Nationals vs. Dodgers

A sports wiki article covering the history of matchups between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers, key moments, and recent trends.

Nationals vs. Dodgers

Overview

The Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers are two teams in the National League of Major League Baseball (MLB). Geographically located on the East and West coasts, they do not compete in the same division, but they face each other every year in the regular season, and their postseason meetings in particular have created an important rivalry. This article summarizes the historical relationship between the two teams, key head-to-head moments, and recent trends.

Main Content

Historical Background

The Nationals were founded as the Montreal Expos in 1969 and played in Canada before relocating to Washington, D.C. in 2005. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are a traditional powerhouse founded in Brooklyn in 1884 and relocated to Los Angeles in 1958. The two teams first faced off after the Expos were founded in 1969, and since the Nationals moved to Washington in 2005, they have met more frequently under the name "Nationals vs. Dodgers."

Key Head-to-Head Moments

The most dramatic moment between the two teams came in the 2019 National League Division Series (NLDS). At the time, the Dodgers were the National League West champions and a strong World Series favorite, while the Nationals had entered as a wild card. The series went to a decisive Game 5, with the Nationals defeating the Dodgers 3 games to 2 and advancing to the Championship Series, eventually winning the World Series. In Game 1, the Dodgers won 4–2, but the Nationals struck back 4–2 in Game 2 to even the series. After Games 3 and 4 were split between the Dodgers and Nationals, Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg pitched well in Game 5, and the bottom of the lineup produced key runs in a dramatic victory.

In addition, the two teams also met in the National League Division Series in 2016 and 2017, with the Dodgers defeating the Nationals 3–2 and 3–1, respectively, to advance to the Championship Series. In particular, Game 5 of the 2016 NLDS is remembered as a great game in which Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw came on as a closer and recorded a save.

Characteristics of the Rivalry

Because the two teams are not in the same division, they normally meet only about six or seven times per season in the regular season. However, their frequent postseason matchups have intensified the rivalry. From the late 2010s to the early 2020s, both teams established themselves as powerhouses of the National League and often clashed. The Dodgers became a representative team of the league through consistent playoff appearances, while the Nationals showed themselves to be a strong team by making the playoffs six straight years from 2014 to 2019, including a championship in 2019.

Key Players and Records

Players representing both teams have had many strong performances in the matchups. Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw posted a career record of 13 wins and 5 losses with a 2.68 ERA against the Nationals. The Nationals' Max Scherzer, including his time with the Dodgers, recorded 12 wins and 7 losses overall, and in 2019, as a member of the Nationals, he appeared in two postseason games against the Dodgers and earned one win. Among hitters, Dodgers' Justin Turner maintained a high batting average against the Nationals, while Nationals' Bryce Harper and Juan Soto also frequently hit home runs against the Dodgers. In 2024, Shohei Ohtani joined the Dodgers, drawing even more attention to the matchups between the two teams.

Season Series Results

Looking at all-time regular season records, the Dodgers hold a slight advantage. Since 2005, the Dodgers have posted a winning percentage of about 55% against the Nationals, and they have been especially strong at home. However, the Nationals also have memories of winning at decisive moments such as 2019, so fans always find games between the two teams tense. In the 2023 season, the Dodgers held a 4–2 advantage, and in the 2024 season as well, the Dodgers were dominant, posting a 5–1 record.

Recent Trends

As of the 2024 season, the Dodgers won the National League West and advanced to the postseason, while the Nationals finished fourth in the National League East and failed to reach the postseason. The teams' first meetings in 2024 were a complete victory for the Dodgers. In particular, the Dodgers swept a three-game road series in June 2024, continuing their strength against the Nationals. During that series, Shohei Ohtani hit three home runs against the Nationals to lead the Dodgers to victory. The Nationals, meanwhile, are rebuilding around young players in preparation for the 2025 season.

In 2025, the two teams are scheduled to play three-game series at home and on the road in May and August, respectively. The Dodgers are still considered World Series contenders, while the Nationals' key question is whether their emerging players can develop. It will be interesting to see how Nationals prospects such as James Wood and Dylan Crews show their growth against the Dodgers' strong pitching staff.