The Nationals accomplished something never before done in franchise history: they won an elimination game. Washington has made trips to the MLB postseason in the past, but always as a division winner. They never once advanced past the NLDS.
In order to check off the next box, Washington has unenviable task of trying to stop the Dodgers, a team that finished 2019 with a 106-56 record, the best in the NL and second only to the Astros in the majors.
The Nationals also head into the series starting No. 3 pitcher Patrick Corbin after using both Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg in the NL wild-card win against the Brewers.
MORE: Watch Dodgers vs. Nationals live on fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Can the Nats do it? Sure. The talent is certainly there. They have an MVP contender in Anthony Rendon, who notched a .319/.412/.598 slash line with 34 home runs. They have one of the brightest up-and-coming stars in Juan Soto and other young stars like Trea Turner and Victor Robles, who have the team poised for years of continued success. And of course, that rotation of Scherzer, Strasburg and Corbin is as dangerous a 1-2-3 punch as any in the NL.
The problem is that the Dodgers have been here before and have found no problem winning in the past. There's no proverbial monkey to get off the back for them until they get to the World Series. They're back-to-back NL champions, and that same core that has done it in the past has looked even better this year.
Cody Bellinger might be the NL MVP front-runner with his 1.035 OPS, 47 home runs and 15 stolen bases. Max Muncy and Justin Turner have again been reliable sources of power in the lineup. And a rotation that looked like one of the best last year only got better with Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw still dominating, and Hyun-Jin Ryu adding to the mix with an NL-leading 2.32 ERA. All three will be starting for the Dodgers in the matchup.
Here is everything you need to know to watch the NLDS between the Dodgers and Nationals, including TV channels and first-pitch times for every game.
What channel is Dodgers vs. Nationals on today?
- TV channel: TBS
- Live stream: fuboTV
All of the National League Division Series games will be shown live on TBS, with live streaming available through fuboTV, which offers a seven-day free trial.
On the TBS call throughout the Dodgers-Nationals series are Ernie Johnson (play-by-play), Jeff Francoeur (analyst) and Alex Chappell (reporter).
What time does NLDS Game 5 start?
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 9
- First pitch: 8:37 p.m. ET
Game 5 of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Nationals will start at 6:40 p.m. ET and will be shown on TBS.
Walker Buehler and Stephen Strasburg are the scheduled starting pitchers.
MORE: Here's why Walker Buehler is getting the ball for Game 5
Dodgers vs. Nationals schedule, scores
| Game | Home | Away | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodgers 6 | Nationals 0 | LAD lead 1-0 | |
| 2 | Dodgers 2 | Nationals 4 | Series tied 1-1 | |
| 3 | Nationals 4 | Dodgers 10 | LAD lead 2-1 | |
| 4 | Nationals 6 | Dodgers 1 | Series tied 2-2 | |
| 5 | Dodgers | Nationals | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 8:37 p.m. ET |
