Padres vs Nationals Won't Start on Time Saturday

Fans make their ways into the stadium as a rain delay is announced before the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, May 2, 2025. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals game won't start on time due to inclement weather in the Nation's Capital, per the San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee.

San Diego won the first game of the three-game set against the Nats on Friday, 7-2. The second of the series, originally scheduled for 3:45 pm PST, will be delayed.

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Tonight’s Padres-Nationals game will not begin on time due to inclement weather in the area.

— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) July 19, 2025

San Diego will likely want to get the game going as the Nationals are in the midst of a five-game losing skid. The 38-59 Nationals have also lost nine out of their last 10 games.

Especially coming off the heels of a five-run ninth inning on Friday, including a Manny Machado grad slam, the Friars are looking to replicate their offensive surge.

The Padres were originally slated to have veteran right-hander Yu Darvish on the bump in D.C. Darvish didn't make his season debut until the first week of July due to elbow complications that were nagging at him since spring training, and has allowed six earned runs in 8.1 innings so far.

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We are currently monitoring an inclement weather system in the area. For the safety of our guests, players and staff, the start of today’s game has been delayed. We will provide an update as more information becomes available.

Please visit https://t.co/45FRPAgnlR for more…

— Nationals Park (@NationalsPark) July 19, 2025

San Diego is currently up 3-1 in the four games against the Nationals this season, and winning the last three contests consecutively with a 12-5 run differential.

Offense has been an issue for the Padres as of late, but perhaps Friday's ninth inning can be an indicator that things are turning around. San Diego has the fifth-lowest amount of runs and slugging percentage in baseball, but if any team is due for a second half run, it's the Padres.

Specifically, Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. both had electric starts to 2025, but have since cooled off. Merrill has fought his share of nagging injuries, and Tatis has had an uncharacteristically low production since May, but the hope is that the two stars peak at the right time and bring their power into October.

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For more Padres news, head over to Padres on SI.