Red Sox vs Nationals Tonight: Start Time, TV Channel & Key Players to Watch in Must-See Interleague Clash

The Boston Red Sox opened their Independence Day weekend set in Washington with an emphatic 11-2 win over the Nationals on July 4, powered by Trevor Story’s four-hit, four-RBI afternoon and seven strong innings from right-hander Garrett Whitlock. Boston’s offense erupted early, tagging Nationals starter Jake Irvin for six runs in the first three frames. Story launched his 12th homer of the season into the left-field bullpen, while Masataka Yoshida and Triston Casas each doubled home a run to give Whitlock an instant cushion. The right-hander responded by scattering five hits, striking out six and walking none, lowering his ERA to 2.94. Washington briefly threatened in the fifth when Keibert Ruiz bounced a two-run single through the right side, but relievers Chris Martin and Brennan Bernardino combined for two scoreless frames to slam the door. Boston tacked on insurance in the eighth behind a Rafael Devers RBI single and a two-run blast from rookie Ceddanne Rafaela, his first since being recalled from Triple-A Worcester last week. Key takeaways for Red Sox fans • Lineup length: Eight of nine starters reached base, and Boston went 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position. • Story’s surge: Since returning from the IL on June 18, the shortstop is slashing .372/.426/.744 with five homers. • Whitlock’s rhythm: The 28-year-old has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five straight starts, stabilizing a rotation still missing injured ace Brayan Bello. What it means for the standings The victory pushes Boston to 48-38, two games behind the Yankees for the final AL Wild Card berth. Washington falls to 40-46 but remains only 4½ back of the third NL Wild Card spot, a reminder of how crowded the National League picture has become. How to watch the rest of the series • Saturday, July 5 – 4:05 p.m. ET (NESN, MASN2) • Sunday, July 6 – 1:35 p.m. ET (ESPN+, NESN, MASN2) Match-ups to monitor • Saturday: Kutter Crawford (5-5, 3.56 ERA) vs. southpaw MacKenzie Gore (6-6, 3.91 ERA). • Sunday: Josh Winckowski (2-2, 4.22 ERA) opposes Nationals rookie Cade Cavalli, making his 2025 debut after Tommy John surgery. Why this series matters Beyond the standings implications, Boston’s visit is its first to Nationals Park since 2021, offering a glimpse of one of the National League’s most intriguing young cores—James Wood, CJ Abrams and Brady House—against a Red Sox club suddenly surging on both sides of the ball. With the All-Star break looming, momentum gained this weekend could set the tone for both franchises in the second half. Search trends also show that “Red Sox vs Nationals live stream,” “Red Sox Nationals highlights,” and “Whitlock vs Nationals” have spiked in the last 24 hours, signaling heightened fan interest around the matchup. Whether you’re tracking Story’s hot streak or eager to see if Washington’s youngsters can answer back, this interleague clash is quickly becoming one of July’s must-watch series.