Wood vs Rodriguez Pitching Showdown | Washington Nationals News

**Corey** (0:00)
It's September 13th, I'm Corey with the story. This is Washington Nationals News Today, driven by AI and built for fans. All right, let's talk baseball.
On September 13th, 2026, the Washington Nationals are hosting the Los Angeles Angels. First pitch is set for 1:35 PM Eastern. The Angels are coming in as slight favorites, but the odds are pretty tight on this one. Now, the real buzz around this game is the pitching matchup. The Nationals' Jake Irvin is facing the Angels Grayson Rodriguez. Rodriguez has had a rough season with a high earned run average and a tendency to give up a lot of hits. He's been struggling with his control, which means he's often forced to throw pitches right in the strike zone. This is where National slugger James Wood comes into play.
Wood is having a breakout year, showing off some serious power. He's a lefty and he's got a real advantage against a right-handed pitcher like Rodriguez, who has trouble with lefties and tends to throw a lot of fastballs.
Given Rodriguez's struggles, especially with giving up home runs, the smart money is on James Wood to have a big day at the plate. We're looking at him to get at least two total bases and potentially even a home run or two. So keep an eye on James Wood when the Nationals and Angels face off. It's shaping up to be an interesting matchup, especially for anyone looking to bet on player props.