure April 21 and is hopeful to return to game action at some point early in the 2027 season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.06/11
• 60-Day-ILJosiah Gray (SP) — Gray (elbow) has resumed a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/08

With Judge and Stanton both out, the middle of the Yankees order leans hard on Ben Rice to carry the power. Washington's answer is a lineup that doesn't need a superstar to hurt you — Luis Garcia and the All-Star duo of Abrams and Wood have made this offense a legitimate problem even without a marquee name at the top. Neither team is walking into Nationals Park at full strength, but the Nats have the healthier, hotter group of position players right now.