The New York Yankees head to Nationals Park on Sunday, July 12 for a 1:35 PM ET afternoon matchup against the Washington Nationals. Will Warren gets the ball for New York opposite Washington's Cade Cavalli. It's a mid-July contest with real regular-season stakes — every game at this point of the schedule matters in the AL East race, and the Yankees need consistent starting pitching to keep pace. Coverage is available on YES Network and WFAN 660/101.9 FM for Yankees fans.
Yankees at Nationals: Starting Pitching Breakdown
Will Warren draws the Sunday start for the Yankees. The right-hander has been working to establish himself as a reliable piece of New York's rotation, and starts like this one — on the road, against a National League opponent — are exactly the kind of opportunities that define a pitcher's season. Warren will need to control the zone and keep Washington's lineup off balance from the jump.
On the other side, Cade Cavalli takes the mound for the Nationals. The young Washington righty has shown flashes of the stuff that made him a highly regarded prospect, and pitching at home in front of a Nationals Park crowd gives him a comfortable setting. The Yankees will need to be patient and work counts if Cavalli is sharp early.
Keys to Watch for the Yankees
- Warren's command: Road starts can expose a pitcher's weaknesses quickly. If Warren can get ahead in counts and avoid big innings, the Yankees have a real shot to win this one on the strength of their offense.
- Capitalizing early: Cavalli can be hittable when hitters stay disciplined. The Yankees' lineup needs to make him work and find ways on base in the early innings before the Washington bullpen gets involved.
- Bullpen management: With Warren's workload and pitch count always a consideration, Aaron Boone will need to have his relievers ready. A clean five or six innings from Warren sets the table for a comfortable win.
- Road focus: The Yankees are away from the Bronx, which means no home crowd energy to feed off. Staying sharp and professional on the road is a hallmark of teams that win divisions.
Yankees vs. Nationals: What to Expect
Washington is a club that can surprise you at home, and Nationals Park is no pushover environment. The Nationals have young talent on the roster and the motivation of playing for their fanbase on a Sunday afternoon. The Yankees cannot take this game lightly.
That said, New York has the lineup to put runs on the board against any pitching staff in baseball. If Warren gives the Yankees a quality start, the offense should be capable of handling the rest.
Prediction
This is a winnable game for the Yankees, but it requires Warren to be on. Expect a competitive, mid-summer afternoon ballgame. The Yankees have enough firepower to take this one on the road — call it a 5-3 New York win, with Warren going five-plus solid innings and the bullpen closing it out. Catch it on YES at 1:35 PM ET.
