It’s the Houston Astros versus the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 8, 2026. Here’s how to watch live on TV.
- Time: 6:45 PM ET
- Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
- TV Channels: Space City Home Network, MLB Washington Nationals
- League Package: MLB Extra Innings®
How to Watch Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals on July 8, 2026
You can watch the Washington Nationals take on the Houston Astros live on DIRECTV on Space City Home Network and MLB Washington Nationals on July 8, 2026 at 6:45 PM ET.
Houston Astros (46-48) at Washington Nationals (47-46) — Game Preview
The Houston Astros bring a 46-48 record into Nationals Park to face the Washington Nationals, who sit at 47-46, on July 8, 2026. Washington is hitting .250 as a team while Houston sits at .242, a gap that shows up most clearly at the top of the Nationals’ lineup. Luis Garcia Jr. has driven Washington’s attack all year, batting .285 with 19 home runs, 65 RBIs and a .559 slugging percentage from first base.
Houston counters with Yordan Alvarez, who is hitting .313 with 29 home runs, 67 RBIs, a .420 on-base percentage and a .621 slugging percentage from the middle of the Astros’ order. James Wood has provided more power behind Garcia in the Nationals’ lineup, adding 25 home runs and 61 RBIs, while Isaac Paredes has given the Astros a steady complement to Alvarez with a .250 average, 12 home runs and 47 RBIs at third base. Houston sits 2 games behind the AL West lead while the Nationals trail the NL East by 6.5 games, both clubs squarely in the middle of their division races.
Regional Coverage
Space City Home Network, MLB Washington Nationals
League Packages
What Time is the Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals Game Today?
The Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals game starts at 6:45 PM ET.
Where Can I Watch Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals?
You can watch Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals on your local regional sports network, Space City Home Network, MLB Washington Nationals and MLB Extra Innings®.
Houston Astros Channel on DIRECTV
You can find Houston Astros games on Space City Home Network (Channel 674).
Washington Nationals Channel on DIRECTV
You can find Washington Nationals games on MLB Washington Nationals (Channel 641).
Players to Watch: Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals
Houston Astros
Yordan Alvarez — DH. Yordan Alvarez gives the Astros a genuine centerpiece in the middle of their order, batting .313 with 29 home runs, 67 RBIs, a .420 on-base percentage and a .621 slugging percentage from the DH spot. That .621 slugging mark sits well ahead of Isaac Paredes’ .415 figure further down the lineup, a reminder of just how much of Houston’s power runs through one bat.
Isaac Paredes — 3B. Houston’s third baseman has settled in as a steady complement to Alvarez, hitting .250 with 12 home runs, 47 RBIs and a .344 on-base percentage this season. His .344 on-base mark sits nearly 100 points ahead of his .250 batting average, a sign he’s drawing walks even when the hits aren’t falling.
Jose Altuve — 2B. A .310 on-base percentage keeps Jose Altuve valuable near the top of Houston’s lineup even in a down year at the plate, with the longtime second baseman hitting .234 with 10 home runs, 26 RBIs and a .401 slugging percentage. He adds 13 doubles and two stolen bases to that line, still finding ways to impact games in his long-running role atop the Astros’ order.
Washington Nationals
Luis Garcia Jr. — 1B. Luis Garcia Jr. has emerged as the anchor of Washington’s lineup, hitting .285 with 19 home runs, 65 RBIs and a .559 slugging percentage from first base. That kind of production has made him a middle-of-the-order fixture the Nationals lean on every night.
James Wood — RF. Washington’s right fielder supplies more thump behind Garcia, with James Wood hitting .270 and driving in 61 runs to go with 25 home runs this season. He gives Washington’s lineup a second legitimate power threat behind Garcia in the middle of the order.
CJ Abrams — SS. CJ Abrams brings a different dimension to Washington’s attack, hitting .276 with 19 home runs, 65 RBIs, a .354 on-base percentage and 15 stolen bases from shortstop. His blend of speed and power at the top of the order, headlined by a .509 slugging percentage to go with his stolen-base total, gives the Nationals a genuinely different look than the corner power bats around him.
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