MATCHUP DETAILS EMERGE AS BROADCAST LANDSCAPE SHIFTS
The Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates are set to clash today, April 13, 2026, at 6:40 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and Nationals.TV, with streaming options including MLB.TV on Fubo. This contest arrives as the Nationals, with a three-game winning streak and a respectable 6-3 away record, face the Pirates, who hold a 9-6 season record and are currently #1 in their division.
The broadcast rights and available viewing platforms for this particular game appear somewhat fragmented, with official Nationals broadcasts potentially subject to "national exclusivities" and regional blackout restrictions applying to MLB.TV.
KEY PLAYER STATS AND TEAM PERFORMANCE
The Pirates' Oneil Cruz stands out with a .339 batting average, five home runs, and 13 RBIs through 74 plate appearances, ranking him 4th in MLB for homers. On the Nationals' side, C.J. Abrams has driven in 16 RBIs, placing him 3rd in MLB, and has hit four home runs. James Wood leads the Nationals in home runs with five, and Daylen Lile tops the team with 18 hits.
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The Pirates, as a team, average 1.1 home runs per game, ranking eighth in baseball.
Paul Skenes is slated to start for the Pirates, marking his fourth start of the season.
Cade Cavalli is listed as the Nationals' starter.
INJURY REPORT AND ODDS
Both teams are contending with notable injuries. The Pirates have Jared Jones on the 60-day injured list due to elbow surgery. For the Nationals, DJ Herz, Josiah Gray, Trevor Williams, and Ken Waldichuk are all on the 60-day IL with elbow issues.
The Pirates are favored at -225 on the moneyline, with the Nationals as underdogs at +185.
TEAM STANDINGS AND RECENT FORM
The Pittsburgh Pirates enter the game with a 9-6 record and are positioned at #1 in their division. Their recent performance includes a one-game losing streak. Conversely, the Washington Nationals stand at 7-8 overall, occupying the #4 spot in their division, but are on a three-game winning streak, bolstered by their strong 6-3 away record.
BROADCAST RIGHTS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
Fans looking to catch the game can find it on SportsNet Pittsburgh and Nationals.TV. Streaming is available via MLB.TV, which can be accessed through services like Fubo. For Nationals fans within the team's home television territory, a Nationals.TV subscription is necessary for local streaming. Various cable and streaming bundles, such as YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, offer access to national sports channels, though specifics regarding this particular game's carriage on those platforms are not detailed here.
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HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND SCHEDULE
This game is part of a series between the two teams, with subsequent matchups scheduled for April 14, 15, and 16. The Nationals are coming off a weekend sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates have had a relatively successful start to their season, indicated by their win-loss record and divisional standing.