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[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Milwaukee Brewers Game Thread

The pitching has not been there for the Nats in the first two games of this series. Now they turn to their hottest pitcher, Brad Lord as the Nationals look to avoid the sweep. On the other side, the Nats have caught a break as rookie phenom Jacob Misiorowski will miss his scheduled start due to injury.

There are some tweaks to the lineup today. Nathaniel Lowe will get a rare off day, as Josh Bell will take his spot at first base. That slides James Wood to the DH spot. The outfield will be Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and Robert Hassell III. Jose Tena will get his first start since coming back from AAA. Drew Millas will be behind the plate catching the red hot Brad Lord.

one hundred eleven. pic.twitter.com/3REdwqo7zC

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 3, 2025

While the man they call the Miz won’t start on the mound, his replacement, Logan Henderson is no slouch. Despite being very good in the big leagues, he is an up and down arm due to the Brewers embarrassment of riches. While the Brewers lineup is light on established names outside of Christian Yelich, we have seen how dangerous their bats can be.

Logan's back in the Bigs

: @FanDuelSN_WI
: @620wtmj#ThisIsMyCrew x @nicoletlaw pic.twitter.com/UQxsaDV645

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 3, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 1:35 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

The Brewers have had the Nats number this year and today is their last chance to get a win over the Brew Crew. It is impressive how the Brewers can win so many games without having the kind of name brands other contenders have. Follow the game down below in the comments and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/202...on-nationals-vs-milwaukee-brewers-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Welcome to the new Federal Baseball: A fresh look, fewer ads and a new feature

Things will look a little different around here today.

A few weeks ago we told you something new was coming to Federal Baseball and today it’s here. Things are cleaner, faster and easier to use. There are the same writers, coverage, comments, and community you’ve come to rely on, now with less clutter and clunkiness.

Let’s dive in. If you scroll down the page on your phone or computer, it’s smoother. You’ll notice that the most talked-about stories have a bigger font displaying the number of comments. You’ll also see a section called Active Conversations to point you to the busiest conversations right now.

But there’s two changes we’re most excited to tell you about:

Fewer ads for logged-in users​

Our loyal readers and commenters are the heartbeat of our communities, and with this new design we’re excited to offer them fewer ads when they’re logged in. Specifically:

• Video players will no longer chase you down the page. Just scroll past one and it will be gone.
• Full page pop-ups that would sometimes interrupt your commenting experience have been disabled.

You can log in or sign up here and check it out.

A new feature by the community, for the community: The Feed​

Today we’re launching a brand new space for you to come together. The Feed is a running stream of posts and updates from you, the community, mixed in with links and updates from the team and our staff. Think of it as our community’s group text where you can easily grab your phone and share a link to a story, post a question or write your own post on the day’s news.

You can find it in two places:

• On the homepage, adjacent to the top stories. Community participation is core to who we are, so we want it right on the front page to share your stuff.
• A devoted homepage for The Feed where you can see the full stream of posts coming in from the community. You might want to bookmark that.

Log in or sign up here and you can start posting on The Feed and seeing fewer ads immediately.



Today’s launch is a big deal for our community, and it’s also a kickoff of broader efforts to build around the community we have here. Soon you’ll get alerts when someone replies to your comment or your post on The Feed, with more to come thereafter. We want to put the community in the driver’s seat, so let us know what you want in the comments below or in The Feed.

If you want to dig into more of this updated experience, head over to this post on sbnation.com from SB Nation’s Head of Product Ed Clinton, where he expands on the changes in our ads and design. Ed will be responding to questions in the comments. If you have any questions about how to log in to our new system, check out this article from last week.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ball-a-fresh-look-fewer-ads-and-a-new-feature

 

[Washington Nationals]

How Washington Nationals’ Brad Lord Is Mastering Getting Outs Without Overwhelming Strikeout Stuff

Brad Lord has been one of the few pleasant surprises for the Washington Nationals in 2025. An 18th round pick from South Florida in the 2022 MLB Draft, Lord put his name on the map by simply just performing at every level he was at, jumping from High A to Triple A with a 2.43 ERA in 129 2⁄3 innings pitched. He was considered a long shot to make the big league club out of spring training in 2025, but once again, just performed so well that he forced the clubs hand, earning a spot in the Nats bullpen.

Lord was considered by many mainly a feel good story, a Home Depot employee in the winter who earned a backend of the bullpen spot in the bigs, but has proven he not only belongs, but that he is a difference maker. Whatever the Nationals have asked of Lord in 2025, he’s done, and done admirably, whether that be relief work, spot starts, or a full time rotation gig like he has now. In 74 1⁄3 innings pitched this season, he has a 3.27 ERA and 1.2 fWAR, with solid underlying numbers to back it up as well.

So how does Lord, a righty without overpowering stuff and strikeout numbers, operate so effectively? He does so by doing the 3 most important things for non-strikeout pitchers; he avoids barrels, he doesn’t walk a lot of hitters, and he keeps the ball on the ground. Lord’s 4.6% barrel rate is in the 96th percentile for all pitchers in baseball. His 83rd percentile average exit velocity means he is one of the very best at avoiding damage, forcing hitters to beat him by drawing walks or battling until they get a mistake pitch.

As for the walks, Lord is no Greg Maddux, but he certainly isn’t allowing everyone on base, with his 7.9% walk rate ranking in the 54th percentile. It will be interesting to watch how this number changes as he spends more time as a starter, where he needs to rely on 3-4 pitches rather than 1-2 out of the pen, but so far in his 2 starts back in the rotation, he’s allowed just 1 walk in 9 1⁄3 innings pitched.

When Lord does get hit hard, he excels at keeping it on the ground, as his 49.8% ground ball rate ranks in the 82nd percentile. His does this with his sinker, which gets an impressive average of 26 inches of vertical drop, and by keeping it down in the zone at all times, causing hitters to get on top of it and drive it into the ground.

While Lord’s sinker is an effective ground ball pitch, and his slider is his best swing and miss pitch, it’s his fastball that is his bread and butter. While its velocity is solid, sitting around 95 MPH, it’s the break it features that makes it such an impressive pitch. Out of every MLB pitcher in 2025 to face at least 300 batters, no one gets more arm side run on their fastball than Brad Lord, averaging 15.4 inches of horizontal break, over 5 inches more than the average for righties with similar arm slots.

One heater in particular from Lord’s first big league start, pictured below, caught my attention, a called strike 96.5 MPH fastball to Mookie Betts that rose over 12 inches and ran inside over 20 inches. There are very few fastballs in baseball that can move like Lord’s does, and it’s why he’s been able to get outs for the Nats all year.

This fastball from Brad Lord had over a foot of “rise” and 20 inches of arm side run, and it’s why he’s been one of the most effective pitchers for the Nationals in 2025 (article coming soon) pic.twitter.com/oTQFJS2e5l

— Paul Cubbage (@PaulCubbage23) August 2, 2025

So what’s next for Lord in his development into a big league starting pitcher? I believe the next step for him should be the development of a third plus pitch, one specifically designed to better get left handed hitters out. Currently, he’s effective against both sides, but better against righties, with righties having a .602 OPS against him and lefties a .695 OPS. This could mean the refinement of his changeup, which he throws just 11.2% of the time currently, but I’d love to see him add a cutter to his arsenal that flashes similar speed but completely different break than his heater currently does. The more solid pitches Lord can add to his arsenal, the more difficult it becomes to time him up and hit him.

Lord is still transitioning back to being a full time starter for the Nats, and I will be interested to see how his stuff plays as he is forced to use more of his arsenal, but so far, I’ve been very impressed from what I’ve seen out of him, and think there’s room for even more growth.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/202...astering-getting-outs-without-strikeout-stuff

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Athletics Game Thread

After yet another blowout loss, the Washington Nationals need to get back on the horse and respond. It is time for this group to fight back and play with some pride. They need to start playing like their jobs are on the line because they are.

On the mound, the Nats are welcoming back a familiar face. Cade Cavalli made his first big league start in 2022. Now after plenty of bumps in the road, he is back in the big leagues to make his second start. Behind him, there will be some changes. Paul DeJong will get the call at second base. Robert Hassell III will replace Daylen Lile in right. Last, but not least, Riley Adams will be catching Cavalli.

one hundred thirteen. pic.twitter.com/QmNlggtnS3

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 6, 2025

After putting up 16 last night, the A’s are not changing much, because why would they. It is the same guys as last night, with only some slight modifications to the order. This group is one of the better young lineups in all of baseball. However, we will see a veteran on the mound in lefty Jeffrey Springs.

Day 2 in D.C. pic.twitter.com/FI5cUhcS1M

— Athletics (@Athletics) August 6, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 6:45 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

The Nationals need to shake off these brutal losses and keep on pushing. They still have a ways to go before this miserable season is over. It is time to show some fight and give something positive to the suffering fanbase. Follow along in the comments below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...washington-nationals-vs-athletics-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Drew Millas and Riley Adams Are Outperforming Keibert Ruiz In His Absence

The Nationals’ catching room was the worst in baseball for the first 3 months of the season, and there was no debating it. From the beginning of the season to July 5th (Keibert Ruiz’s last game before being placed back on the IL with a concussion), they ranked 2nd to last in wRC+ in baseball with 54, ahead of only the Giants, and 2nd to last in baseball in defensive WAR with -6.1, ahead of only the Astros. Unlike the Giants and Astros, who were receiving positive impact on one side of the ball but not the other from their catchers, the Nationals were receiving neither, leading to them having a worst in baseball -1.7 fWAR from their catchers, on pace for the worst in baseball history.

While some of the blame for the catching woes could be assigned to then backup catcher Riley Adams, who posted a 21 wRC+ and -0.7 fWAR through 28 games, the majority of the blame could be placed on the starter Keibert Ruiz, who in 68 games had a 65 wRC+ and -1.0 fWAR, abysmal numbers for a starting catcher, especially one of a long term deal. There was some hope for 2025 to be a breakout year for Ruiz after he posted a 113 wRC+ in April, but hope faded after he put up a 54 wRC+ in May and a horrendous -7 wRC+ in June, all while being one of the worst defenders in all of baseball.

While it was unfortunate to see Ruiz’s 2025 season possibly ended by a concussion in July, as head injuries are never something to take lightly, the silver lining was an opportunity to see what the Nats had in their backup catchers, Riley Adams and Drew Millas. And as it turns out, they may have something. Just take a look at the comparison of the numbers from when Ruiz was the starter, to now with Riley Adams and Drew Millas splitting time behind the dish.

Nationals Catchers Numbers from Opening Day to July 5th (89 Games)

wRC+: 54 (29th)

OBP: .251 (30th)

SLG: .309 (27th)

BsR (Base running runs above average): -2.6 (23rd)

Defensive WAR: -6.1 (29th)

Nationals Catchers Numbers from July 6th to August 6th (27 Games)

wRC+: 130 (4th)

OBP: .341 (3rd)

SLG: .482 (4th)

BsR: 0.5 (1st)

Defensive WAR: 0.0 (23rd)

The sample is smaller, but the results are undeniably better. After spending half the year getting some of the worst hitting, fielding, and baserunning out of the catcher position, the Nationals catching tandem of Adams and Millas has combined to become average to great in all 3 categories. Riley Adams has especially benefited from the additional playing time, as after being one of the worst backup catchers in baseball and possibly on DFA watch for the first 3 months, he’s put up a 113 wRC+ and raised his BB/K ratio from 0.05 as a backup to 0.28 as a starter.

Drew Millas, whom I’ve clamored for to get the majority of the reps for a while now due to his defense and baserunning being miles ahead of Ruiz and Adams, is also showing out in his opportunity to showcase what he’s got at the big league level. In 11 games, Millas has posted a 148 wRC+, 0.50 BB/K ratio, and 0.5 fWAR, all while being an above-average framer behind the dish and showing one of the best pop-times of all catchers in baseball. Iron sharpens iron, and in a battle to prove who deserves to be the Nationals’ full-time backup moving forward, Adams and Millas have actually both proven themselves more than Ruiz has in the past 3 years.

So what happens when Ruiz does come back? If it were Mike Rizzo and Davey Martines still in charge, you could bet he’d be back to his regular job, catching 6 times a week and hitting in the back half of the Nationals lineup. But with them gone, there is little tying a new regime to Ruiz other than the fact that his contract ties him to the Nationals until at least 2030. If he does come back in 2025, he is going to have to prove that he can outhit his defensive woes, or else the Nats will likely look to make an upgrade at catcher over the winter.

Ruiz could end up being the team’s backup, or the team may feel that Riley Adams or Drew Millas has more to offer in a backup role and send him to Triple-A, where he needs to refine his plate approach and get back to slugging the ball the same way he did at the start of his career. While Ruiz is out of minor league options and would need to pass through waivers, there is almost no chance any team takes on him and his contract, and if they do, it is cause for celebration for Nationals fans.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...y-adams-outperforming-keibert-ruiz-in-absence

 

[Washington Nationals]

Nationals Prospects: Jarlin Susana is back and better than ever

With Travis Sykora out of action due to Tommy John Surgery, Jarlin Susana is now the best healthy pitching prospect in the organization. While Sykora has gotten more hype due to his otherworldly numbers, Susana’s ceiling is just as high.

Susana was the final piece of the legendary Juan Soto deal in 2022. At the time, he was just 18 years old and had not even made it to Low-A yet. However, he was a massive kid who could throw 100 mph at 18 which made him interesting.

It has been a slow burn, but Susana had been steadily marching his way up the ranks. His true breakout came last year when he tore through A ball with a devastating fastball-slider combination. After a rough first few starts, Susana had a 2.79 ERA in his last 18 starts. In those starts, he threw 77.1 innings while striking out 123 and walking just 29 batters.

102.4 MPH and Joey Gallo had no chance!
Jarlin Susana turned 20 just 3 days ago. pic.twitter.com/9FKwHxsz7e

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) March 27, 2024

This year has been a bit more stop and start. Susana was solid in his first month in Double-A, but his control was spotty and he was more hittable than expected. However, he was still getting a ton of ground balls and strike outs.

After a May 4th start, Susana hit the shelf for 2.5 months with an elbow strain. The injury sounded scary, but the Nats kept telling that he just needed to rest and that he would not need any surgery. There was some skepticism about that, but they were right on this one.

Susana came back in mid-July and has looked better than ever. His velocity is consistently in the triple digits, averaging over 100 in a lot of his starts. The slider also looks like a wipe out pitch to go with it.

Jarlin Susana made his return to the mound after missing a couple months with a Grade 1 UCL sprain. Threw just two innings (and dealt with rain), but fastball averaged north of 100 MPH in his 34 pitches.

Great to see from the 21-year-old. pic.twitter.com/pHGZnbibSG

— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) July 22, 2025

In his four starts since coming back, Susana has been slowly building up. He has gone from 2 innings, to 3 to 4 to 4.2 in his last start. Susana has only allowed four runs in those starts and has struck out 22 in 13.2 innings.

His last start was his first one back at the Double-A level and it was a very good start. Susana went 4.2 innings with six strikeouts, four hits and two walks. That fastball was getting up to 102 MPH and sitting around 100.

Susana HEAT

Four of Jarlin's six strikeouts (4.2 IP) on Thursday hit triple digits (101, 88, 102, 97, 100, 101). pic.twitter.com/turtebksAv

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) August 8, 2025

For Jarlin Susana it is all about finding that control. This year he is walking over five batters per nine innings. However, last year he made big strides, walking just over four per nine. Since coming off the IL, he has only walked four batters in those 13.2 innings.

With a 100 MPH fastball and a slider that some people think is even better than the fastball, Susana does not have to be pinpoint. All he needs to do is be around the zone and try to avoid throwing it right down the middle. When he is locked in, few guys can match his pure stuff and nobody in the Nats system can, not even a healthy Travis Sykora.

With his control woes and reliance on two pitches, there will be questions about whether Susana can start. However, at just 21 years old still, he has plenty of runway. If he does become a reliever, he can be a Jhoan Duran or Mason Miller type of an arm. Stuff like his does not grow on trees.

If Jarlin Susana is throwing strikes, he is one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball. The idea of him throwing strikes is also not a pure fantasy. We saw him throw a lot of strikes once he got going last year and he has been throwing plenty of strikes since he has come off the IL.

He has gone under the radar this year due to injuries and Sykora, but Jarlin Susana is not going to be under the radar for long. If he stays healthy and in the zone, we should be seeing Susana some time in 2026.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...spects-jarlin-susana-is-back-better-than-ever

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Washington Nationals should move on from Nathaniel Lowe

When the Washington Nationals acquired Nathaniel Lowe, hopes were high. He was not the flashiest name on the first base market, but he had been the peak of consistency in his 4 year run in Texas. However, he has fallen off a cliff in DC in a marriage that has worked for neither party.

Heading into the season, we thought we knew exactly what to expect from Lowe. That is because he has been one of the most consistent players in baseball since 2021. From 2021 to 2024, Lowe put up at least a 114 wRC+ every year and at least 2 wins above replacement. This year his WAR sits at -0.9 and his wRC+ is 84, with 100 being league average.

I am so done with Nathaniel Lowe in a Nationals uniform. Nice guy, but his decline from a very solid player in Texas to whatever this is now has been abysmal to watch.

Probably the easiest non-tender ever.

— Bennett Lehmann (@DCBerk) August 9, 2025

Lately, you can tell that Lowe is very discouraged and in his head. He is 0/19 in August so far and is 5/50 in his last 15 games. His OPS for the season is down to .657 and his batting average sits at a dismal .216. Lowe has struggled with high fastballs and off speed pitches that tunnel off of that all year.

Those rough at bats are also translating to his play in the field. Lowe made an error last night and his defense at first base has been very shaky in general of late. This is a surprise, as Lowe developed a reputation as one of the better defensive first baseman in all of baseball his last couple years in Texas. After being a subpar defender early in his career, Lowe worked to become a gold glover at first base.

This year he has still done a solid job at picking balls in the dirt, but his lack of athleticism really shows up when he has to move. There are a lot of balls he can’t get to that more athletic players could.

I do not think Lowe is as bad of a player he has shown to be this season. His long track record suggests that there should be a bounceback of some kind here. Lowe just turned 30 last month, so this decline does not seem like it is down to age.

However, that hopeful bounceback should not come on the Nationals. Lowe is making $10.3 million this year and given how the arbitration system works, he will make more next year if he is tendered a contract. At that price point, he is an easy non-tender. Even a free spending ownership group would not be willing to shell out $12 million on a player coming off the kind of season Lowe has.

With that in mind, it feels like the Nats should just pull the plug now. While it is hard for me to question a player’s effort from my spot, it does look like Lowe is really discouraged right now. I can’t really blame him either. If I were in his shoes, I would want this season to be over as quickly as possible. He is playing on probably the least competitive team in his career, he is playing the worst baseball of his career and he is costing himself money with every ugly at bat. Wouldn’t you want this season to end if you were him?

It seems like a DFA is best for all parties. Maybe Lowe can find a new home for the rest of the season and find some old magic. For the Nats, it is a chance to give some young guys a shot at the first base or DH position.

Nathaniel Lowe seems like a good guy and was a very good ballplayer in Texas. For whatever reason, his time in DC has not worked out for anyone. It is time to admit your mistake and move on from what has become a sunk cost.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/85226/the-washington-nationals-should-move-on-nathaniel-lowe

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs San Francisco Giants Game Thread

With the series tied heading into game three, Washington could come away with a series victory against a solid San Francisco Giants team. Rookie Brad Lord threw a stellar game yesterday and has given Washington a much-needed arm in the starting rotation. This is an important game for Washington’s ace MacKenzie Gore. Gore has struggled throughout the second half and could get back on track with a series victory and a great start.

James Wood struggled to start off the second half of the season but if he can continue to perform like last night, he should have no problems continuing to excel. Washington Nationals fans should enjoy this lineup because of all of the young talent. From top to bottom, some of these former prospects can be the future of the Washington Nationals. This will be a huge start for MacKenzie Gore. If continues to struggle, questions concerning his ability to perform for an entire season will be at an all-time high.

one hundred seventeen. pic.twitter.com/rHa6smreVO

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 10, 2025

This is a must-win series for the Giants. At this point in the season, every game matters, especially against teams like the Washington Nationals. Justin Verlander has been terrific in his last five starts and will look to continue his stellar play. San Francisco is hoping their stars, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers, can regain their star ability at the plate and lead this team to the playoffs.

Series-deciding Sunday

️: 1:05 p.m. PT
: @OracleParkSF
: @NBCSGiants
: @KNBR | KSFN#SFGiants | @CocaCola pic.twitter.com/rTRmhLDNVE

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 10, 2025

GAME INFO:

Stadium: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA

Time: 4:05 EDT

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan, DC 87.7

This is an essential series for San Francisco as they are fighting for a Wild Card spot. With many National League teams pulling away, the Giants are still finding their identity and their footing. Washington is out of the playoff picture, and they are struggling now more than they have at any point in the season. However, if Gore can get back on track and Wood continues performing like he did last night, Washington can feel better about their core heading into the off-season.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...-national-vs-san-francisco-giants-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals big three explodes in beautiful shutout win

The Nationals had a resounding 8-0 win over the San Francisco Giants to win the series. However, the biggest positive of the day was how the Nats star players performed. It has been a rough last month for MacKenzie Gore, James Wood, and to a lesser extent CJ Abrams. Today they played like their early season selves.

It was Gore who set the tone today. He was in desperate need of a great start and he delivered today. Since becoming an All-Star, Gore’s performances had been nothing short of horrific. We took a deep dive into some of his issues earlier today.

We talked a lot about how he has not been getting as many whiffs, especially on his curveball. He flipped the script on that today. Gore got a spectacular 21 swings and misses today. He was getting whiffs on all five of his offerings consistently today. The breaking balls had much more bite than they had in recent starts.

MacKenzie Gore, Filthy 84mph Curveball.

8th K pic.twitter.com/oLrhVude32

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 10, 2025

The other big thing we talked about was Gore’s lack of command. However, he was pin point today. He was not only throwing strikes, but also throwing quality strikes. Pretty much all of his pitches were competitive, which puts more stress on the hitters. Gore looked like the guy he was in the first half.

Another guy who has really gotten going the last few games is James Wood. The strikeouts are still a bit unsettling, and he had three today, but the extra base hits are coming back. Wood now has five extra base hits in his last three games since being moved to the leadoff spot.

Today, Wood had a pair of doubles which drove in four runs. He set the tone in the second inning with a two run double. After Daylen Lile and Riley Adams got hits with nobody out, it looked like they would be stranded after Brady House and Jacob Young could not come through. However, Wood saved the day, hitting a double off of future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander.

While CJ Abrams slump has not been as bad as Wood or Gore, he had also struggled since the All-Star break. However, he had a big day today. Abrams followed up Wood’s double with a towering two run home run to break the game open.

ohh look at me im cj abrams I crush baseballs pic.twitter.com/qsJvlQ4mC2

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 10, 2025

It was great to see the Nats star players perform. If they can play like they did the first three months, the last six weeks of the season will be much more watchable. It will also give Nats fans some real hope for the future if their stars can finish strong.

However, they were not the only guys to produce today. The Nats got a resounding 17 hits today. Besides Wood and Abrams, Josh Bell, Paul DeJong, Riley Adams and Daylen Lile all had multi-hit games.

Contenders should regret not bringing in Bell. While his season numbers are only ok, he has been a high end player since May. The bullpen was also excellent today, with three scoreless innings from Cole Henry, PJ Poulin and Clayton Beeter. What a pair of performances from the Nats and hopefully they can take this momentum to Kansas City.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...nals-big-three-explodes-beautiful-shutout-win

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Kansas City Royals Game Thread

The Nationals showed they are capable of playing good, clean baseball this weekend in San Francisco. They were firing on all cylinders those last two games out in the bay. Now they need to keep up that good work. The Nats will look to do that in this series with the Royals.

After missing the last few games with back tightness, Luis Garcia Jr. is in the lineup even with a lefty on the mound. With Paul DeJong swinging a hot bat, he will play third base, which moves Brady House to the bench. James Wood will remain in the leadoff spot, a move that has gotten him going. After a dominant first start of the season, Cade Cavalli will be back on the mound.

one hundred eighteen. pic.twitter.com/k4qPzH2DB9

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 11, 2025

The Royals have a pretty veteran heavy lineup. However, their three biggest threats are all younger guys in Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino. The ageless wonder Salvador Perez is also a big power guy for them. Kansas City made a lot of under the radar moves at the deadline and a lot of those guys are in the lineup today. Deadline addition Bailey Falter will be on the mound.

Opening up the 10-game homestand. pic.twitter.com/b2DEwoUI2t

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 11, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Kauffman Stadium

Time: 7:40 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

It was so refreshing to see the Nats play good, clean baseball. The stars playing well also made Nationals fans feel good. More of that this week please! Let us know your thoughts on all things Nationals baseball down below.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...n-nationals-vs-kansas-city-royals-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Nationals Prospects: MLB Pipeline updates their Washington Nationals rankings

Following the MLB Draft and Trade Deadline, there have been big shakeups in the prospect world. MLB Pipeline looked to keep up with all of this by re-ranking their prospects. They updated the top 100 list and the Nationals top 30 list.

There are some big changes in the Nats top 30. 10 of the 30 players were either acquired at the Trade Deadline or in the draft. There has been a massive infusion of talent in the Nats system.

Players the Nationals acquired either in the draft or at the deadline in Washington's new top 30 prospects:

1. Eli Willits
6. Landon Harmon
8. Ethan Petry
9. Coy James
14. Christian Franklin
16. Sean Paul Liñan
17. Miguel Sime Jr.
18. Ronny Cruz
19. Eriq Swan
29. Josh Randall https://t.co/oGxgDnSM4x

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) August 11, 2025

However, at the top of the system, a couple guys fell in the top 100 rankings, though not really because of performance. Travis Sykora fell from around 30 to 46 after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. Over the next year, he will probably fall even further, but that won’t be his fault. As new prospects emerge and breakout, Sykora will naturally slide down the rankings as he can’t perform.

Jarlin Susana also slipped a bit, but that was mostly to add new guys from the draft and to move some risers past him. Susana’s outlook is still the same but some other guys have passed him because Susana was hurt for a while. A strong finish could propel the big right hander back into the top 50. Brady House is off the list as he has graduated.

However, the Nats top prospect is a new guy, number one overall pick Eli Willits. He is ranked 18th overall, just behind Ethan Holliday. Despite being 5th on their draft board, Willits is the second highest ranked draft prospect on this top 100 list.

Number 1 overall pick Eli Willits is the youngest player on MLB's Top 100 Prospects list at 17 years old pic.twitter.com/0lEmFhMMni

— MLB (@MLB) August 11, 2025

Willits is so refined for his age and should move pretty quickly for his age. His goal has been to be in the big leagues by the time he is 20. With how he plays the game, that goal is within reach.

The Washington Nationals’ top draft pick, @EliWillits (No. 18), has broken into the top 20 in the latest @MLBPipeline prospect rankings. pic.twitter.com/ZAu4xUAz6Q

— TheNatsReport (@TheNatsReport) August 11, 2025

For the rest of the top 30, there are a few inclusions I am intrigued by. Despite Luke Dickerson’s struggles, Pipeline still believes in him, having him fourth in the Nats system. He is ahead of Alex Clemmey, which I just disagree with. While Clemmey has control issues, he has been an elite performer and just got promoted to AA.

Despite Clemmey being in the draft before Dickerson, he is also less than a month older. Given their similar ages and how much more Clemmey has accomplished, that ranking is odd to me.

From 6-9, there are three new draft guys in Landon Harmon, Ethan Petry and Coy James. Those guys could all be big risers if they perform next year. As could the 17th ranked Miguel Sime Jr.

The improved depth of the system is really showing with how many interesting guys are on the bottom half of the list. Sean Paul Linan, Miguel Sime, Yohandy Morales, Brayan Cortesia, Sam Petersen and Marconi German are all super interesting guys ranked after 15th. That is just more depth than what we are used to seeing.

German is one deep sleeper that intrigues me. He was signed out of the Dominican this year and has been destroying the DSL. German is years away, but he has some big five tool potential.

Overall, this is a very interesting list. There are a few things I would change, but overall it is a good list. Pipeline is a great resource to learn about prospects that is free and easy to use. Make sure to go check out their work.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ts-mlb-pipeline-washington-nationals-rankings

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Kansas City Royals Game Thread

The Nationals fought hard last night, but came up short after the Royals had a big 6th inning. These competitive losses still sting but feel a lot better than those blowouts we have become so used to. The Nats put up a fight last night, that is all you can ask for.

The Nats will add some more firepower to the bottom of the order tonight, replacing Jacob Young with Robert Hassell III in center field. Red hot Paul DeJong will stay at third over Brady House. I like the move from Miguel Cairo, which shows that playing time is earned not handed out. Mitchell Parker is on the mound looking to get on track.

one hundred nineteen. pic.twitter.com/ilen2p2zri

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 12, 2025

The Royals are also making a couple tweaks. Long time Red Jonathan India will be in the lineup at second base. Tyler Tolbert will patrol center field. The danger man for the Royals is Bobby Witt Jr., who is one of the great five tool players in our game. Veteran Michael Wacha will be on the mound for the Royals. His changeup is one of the best in the sport.

Michael takes the mound. pic.twitter.com/cvPrbc1gGn

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 12, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Kauffman Field

Time: 7:40 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

After a hard fought defeat last night, the Nats will try to push to make some improvements to get that curly W tonight. Mitchell Parker needs to keep the team in the game and not get lit up early. Feel free to comment on all things Nationals baseball down below.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...n-nationals-vs-kansas-city-royals-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Kansas City Royals Game Thread

While the Nationals have shown some fight, they have come up short in their first two games in Kansas City. They just have not quite had the pitching to get the job done. Now they look to avoid the sweep as they wrap up the road trip.

Miguel Cairo has made a couple changes to his lineup. After a couple days off, the struggling Brady House will be back in the lineup. Drew Millas will also get the start behind the dish today. Robert Hassell III will remain in center field over Jacob Young. Jake Irvin will get the ball for the final game of this series.

one hundred twenty. pic.twitter.com/1hOgAsurjW

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 13, 2025

With a righty on the mound, Mike Yastrzemski will be back in the leadoff spot. John Rave will also get a start in the outfield. Otherwise, it is a very familiar lineup for the Royals, who are fighting for their playoff lives. Their ace Seth Lugo will be on the mound.

Lugo, we go. pic.twitter.com/nj8ir6Ai6w

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 13, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Kauffman Stadium

Time: 2:10 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

While they have not gotten blown out, the Nats have been unable to get the job done in Kansas City so far. Now, they will try to avoid a sweep. It has been a solid road trip so far, but a sweep would be demoralizing. Comment your Nationals related thoughts down below.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...n-nationals-vs-kansas-city-royals-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Despite a strong MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals Farm System ranks low

Following the MLB Draft and the trade deadline, both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline updated their farm system rankings. Despite the Nationals having the number 1 pick and having a strong draft, their system is ranked in the bottom half of baseball. Baseball America ranks the Nationals farm as the 21st best, while MLB Pipeline ranks them 23rd.

Given the Washington Nationals struggles at the big league level, it is discouraging to see the farm this lowly ranked. For me, the biggest factors in this are graduations, the Travis Sykora injury and the disappointing performances from the 2024 Draft Class.

In their last four updates, MLB Pipeline ranked the Nationals farm system at 8th, 12th, 10th and 13th. However, since those updates guys like James Wood, Dylan Crews and Brady House all graduated. Those are three top 100 prospects who are now not prospects anymore.

However, the best farm systems are the ones that are able to replenish and find the next batch of talent. That is how teams like the Dodgers and Brewers are always at the top of these rankings. Under Mike Rizzo, the Nationals had a hard time restocking the prospect pool.

One of the big reasons why they rank this low is because the 2024 draft class has been a dud so far. Guys like Seaver King, Luke Dickerson and Caleb Lomavita have had slow starts to their pro careers. Lomavita has the highest OPS of the trio at a mediocre .702.

Baseball America mentioned that the Nationals really need one of their position player prospects to break out. The Nats were hoping that Seaver King or Luke Dickerson could do that this year, but they have not been able to. That is a big reason why the system is not ranked higher.

However, there are still positives to talk about. The 2025 draft class should breathe new life into this system in the coming years. Guys like Eli Willits, Ethan Petry, Landon Harmon, Miguel Sime Jr., and Coy James all have big upside. Petry has already made his pro debut and got a base hit.

Pro ball, meet Petry!

The @Nationals' second-round pick, Ethan Petry, earns his first professional hit! pic.twitter.com/ia3NMSccco

— Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) August 12, 2025

This is my favorite Nationals draft in a long time and they should help the system rise through the ranks. However, they have yet to prove themselves as professionals. They need to show that their talent translates. However, these five guys should give the Nationals system a jolt of life.

Another guy who is on the rise is Jarlin Susana. Since coming back from his elbow injury, Susana has been dominant. He has allowed only five runs in his five outings since coming back. Susana has also struck out 31 in 18.2 innings in that time. He is holding his triple digit velocity deep into his starts and looks like a special talent.

Jarlin Susana is up to 13.9 K/9 this season after his latest Double-A outing

5 IP | 1 H | 1 R | 2 BB | 9 K@Nationals | @Nats_PlayerDev | @HbgSenators pic.twitter.com/lXvMZFhZkz

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 14, 2025

Overall, the farm system is not where you would want it to be for a team that has been picking at the top of the draft for years. That inability to develop is a big reason why Mike Rizzo was fired. The 2024 draft class has also looked like a real disappointment so far, with Seaver King and Luke Dickerson really struggling.

However, it is not all doom and gloom on the farm. There is some really fun pitching talent and the 2025 draft looks great on paper. It is an exciting but imperfect farm system that should rise up the ranks with proper development. There are pieces for the next GM to develop. However, we need to see the player development improve for the Nats to become a sustainable winner.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ft-washington-nationals-farm-system-ranks-low

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies Game Thread

With the Phillies coming to town, the Nats are going to see plenty of old friends. Much of the Phillies core spent time in DC, from Bryce Harper, to Trea Turner, to their best player this season, Kyle Schwarber. We get reminded of how good we used to have it in DC.

However, Miguel Cairo cannot call upon those guys tonight. He also can’t call on DFA’d first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. Cairo can count on Dylan Crews though, who is hitting second and playing right field in his first game since May 20th. With a tough lefty on the mound, Cairo is giving CJ Abrams a day off. Josh Bell will be at first full time now. Paul DeJong will be at shortstop today and Jose Tena will be the second baseman. Riley Adams is back behind the plate and will be catching Brad Lord.

one hundred twenty one. pic.twitter.com/mYIyTYNOyx

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 14, 2025

Three former Nats will kick things off for the Phillies with Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper kicking things off. With Alec Bohm out, Edmundo Sosa will start at third base. We won’t be seeing trade deadline pickup Harrison Bader tonight. However, we will see offseason trade acquisition and former Nats draft pick Jesus Luzardo on the mound.

First of four down in DC#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/gxV8uotljQ

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 14, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 6:45 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

The Phillies have dominated the Nats in recent years and have the advantage here on paper. However, the games are played on the field. With Dylan Crews back in the fold, the Nats should have a jolt of energy heading into this series. Comment your Washington Nationals related thoughts down below!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ationals-vs-philadelphia-phillies-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

It is time for Rob Manfred and the MLB to bring back more divisional games

From June 16th to August 13th, the Washington Nationals did not play a single NL East opponent. That is nearly two months where the Nats were playing none of their rivals. While the MLB’s new balanced schedule has some features I like, it is strange to go that long without playing a divisional opponent.

Prior to the 2023 season, Rob Manfred and Major League Baseball introduced the balanced schedule. All 30 MLB teams would square off at least once every season. However, that came at the expense of divisional games. Before the balanced schedule, divisional opponents played each other 19 times. Now they play just 13 times.

It was a good idea and has things I really like. Seeing teams you would not normally see is fun. We have gotten to see guys like Jose Ramirez and Corey Seager, who we would normally get to see. Nats fans who moved out to places like Seattle can see the Nats every other year which is awesome.

However, I think it is time to strike a balance. Finding a happy medium and getting 16 divisional games is something that sounds enticing. While the Nats wouldn’t be able to play all 29 other teams, they would still be able to play a lot of teams. If the schedulers design it right, we would be able to see most teams every year and the ones you do not see one season, you can see the next year.

The jump from 16 interleagues games to 46 is pretty extreme. While 16 is not enough, 46 is probably too much. Playing the A’s, Giants and Royals in a row is pretty random. The stakes just feel slightly lower because of that lack of familiarity. There is just a different level of intensity at the ballpark when we play teams like the Phillies or Mets.

While it might mean more losses for the Nats, it is still fun to get super familiar with those divisional teams. Before the change, you knew everything about the teams in your division. Now, we go months at a time without playing them. Before last night, we had not played the Phillies since May 1st.

While there are aspects of the balanced schedule that are very enjoyable, we need more divisional matchups. Going two months without a divisional game just feels wrong. Rob Manfred needs to find a middle ground between not seeing enough teams and not seeing your rivals often enough.

There is a balance to strike that could be the best of both worlds. While there are going to be bigger issues that will be battled over in the new CBA negotiations, revising the schedule should be on the table. A midsummer series against the Royals just does not have the same kind of juice that a Phillies or Mets series has.

It is great to see a player like Bobby Witt Jr., but we also want those rivalry matchups to not be swept under the rug. Rob Manfred should be able to get the best of both worlds by adding one additional series against each divisional rival. While 19 games against each divisional rival was too much, 13 seems to be too few. Let’s split the difference and play 16 games against each divisional rival.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...d-and-mlb-to-bring-back-more-divisional-games

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies Game Thread

After an exhilarating win last night, the Nats will look to pounce and secure a series win tonight. It will be a battle of aces as Zack Wheeler is taking on MacKenzie Gore. After a bounce back start last time out, Gore will look to build on that.

For the Nats, CJ Abrams will be back in the lineup after a day off yesterday. James Wood will DH for the second straight game. Miguel Cairo will stick with the hot hand, starting Paul DeJong at third base over youngster Brady House. Luis Garcia Jr. will get the call at second base and birthday boy Robert Hassell III will start in center field. As mentioned, MacKenzie Gore will start.

one hundred twenty two. pic.twitter.com/eM84Rkxl98

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 15, 2025

The Phillies will have the same top five but made some changes to the bottom of the order. With a lefty on the mound, Harrison Bader will play center field. Edmundo Sosa will slide over to second. Weston Wilson and Otto Kemp will fill out the final two spots in the lineup. Veteran ace Zack Wheeler is on the mound.

How we're lining up tonight#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/1JZQZJdjkr

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 15, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 6:45 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

Getting a series win here would be a big boost for this Nationals team. As we head down the stretch, this team should embrace a spoiler role. They need to be a plucky underdog that gives the big guys all they can handle. Feel free to comment on all things Nationals baseball down below.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ationals-vs-philadelphia-phillies-game-thread