RSS Nationals Team Notes

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs Game Thread

After a heavy loss yesterday, the Nationals are looking to get back on track in the Windy City. To do that, the Nats will need better starting pitching. Jake Irvin got rocked in the first inning, which pretty much ended the game before it started.

Today, Brad Lord will look to bounce back after a rough spell. He had been so good for most of the season, but a few blowup outings have seen his ERA balloon. Jorge Alfaro will be catching him and batting third, which was not on my bingo card. Nasim Nunez is back and playing second base today. Jacob Young and Dylan Crews will also return to the lineup.

one hundred forty one. pic.twitter.com/WJCArFUclv

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 6, 2025

The Cubs are only making one change to their lineup. Carson Kelly will do the catching. He has had a great year on the North Side. The rest of the lineup is full of familiar faces, but Kyle Tucker is still out. Matthew Boyd has been a fantastic free agent pickup for the Cubs. He is on the mound today and has pitched to a sub-3 ERA this season.

Game two with the Nats.

Watch today's game on the Marquee Sports Network App. pic.twitter.com/CwhgxH6Gce

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 6, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Wrigley Field

Time: 2:20 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

After a sweep of the Marlins, the Nats were shown levels by a hot Cubs team. Hopefully they can bounce back in yet another afternoon game. I want to see Brad Lord back at his best. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...hington-nationals-vs-chicago-cubs-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals stun the Chicago Cubs with a dramatic comeback win

While most Washingtonians were watching the Washington Commanders victory over the Giants, the Nationals decided to put together a thrilling win of their own. It was a pitchers duel for most of the afternoon, but the Cubs looked like they had the upper hand. However, a ferocious 9th inning rally by the Nats gave them the victory.

Commanders win and Nats comeback pic.twitter.com/st5gYLs5Jm

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) September 7, 2025

In his second career start, Andrew Alvarez was solid but did not reach the thrilling heights of his debut. He did a good job limiting the damage, but Alvarez was inefficient. Alvarez only lasted 4.2 innings while throwing 87 pitches. He was erratic, allowing three walks, but limited the damage.

In the second inning, the Cubs opened the scoring, with Alvarez allowing a solo homer to catcher Carson Kelly. That would be the only run of the first four innings, but the Nats would get going in the 5th.

Daylen Lile and Luis Garcia Jr. have been two of the hotter hitters in the Nationals lineup lately. They combined to get a rally started in the 5th. Lile got a base hit and then Garcia hit a weird ground rule double that got caught in the ivy. Brady House would drive in Lile with a sac fly. However, the Nats could not capitalize further as Dylan Crews struck out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the frame Alvarez got himself in some trouble. After the Nats got an out with a play at the plate, the rookie’s day was done. Miguel Cairo turned to Clayton Beeter, who promptly gave up a single to give the Cubs the lead.

However, Beeter would get out of that inning and overwhelm Cubs hitters in the 6th. Beeter has been very good since coming over from the Yankees, posting a 2.40 ERA in 16 outings in DC.

However, the offense was stuck in the mud. The combination of Drew Pomeranz, Colin Rea, Caleb Thielbar and Brad Keller gave Nats hitters fits. After another Carson Kelly homer in the bottom of the 8th, all hope seemed lost.

The scrappy Nats had other plans. With Cubs closer Daniel Palencia in the game, the Nats made something happen quickly. Robert Hassell started the inning by stroking a home run to left center to make it a one run lead. It was very nice to see Hassell show life with the bat.

Now the top of the order was up and the Nats had hope. After an infield single by CJ Abrams and a walk by James Wood the boys were in business. Then Miguel Cairo made a change that won the Nats the game.

He pinch hit Josh Bell for Riley Adams. While Bell has been cold lately, Cairo trusted his big slugger to make something happen. Bell did just that on the first pitch of the at bat. He drove a fly ball that seemed to hang up in the air for an eternity. Eventually, it dropped into the seats for a 3-run home run. It gave the Nats a two run lead and the Wrigley crowd was stunned.

Josh Bell puts the @Nationals on top with a 3-run homer in the top of the 9th pic.twitter.com/lBgpTvVcHT

— MLB (@MLB) September 7, 2025

The Nats weren’t done either. Triples master Daylen Lile struck again, hitting a ball down the right field line for his 8th three bagger of the year. Brady House would drive him in with another sac fly to make it 6-3.

Despite allowing a couple base runners, Jose A. Ferrer shut the door and the Nats got the win. They snapped an 81 game losing streak when down by 2 or more runs after the 8th inning.

That snaps an 81-game losing streak by the Washington Nationals when down 2 or more runs after 8 innings.

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) September 7, 2025

This was truly a stunning win and one of the more fun victories of the season. With football season underway, not many people were tuned into this one, but boy was it a thriller.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...the-chicago-cubs-with-a-dramatic-comeback-win

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins Game Thread

Since truly bottoming out in early August, the Nationals have been very up and down. Some series they are playing very well and others they just do not have it. Lately, they have been playing good ball. The Nats have won six of their last seven games. They are looking to keep that up in Miami.

After his pinch hit heroics yesterday, Josh Bell will be in the lineup from the start at first base. Veteran Paul DeJong will get the start at third base, giving Brady House a breather. Otherwise, the lineup looks pretty settled. The red hot Daylen Lile is the clean up man and for a second straight game CJ Abrams will lead off. Cade Cavalli will get the start.

one hundred forty three. pic.twitter.com/lSVocNP3Q7

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 8, 2025

The Marlins are still without Kyle Stowers, but the Nats still have to worry about fellow outfielder Jakob Marsee. This Marlins lineup lacks big names but they can be pesky. Guys like Agustin Ramirez and Heriberto Hernandez pack a punch. They also have speedsters like Xavier Edwards. Janson Junk will be starting for the Fish.

A 4-game set with the Nats.

: @PNCBank
: @FanDuelSN_FL , @FDSN_Marlins
: @MarlinsRadio , @FoxSports940
: 6:40 PM ET
: Roof status: CLOSED#Marlinsbeisbol // https://t.co/ZrOdIbZbJg pic.twitter.com/kz7k6EtekO

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 8, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: loanDepot Park

Time: 6:40 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

The Nationals have been playing well lately, but as we know, that can change in an instant. Hopefully they can show a level of consistency to finish this season. It would be a good spring board for 2026. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ington-nationals-vs-miami-marlins-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Should the Washington Nationals bring back Josh Bell?

At the beginning of the season this would have been an insane thing to say, but should the Nationals bring Josh Bell back in 2026? With the way he has been playing, it is something the team should be considering. Bell is a positive force in the locker room and bringing back a familiar veteran could be helpful for a young team.

The Nats Need Veteran Leadership:

For years, the Nationals have been cycling through veteran players on one-year deals. The idea is that these guys could rebuild their value in DC, help out the younger players and then get traded. However, it is tough to be a leader in a locker room when you are only around for a few months.

All season we have been talking about how the Nationals need veteran leaders. Josh Bell is the one guy who fits the bill. He is everything you want from a pro. Bell is a team player who will not complain if he does not play everyday and is someone for the young players to look up to.

He is a model citizen who is great in the community with his reading efforts. That is why he has become a fan favorite over the years. Another reason why he is loved is that you can tell Bell wants to be in DC. He has embraced the community and in return we have embraced him. Even when he struggled, most fans were sad rather than mad because we love Bell.

eric carle …… roald dahl …… JOSH BELL

our first baseman is a children's book author pic.twitter.com/6EW4oZ1QgZ

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 15, 2025

Having the same veteran in the locker room for multiple years is also very helpful. These young Nationals have seen different faces come and go. Every time we got to know these guys they were gone. Guys like Jesse Winker and Jeimer Candelario were fun, but before you knew it they were gone. I think it is important for these young guys to have some continuity.

However, none of this matters if the results on the field are not there. Outside of his disastrous start, Bell has been very good for the Nats. First base is not a position where the Nats have an obvious long term answer, so it is not like Bell is blocking anyone. If a guy like Yohandy Morales emerges, Bell is not a guy you have to keep playing either. He is really the perfect veteran for this young group.

Bell Has Been Hitting:

Since May 1st, Josh Bell has been a good hitter for the Washington Nationals. In that time, he is hitting .262 with an .800 OPS. That is very good production in a 96 game sample size.

We know Bell is an inconsistent hitter with peaks and valleys. However, the good has outweighed the bad for a while. Even for him, that April seems like a bit of an aberration. Bell was trying to be a slugger and it just did not work for him. Since ending that failed experiment, he has been very solid.

When Bell is hot, he is a guy that can carry your offense. Davey Martinez kept saying that in April when he kept putting the ice cold Bell in the lineup. It turned out that he was right and his faith was rewarded.

Right now, Bell is on one of his patented heaters. It really came out of nowhere. He was struggling to end August, but things changed on Sunday. Miguel Cairo brought him in to pinch hit against the Cubs. Bell provided the biggest swing of the night, hitting a go ahead three run homer that won the Nats the ballgame.

Josh Bell puts the @Nationals on top with a 3-run homer in the top of the 9th pic.twitter.com/lBgpTvVcHT

— MLB (@MLB) September 7, 2025

He carried that momentum to the game yesterday as well. Bell went absolutely nuclear. He went 4/6 with two homers and six RBI’s. Those two homers came from both sides of the plate which is a fun touch. Bell being a switch hitter has always thrown me off. Why would a big slugger like him feel the need to switch hit when he was young?

Josh Bell’s 2nd HR of the game:

110.0 MPH
27 Degree LA
413 FT
77.1 MPH Bat Speed
.990 xBA
HR in 30/30 Parks

He has a HR from both sides of the plate tonight!pic.twitter.com/t13C3YnX0f

— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) September 9, 2025

Either way, Bell has been a fun redemption story in a rough year. At the beginning of the season, this looked like the end of the road for Bell. However, he has found his footing and is really shining.

His underlying data is even better than his traditional numbers though. Bell is severely underperforming his xWOBA. His wOBA sits at .320, which is just above league average. However, his xWOBA sits at .367. That is borderline elite. It is better than his xWOBA in either of his seasons in DC during his first stint.

To put it into context, his xWOBA is higher than the likes of Freddie Freeman, Bo Bichette and Junior Caminero. It is only one point lower than James Wood’s xWOBA as well.

What this means is that Bell’s batted ball data is strong. He is catching more barrels, striking out less and walking more. If he can carry that approach into next season, the traditional data will improve.

At 33 years old, there is some age risk here. Bell has also been a slow starter and overall inconsistent player in his career. That is why he will be affordable and in the Nats price range.

Overall, I think it would be a smart move to bring Bell back. He is a cheap and effective stop gap option at either first base or DH. Even if the Nationals decide to spend more money, it would be a good move to take him and spend the money on pitching.

The Nationals desperately need veteran leadership and stability. Josh Bell is a guy who can do that while being cheap. It is not the flashiest option, but we know that Bell is a guy who wants to be here and is a good locker room guy. The Nationals need those kinds of guys in 2026.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/86048/should-washington-nationals-bring-back-josh-bell

 

[Washington Nationals]

Can Washington Nationals Cade Cavalli solve his problems against right handed hitters?

Tonight, Cade Cavalli will be on the mound against the Marlins. Overall, his big league stint has been a success. While his ERA is a mediocre 4.85, a blow up start at Yankees Stadium has inflated that number. Outside of that start, Cavalli has been very sharp. However, he has one big problem, right handed hitters.

In the big leagues, Cavalli has had extreme reverse splits. He has carved up left handed hitters. They are hitting just .203 against him and he looks very comfortable. The control looks good and outside of the occasional homer, they are largely helpless against Cavalli. Here is a taste of what he can do against left-handed hitting.

Cade Cavalli, 97mph Paint. pic.twitter.com/Wvoi5Wd4D1

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 2, 2025

However, righties have been giving Cavalli fits this season. They are hitting a crazy .415 against him so far in the MLB. That is bound to come down as the sample gets larger, but that is an extreme number.

If you look at his numbers in the Minor Leagues, you see a similar pattern emerge. Left handed hitters were not a problem for Cade. They hit just .210 against him. However, righties hammered him to the tune of a .352 batting average.

After seeing this, I wanted to dive into why this could be. Simply put, his weapons are just better against lefties. He is a real north and south pitcher. The curveball is Cavalli’s best pitch and it is a real 12-6 breaker. It has a ton of up to down movement and not a lot of side to side action.

That makes it platoon neutral, or even a bit better against opposite handed hitters. We see something similar with MacKenzie Gore, who also has a great curveball. For whatever reason, it is just a bit tougher for opposite handed hitters to pick up. That is why Gore developed a slider as a weapon to deal with lefties.

I think Cavalli could do something similar. He needs a breaking ball that really moves away from right handed hitters to unlock his arsenal. Right now, Cavalli is mostly a fastball-curveball guy to righties.

Against lefties Cavalli has another weapon and that would be the changeup. He throws the changeup way more frequently to lefties. Against them, he throws it 21.2% of the time and lefties are hitting just .067 against it. However, against righties he is only throwing it 8.3% of the time.

Throwing changeups to same sided hitters is tough. However, if Cavalli trusts the pitch enough, throwing it more to righties could help solve some of his problems. He has a deep and effective mix against lefties, but right-handers can really narrow things down.

With Cavalli, I am happy that we are able to talk about this stuff rather than having to cross our fingers and hope he is healthy. He has great stuff when he is on the mound and can be a very good pitcher. Problems like this come up when a pitcher is robbed of development time by injuries like Cade has been. The stuff is super sharp, but the pitch to pitch execution can be lacking at times.

Cade Cavalli, Bound to Breakout:

A Thread pic.twitter.com/LqzynzjSxs

— Remi Bunikiewicz (@RBunikiewicz) August 17, 2025

In his MLB stint this year, Cade Cavalli’s talent is clear for all to see. However, there is so much that can still be unlocked. Despite being 27 years old, he is relatively inexperienced. He did not pitch a ton in college and has been derailed by injuries lately.

Obviously that is frustrating, but it also gives him much more untapped upside than your average 27 year old. With a fastball in the upper 90’s, a wipeout curveball and a sick changeup, the ingredients for a good starting pitcher are all there.

However, if he wants to truly reach his ceiling, Cavalli needs to unlock a way to get right handed hitters out. There are a few ways he can do this. One way is to develop a breaking ball that moves away from righties. He has the big curveball, but a slider on top of that would be a game changer. Cavalli also could throw his changeup right on right more often.

A combination of the two is probably what is needed. Right now his arsenal just does not get right handed hitters out. He needs to rethink that approach and find new weapons this offseason. If Cavalli can do that and stay healthy, the sky is the limit.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...lve-his-problems-against-right-handed-hitters

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins Game Thread

Your Washington Nationals are red hot. After a 15-7 drubbing of the Marlins, the Nats have won six of their last seven games. That big 9th inning on Sunday really seemed to wake up the offense because yesterday was an everyone eats kind of game.

There are only two changes to the lineup tonight. Paul DeJong will be replaced by the rookie Brady House. In the outfield, Jacob Young will take over for Robert Hassell III. Otherwise, this is the same crew that put up 15 runs yesterday. Mitchell Parker will be pitching.

one hundred forty four. pic.twitter.com/d8E49Q4rqv

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 9, 2025

The Marlins are making more changes. Javier Sanoja, Eric Wagaman and Joey Wiemer are going to be in the lineup despite sitting yesterday. The fish had a great summer, but have been fading lately as injuries have caught up to them. Their biggest absence is All-Star Kyle Stowers. Adam Mazur will face the Nats for a second start in a row.

Tuesday’s game

: @PNCBank
: @FanDuelSN_FL , @FDSN_Marlins
: @MarlinsRadio , @FoxSports940
: 6:40 PM ET
: Roof status: CLOSED#Marlinsbeisbol // https://t.co/ZrOdIbZbJg pic.twitter.com/k8ttlNbd8s

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 9, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: loanDepot Park

Time: 6:40 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

It is nice to see winning baseball and that is what the Nationals have been doing lately. They are closing in on avoiding a 100 loss season, which looked on the cards at times. Hopefully they can continue to play well and finish the season strong. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ington-nationals-vs-miami-marlins-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

What does the future of Keibert Ruiz look like?

For a number of reasons, Keibert Ruiz’s Nationals career has become uncertain. A combination of head injuries and poor performance has put everything in doubt for a guy who showed a lot of promise early in his career.

Keibert Ruiz was supposed to be the catcher of the future when he came to DC in the Max Scherzer/Trea Turner trade. He would have been close to untouchable, but since the Dodgers had Will Smith, they felt comfortable giving up Ruiz. Keibert was having a monster year in Triple-A, hitting .311 with 16 homers in 52 games for the Dodgers AAA affiliate.

Promising Start:

Those big numbers and Ruiz’s prospect pedigree made Mike Rizzo comfortable enough to make him a headliner of a mega trade. At first, things looked good for Ruiz. He finished the 2021 season strong, continuing his strong AAA performance and hit over .280 in 23 games with the Nats to close the season.

The 2022 was also strong for Ruiz. While his OPS was only .673, his underlying offensive data was strong and he was actually playing good defense behind the plate. Ruiz put up 1.5 fWAR and bWAR that season and looked like a player on the rise.

The Nats believed in him so much that the team gave him an 8-year $50 million extension that runs through the 2030 season with club options for two seasons after that. Mike Rizzo and the Nats front office were all in on their catcher and believed he was ready to make the leap to become an above average starter.

Regression on the Field:

Sadly, that never happened. Right away, Ruiz’s play began to deteriorate on the defensive side of the ball. In 2023, Ruiz actually had the best offensive season of his career. He hit .260 with 18 homers and a .717 OPS. Those are strong offensive numbers for a catcher.

However, he fell off a cliff defensively. He went from an average defender behind the plate to the worst in the league. The framing and blocking were both abysmal, which ate away at his value.

Ruiz actually posted a negative fWAR in 2023 due to that poor defense. bWAR was kinder to the Nats catcher but he still declined from the previous year despite playing more games.

In 2024, Ruiz’s defense went from abysmal to passable. However, his bat fell off a cliff. His average went from .260 to .229 and his OPS went from .717 to .619. Ruiz suffered from an illness where he lost a lot of weight, so fans hoped he would rebound in 2025.

Things looked good when he started the season on fire. He hit two homers in the first series of the season and looked ready to reward the Nats for their faith. However, it has been all downhill from there.

Ruiz did not homer after that first series and his OPS cratered to a career worst .595. He has been worth -1 fWAR this season. However, the on the field performance is no longer the biggest worry for Ruiz.

Concussion Issues:

Right now, the goal for Keibert Ruiz should be to get healthy. In late June, Ruiz was hit by a Josh Bell foul ball that concussed him. He missed about 10 days, but eventually came back into the lineup.

With hindsight, it is clear that Ruiz came back too soon. In a game against the Red Sox, Ruiz was hit by a foul tip. He finished out the game but he has not been seen since. Ruiz suffered another concussion.

Since then, Ruiz has been plagued by long term concussion symptoms. He has had a lot of headaches and has struggled with sleep. Talking to Andrew Golden, Ruiz said it has been tough but that he wants to continue catching.

Keibert Ruiz is rehabbing with Harrisburg, his first game action in nearly two months because of concussions.

He detailed the headaches and other symptoms he experienced in July in the immediate aftermath — and his thoughts on his future behind the dish:https://t.co/iH5paJlSyP

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) September 6, 2025

After a couple months, things seemed to be getting better for Ruiz. We were seeing more of him in the dugout and he began to build up for baseball activities. Early this month, Keibert Ruiz started a rehab assignment in Double-A. He looked rusty, but it was good to see him on the field.

However, we have gotten more bad news in the last couple days. After taking another foul tip to the mask, the headaches have returned for the Nationals catcher. He was pulled from his rehab assignment due to concussion-like symptoms.

Keibert Ruiz experienced mild headaches this weekend and was taken off rehab assignment. He will join the team in Miami and continue protocol.

More from @andrewcgolden from a few days ago: https://t.co/QDzVek405F

— Spencer Nusbaum (@spencernusbaum_) September 8, 2025

Where Do We Go From Here:

This is turning into a sad situation for both the team and the player. Even before the head injuries, questions about Ruiz’s future were emerging. He did not look like the guy behind the plate when healthy.

However, this adds even more uncertainty. I hate to speculate, but it just seems like his body cannot handle the rigors of the catching position anymore. We have seen head injuries force guys like Joe Mauer off the position.

However, Mauer was a Hall of Fame talent whose bat could play anywhere. Things are a bit more complicated for Ruiz. The new regime has a real predicament on their hands. Ruiz has that long term contract, but at this point, he is not a long term piece of this team.

So what does the team do about this? First, we have to see Ruiz healthy and on the field. Once that happens, the team has to make a choice. When some of these pre-arb extensions go wrong, players often spend the last years of their deals buried in Triple-A.

Sadly, that is something I can see happening here. Since Ruiz has gone down, the Nats have gotten more from the catching position. The last couple years, Ruiz just hasn’t been an MLB caliber player while on the field.

Right now, the main concern should be about Ruiz’s health. Head injuries are scary and we are all praying for him. Hopefully this does not impact his life down the road. However, the Nationals have to have an uncomfortable conversation about the player who was supposed to be their catcher of the future.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/general/86087/what-does-future-of-keibert-ruiz-look-like

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins Game Thread

The Nationals are on quite the roll right now. They have won 7 of their first 8 games in September and have won four in a row. Can they keep the momentum rolling? Well, we will find out tonight.

After taking a foul tip to an area where you do not want to take a foul tip, Riley Adams will be out of the lineup. Jorge Alfaro will take his place behind the plate. Besides that, there are not too many changes. The only other one is in center field, where Robert Hassell III will play instead of Jacob Young. It has been a rough ride for Jake Irvin lately, so hopefully he can get back on track tonight.

one hundred forty five. pic.twitter.com/yWrwsaJWWu

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 10, 2025

With a right-hander on the Marlins have loaded up on lefties. Troy Johnston, Liam Hicks and Victor Mesa Jr. all return to the lineup. Usually a platoon bat, Joey Wiemer will get the chance to face a righty after hitting a home run last night. Eury Perez has really struggled lately, including in his last start against the Nats. However, he has great talent.

Wednesday night baseball.

: @PNCBank
: @FanDuelSN_FL , @FDSN_Marlins
: @MarlinsRadio , @FoxSports940
: 6:40 PM ET
: Roof status: CLOSED#Marlinsbeisbol // https://t.co/ZrOdIbZbJg pic.twitter.com/orHU7RTyoE

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 10, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: loanDepot Park

Time: 6:40 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

For once, watching the Nationals has been a breath of fresh air. Who knows how long that will last, so enjoy it while you can. Jake Irvin keeping up the momentum and delivering a good start would be huge. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ington-nationals-vs-miami-marlins-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins Game Thread

The good times weren’t going to last forever. Last night, the Nationals four game winning streak was snapped due to shaky defense and a leaky bullpen. Those have been season-long issues for the team, but they have not shown up lately. Hopefully that can be sorted out tonight.

The story for the Nats is on the mound. After spending the minimum 15 days on the injured list, MacKenzie Gore is back on the mound. Hopefully this reset is exactly what the left hander needed. The lineup was put in a blender by Miguel Cairo. James Wood is getting the night off and Dylan Crews is being moved all the way up to the 2 hole. Josh Bell will sit as well, with Paul DeJong at DH. Riley Adams will return after taking an unfortunate foul tip the other night.

one hundred forty six. pic.twitter.com/tOT0wxpZHW

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 11, 2025

The Marlins also have a left hander returning from injury pitching for them. Ryan Weathers has not pitched since June 7th. His stuff has ticked up a lot this season but his body has not been able to handle that velocity increase. The Marlins are stacking their lineup with righties. Jakob Marsee is the only lefty in the lineup for the Fish tonight.

Forecast calls for:

: @PNCBank
: @FanDuelSN_FL , @FDSN_Marlins
: @MarlinsRadio , @FoxSports940
: 6:40 PM ET
: Roof status: CLOSED#Marlinsbeisbol // https://t.co/ZrOdIbZbJg pic.twitter.com/Tqfs8Fdzvr

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 11, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: loanDepot Park

Time: 6:40 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

Another series win would be a big positive for the Nats. Last night was the ugliest game they have played in a couple weeks. The defense was sloppy and the boys did not look sharp. Hopefully they come ready to play tonight. Follow along in the comments and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ington-nationals-vs-miami-marlins-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Nationals Prospects: Alex Clemmey finding his way in Double-A

Alex Clemmey dominated in High-A for most of this season. In his 19 starts at the level, Clemmey posted a 2.47 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 87.1 innings. Sure, he had a walk issue, but Clemmey was untouchable while being very young for the league. That dominance led to a promotion to Double-A where Clemmey got a rude awakening.

The jump from High-A to Double-A is considered to be the most difficult one in the Minor Leagues. Players tend to be older and more savvy. You don’t see as many raw players that lack a plan. These guys are real pros who are tough to overwhelm.

Alex Clemmey, who only turned 20 in July learned this the hard way. In his first three Double-A starts, the youngster was shelled. He threw 11.2 innings in those three starts and allowed 17 runs. High-A hitters couldn’t touch Clemmey, but Double-A bats posted 21 hits in those first three starts and hit six home runs.

In High-A, Clemmey only allowed four homers all season. He gave up four in his first Double-A start. After this gut punch, I was interested to see how Clemmey would respond. He has never been hit around like this in his career. Whenever he struggled in the past, it was due to walks.

However, in his last two starts, Clemmey has flipped the switch. In those two outings, Clemmey has gone 11.2 innings and has only allowed three earned runs, allowing seven hits and striking out 13. That is the Alex Clemmey we are used to seeing. A guy who can go on a roll and retire 15 of 16 to end a start.

Alex Clemmey turned in his best start (6.0 IP, H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) with @HbgSenators last night.

After a leadoff homer in the 2nd inning, he settled in and retired 15 out of the final 16 hitters he faced. pic.twitter.com/Lu2Iwm86Rz

— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) September 4, 2025

His last start on Tuesday was Clemmey’s best at the level. He went 5.2 innings, where he gave up only one earned run and struck out 7 while not walking anybody. Clemmey also got 15 whiffs in this start. His fastball sat more in the mid-90’s, but it can get into the upper 90’s at times. Overall, he looked very sharp.

One thing I noticed was that Clemmey is starting to use his changeup more often. He had been mostly a fastball/slider guy in the past. While he has a 4-seamer and a sinker, it is still a shallow pitch mix. Hitters had to worry about either the heater or his plus breaking ball. A true third pitch would go a long way for him.

Prospect Watch

Alex Clemmey
AA Harrisburg WSH
6’6” LHP

9.9vAkron
5.2 IP 6H 1ER 1HR 0BB 7K
15whiffs/91pitches

Hopefully settling in after rough start in AA. Served up 8HR in 5 gm.

3/4 athletic delivery seeking Ks w edge SL,CU

25: 28K% 15BB% 61%strike 13Swk% 3.58ERA 110.2 IP pic.twitter.com/fnmFO3y7f9

— YGM Fantasy Baseball (@YGMfantasy) September 11, 2025

It is worth noting that Clemmey is still so young. Despite being drafted in 2023, he spent a lot of this season as a 19 year old. He was very young for his draft class and still has a lot of developmental runway. The stuff is also very exciting.

Clemmey was drafted by the Guardians and came to DC in the Lane Thomas trade. This could end up being a real steal if Clemmey keeps developing. Nats fans are going to have to be patient with Clemmey though.

We saw in his start to life at AA that he is not just going to cruise through this level. He is going to start next season at Double-A. If he has success in Harrisburg, he could be in Triple-A by the end of next season. However, a big league call up is not likely to come until 2027.

It is a slow burn, but the wait very well could be worth it for Alex Clemmey. He has big time strikeout stuff and is learning how to pitch. I am excited to follow Clemmey’s development over the next year or so. He has the talent to be a difference maker at the big league level one day.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...rospects-alex-clemmey-finding-way-in-double-a

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Game Thread

The Nats got knocked back down to reality the last couple games in Miami, but they have still had a strong start to September. They will look to keep that up against a Pirates team with good pitching but an abysmal offense.

After getting the day off yesterday, James Wood is back in the lineup for the Nationals. That moves Daylen Lile to the DH position. The red hot Josh Bell will also return to the lineup. I really enjoy the look of this lineup. This is the group they should be running out as much as possible. Brad Lord will be on the mound after a bounce back start in his last outing.

one hundred forty seven. pic.twitter.com/VCQge57KAB

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 12, 2025

The Pirates offense is not exactly high powered and it shows. There are not a ton of big names in this lineup. However, one of the big names is veteran Andrew McCutchen, who has been one of the Pirates only reliable hitters. Oneil Cruz has massive power, but he has flattered to deceive for most of his career. In a rotation filled with flamethrowers, Mitch Keller is not the sexiest arm, but he is ultra-reliable and eats innings for the Pirates.

Game 1 in DC.

@SNPittsburgh
@937theFan | The PRN

Presented by @bet365_us pic.twitter.com/iGFAd92amf

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 12, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 6:45 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

After a great run to start the month, the Nats can’t allow things to unravel after a rough couple of games. This is a very winnable home series against a fellow bottom feeder. The Nats need to give fans hope heading into 2026 and a strong finish to the season would do that. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...n-nationals-vs-pittsburgh-pirates-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Washington Nationals need Brady House to rediscover his power stroke

The jump to the Major Leagues has been a rough one for Brady House. If you paid attention to his track record in the Minor Leagues, this should not be much of a surprise. House has often struggled for a little while when he reached a new level before turning things around. However, there is one thing that has me a little bit worried, House’s total lack of power.

For as long as Brady House has been a prospect, his raw power has been his standout trait. It was why he became a famous and highly regarded prospect in the 2021 Draft. The Nationals took the powerful slugger with 11th pick in that draft. He was the first draft pick of the rebuilding era.

It was a bit of a slow burn, but House worked his way through the Minor Leagues, developing a reputation as a powerful third baseman with good defense. He always hit the ball hard, but the over the fence power did not always show up. However, it was emerging gradually.

In 2023, House hit 12 homers in 88 games, along with a .312 batting average. That average was so high because of how hard he hit the ball. In 2024, House’s average fell, but he was hitting more home runs. He hit 19 home runs in 2024 across a couple levels in what was seen as a down year for him.

That power blossomed even more in Triple-A this season. In just 65 games, House blasted 13 home runs. Through all of this, there were some questions about House’s game. His strikeout rates were always fairly high and he chased a lot. House has never run high walk rates, and I figured that would hurt him in the MLB. That has been true, but for me, the biggest issue is his power disappearing.

The fact that House is hitting .241 with a walk rate below 3% is not that surprising. His first stint in Triple-A was pretty similar to this. However, I am alarmed by the fact that House has only hit three home runs in 224 at bats.

For House to survive as a big league hitter, he needs to be a 20+ home run guy. He is not going to walk very much and the strikeouts will limit his average. That means he needs to slug, which he has not been doing.

So what does House need to change to tap into his power. Well, there are a couple things. First, he simply needs to lift the ball, particularly to the pull side. House’s average launch angle sits at just 5.8 degrees, which is well below the MLB average.

You cannot hit for power if you d0 not lift the ball. Right now Brady House is not doing that consistently enough. In a piece earlier this month, we talked about how House needs to pull the ball in the air more. That is the way for him to hit for power.

Brady House has had a bumpy start to his MLB career @PaulCubbage23 broke down the good, the bad and the ugly https://t.co/KjjRd0Wsyp

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) September 3, 2025

All three of House’s home runs this season have been very similar. They have been pulled fly balls off of hanging breaking balls. House has actually held his own this year against breaking stuff, hitting .253 with all of his home runs.

Brady House – Washington Nationals (3)
pic.twitter.com/R9fXJlXadR

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) September 3, 2025

However, fastballs have been giving him fits. He is whiffing at 23.4% of them, the average launch angle against heaters is only 5 degrees and he has not hit any home runs against fastballs. Being on time against fastballs is one thing that Brady House really needs to work on this offseason. If you cannot consistently hit the fastball, life becomes really tough for you as a hitter.

If you are not on time, it is tough to pull the ball in the air for power. That is part of the reason why House’s air pull percentage is only 11.7%, which is below average. For some guys, pulling the ball in the air doesn’t matter as much, but for a guy like House it is a big deal.

While House has big time power, he does not have the otherworldly raw power of a guy like James Wood. He cannot just drive low line drives the other way out of ball parks like Wood can. That means he needs to optimize his angles to tap into his power. If House is to be a long term success, he has to do that.

A lot of Brady House’s struggles were to be expected. Guys with chase heavy approaches tend to have a rough adaptation period in the MLB. However, that chase means that House needs to slug.

If House can tap into his power, he can be a very effective player, even with a lower on base percentage. His defense at the hot corner is very good, so that gives him a solid floor. However, House needs to find a way to contribute on offense.

A .585 OPS and .255 on base percentage is just not going to play at this level. His approach based limitations make the development of his power a make or break issue. If he cannot tap into the power, House will not be the long term third baseman for this team. Quite frankly, it is that simple. Brady House needs to rediscover his power, or else he is in trouble.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...nals-need-brady-house-rediscover-power-stroke

 

[Washington Nationals]

Daylen Lile is the hero again as Washington Nationals beat the Pirates

The Washington Nationals secured a series win thanks to a gutsy comeback victory. There were a couple heroes in this ball game and they were players who have been stepping up down the stretch. Daylen Lile and Clayton Beeter continued their impressive play this afternoon.

In the first inning, it looked like this could be a short outing for Cade Cavalli. There was not a ton of hard contact, but the Pirates made Cavalli pay for his spotty control. After a walk and an infield hit, Cavalli got two outs. However, a Nick Gonzales triple made it a 2-0 game early.

Things only got worse when Gonzales scored after a wild pitch. Cavalli allowed two more baserunners, but critically limited the damage. A three run first inning is much more palatable than allowing four or five. It was critical for Cavalli to stop the bleeding and he did.

After a scoreless inning in the second, the boys picked up Cade Cavalli. The Nats second inning rally was similar to what the Pirates did in the first. It started with a walk and a bloop single off of Mike Burrows. After that, Paul DeJong laced a double into the gap to open the scoring for the Nats.

After a Nasim Nunez sac fly, Jacob Young came to the plate with two outs. The light hitting outfielder came through, ripping a 106 MPH single up the middle. All of a sudden, it was a tied game and the Nats had new life.

From there, both pitchers settled in, but did not go very deep in the game. With both of these teams out of the playoff race, they are managing their young pitchers workload. Mike Burrows only lasted 4.1 innings while throwing 61 pitches. The Pirates did not want him to see the Nats for a third time.

Cade Cavalli completed 5 innings, and did not allow a run after the first inning. It was a shaky outing where he walked four batters, but he kept the Nats in the game. So far, we have seen the good and the bad of Cade Cavalli.

When the starters came out, both bullpens were solid. Before the pivotal breakthrough in the 8th, the Nats were helpless against a trio of Pirates relievers. The Pirates had a rally going in the 7th thanks to a CJ Abrams error, but Konnor Pilkington got out of the jam. It was a rough day for Abrams, who struck out four times and made an error.

However, the Nats eventually broke through. Like the other rallies today, it started with a walk, this time from James Wood. Then the Nationals second half MVP came through again. Daylen Lile stroked a double into the gap, but Oneil Cruz allowed the ball to go under his glove and Wood rumbled home. It was another clutch moment for Lile, who got on base four times today.

lile of paradise idk pic.twitter.com/m3RWUscaVy

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 14, 2025

For the season, Daylen Lile is now hitting .288 with a .796 OPS. Those are outstanding numbers for a 22 year old who was not seen as part of the core heading into the season. After this, he has earned his place on this team. He is just a fabulous hitter.

In the top of the 9th, Miguel Cairo made a big call. He turned to Clayton Beeter for a third straight game. After a long and stressful outing on Friday, closer Jose A. Ferrer was unavailable. Cairo called on Beeter, who has been outstanding lately.

Beeter, who came over from the Yankees, made quick work of the first two batters. He struck both of them out on his filthy slider. That pitch is going to take him a long way if he is throwing strikes. With two outs, Beeter walked Jared Triolo after the umpire missed a call on 3-2.

Clayton Beeter closes out the Pirates despite the umpires best efforts

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) September 14, 2025

After a Spencer Horowitz single, it looked like the ump had cost the Nats big time. It was first and third with Bryan Reynolds at the plate. However, Beeter locked in and struck out Reynolds on a filthy slider. It was his first career MLB save and it gave the Nats a series win.

In what has been a grim season, it is nice to see the Nats play well down the stretch. The Nationals are now 9-4 in September. With one more win, they will avoid a 100 loss season and win 10 games in a month for the first time since May.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ro-again-as-washington-nationals-beat-pirates

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Game Thread

The Washington Nationals have not seen the Braves in a while. The last time they played was back in May, when the Nats were looking like a decent little team under the stewardship of Dave Martinez and the Braves still had playoff aspirations. Both teams’ seasons have gone off the rails in the last few months.

Despite a golden sombrero yesterday, CJ Abrams will remain in the leadoff spot. There are not too many big changes in this lineup. The most notable thing is the fact that Brady House is on the bench and Paul DeJong is playing third base. It has been a tough season for Mitchell Parker, but he has been a little bit better in his last couple starts. Hopefully that can continue.

one hundred fifty. pic.twitter.com/D21t5ae2av

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 15, 2025

The Braves have become bottom dwellers this season, something we are not used to. However, players like Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna are still in this lineup. They also picked up Ha-Seong Kim off of waivers. Spencer Strider will be pitching, but he has not been the same Spencer Strider that dominated the league in his first couple of seasons after multiple injuries.

New series on deck!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/06yOtG2LYy

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 15, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 6:45 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

The Nats have been red hot in September and only need one more win to avoid a 100 loss season. At points this year, that looked to be on the table. With 7 games against the Braves coming up, there is also an outside chance that the Nats can jump out of the basement of the NL East. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ngton-nationals-vs-atlanta-braves-game-thread

 

[Washington Nationals]

Nationals Have Ideal Chance To Jump Out Of NL East Gutter With Braves Matchup

The Nats got in a hole early yesterday when the Pirates scored 3 runs in the first inning off Cade Cavalli, but they answered right back with 3 of their own in the 2nd inning, coming from a Paul DeJong double, Nasim Nunez sacrifice fly, and a Jacob Young single. The game remained tied until the 8th inning when Daylen Lile, the best hitter in baseball in September by wRC+, hit a go-ahead double into the left field gap, giving the Nats a 4-3 lead which would be the final score. The Nationals are now 9-4 in the month of September, still not having lost a series in the month.

The Nats now sit 4 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East standings as the Braves come to town for a 4-game set. While the difference between 4th and 5th place means nothing in terms of playoffs, it would certainly be a nice confidence booster for this Nationals squad to escape the division basement for the first time in months, especially over a Braves club with some real talent on it. This won’t be their only chance to make up head-to-head ground on the Braves either, as they will head to Atlanta a week from today for another 3-same set with them. If they can take at least 5 of the 7 games from the Braves, they have a solid chance of jumping them in the standings, as the Braves take on the Tigers and Pirates in their remaining games, and the Nationals play the Mets and White Sox.

Team Stats

Team OPS: .707 (17th in MLB)

Team OPS Leader: Matt Olson (.841)

Team HR Leader: Matt Olson (25)

Team ERA: 4.46 (22nd in MLB)

Team ERA Leader: Chris Sale (2.52)

The Braves’ lineup has seen a wide variety of faces getting playing time in 2025, as many starters on the club battled injuries throughout the year. They are at close to 100% healthy now, with catcher Sean Murphy and third baseman Austin Riley being the only regulars missing from the lineup currently. Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is the star player of the bunch, but he has been ice cold in the month of September, hitting .158 with just 1 home run in 11 games this month. The newest full-time additions to the Braves lineup that fans should get to know is catcher Drake Baldwin, a strong contender for rookie of the year, and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, a veteran shortstop who was waived by the Rays and picked up by the Braves.

The Braves’ rotation has been so hammered with injuries in 2025 that they actually don’t have any starters who qualify for the ERA leaderboards, leading me to pick their ace, Chris Sale, despite him only having pitched 107 innings this season. They currently have 4 starters on the Injured List, with all of them having been out since at least July, and their bright young ace, Spencer Strider, has not looked the same since he made his return from Tommy John Surgery this season, posting a 4.86 ERA in 20 starts. 2023 first-round pick Hurston Waldrep has been a bright spot for them this season, but that’s been about it as far as the rotation goes, as he and Sale are the only active rotation members with ERAs under 4.50.

Game One – Monday 6:45 PM EST

ATL: RHP Spencer Strider (5-13, 4.86 ERA)

WSH: LHP Mitchell Parker (8-15, 5.69 ERA)

Game Two – Tuesday 1:05 PM EST

ATL: TBD (Projected: RHP Nathan Wiles)

WSH: TBD (Projected: RHP Jake Irvin)

Game Three – Tuesday 6:45 PM EST

ATL: LHP Chris Sale (5-5, 2.52 ERA)

WSH: TBD (Projected: LHP MacKenzie Gore)

Game Four – Wednesday 4:05 PM EST

ATL: RHP Hurston Waldrep (4-1, 2.78 ERA)

WSH: Brad Lord (5-8, 4.21 ERA)

The Braves will run out 3 of their best arms this series, with the 2nd game of the double header projected by Fangraphs to go to RHP Nathan Wiles, currently in Triple-A, but who can be called up as the 27th man for the double header. The Nationals will counter with their entire current rotation outside Andrew Alvarez, with Jake Irvin expected to get game two and MacKenzie Gore expected to get game three. The Nats have an ideal opportunity to jump a bitter rival in the standings and escape the basement of the NL East, and it will be a test of how gritty this young Nats squad really is.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ump-out-of-nl-east-gutter-with-braves-matchup

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Game Thread 2/2

Starting pitching and strikeouts cost the Nats in the first game of the double header. Now they have to avoid double trouble as Braves ace Chris Sale toes the slab. On a wet evening, the show will go on for the Washington Nationals. However, the game will start

CJ Abrams and James Wood have really struggled lately, so they will sit against one of the nastiest left handed pitchers in the league. Nasim Nunez will play in Abrams’ spot and lead off. The outfield will consist of Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and Dylan Crews. Josh Bell will DH and Andres Chaparro will play first base. Riley Adams will be behind the plate to catch MacKenzie Gore.

one hundred fifty two. pic.twitter.com/8iaUHm3b1O

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 16, 2025

The Braves are also making a couple changes this evening. Marcell Ozuna will come back into the lineup as the DH. The catcher is a blast from the past, with former Nat Sandy Leon starting behind the dish. Nick Allen and Nacho Alvarez are both added to the lineup. As mentioned, Chris Sale is on the mound.

Sale gets the start!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/jnw3VD2fI6

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 16, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: TBD (rain)

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

We will get a late start, but it looks like the forecast should clear up eventually, maybe. If not, we will just use this game thread tomorrow. After a strong series against the Pirates, the Nats need to stop the slide against the Braves. Follow along and let’s go Nats.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...gton-nationals-atlanta-braves-game-thread-2-2

 

[Washington Nationals]

Mitchell Parker and Jake Irvin have pitched their way out of the Washington Nationals plans

At this time a year ago, Mitchell Parker and Jake Irvin looked like they could be reliable rotation pieces for years to come. Both of them broke through in 2024 and showed big time flashes. Irvin looked like an All-Star in the first half of 2024 and Parker came out of nowhere to provide solid production.

However, 2025 has been a different story for these two young arms. This season Parker and Irvin have been the two worst qualified starting pitchers in all of baseball. Their mediocre stuff has just not been fooling hitters and it put the Nats in big holes early in games. Parker and Irvin are the only two pitchers to allow at least 100 earned runs this season.

Nasty stanky pic.twitter.com/kpfqDKyxm7

— Football Shack (@WeAreAllShack) September 16, 2025

There are going to be a lot of tough decisions for whoever the next GM will be, but moving off of Parker and Irvin will not be one of those tough choices. Fans now joke that Parker and Irvin’s starts are automatic losses, and that is not far from the truth sadly.

PJ Poulin replaces Jake Irvin for the top of the seventh.

Irvin goes six innings with eight hits, five runs, two walks, five strikeouts and two home runs on 102 pitches, 67 strikes. His ERA is now up to 5.76, still behind Mitchell Parker's 5.85.

— Bobby Blanco (@Bobby_Blanco) September 16, 2025

We have talked about how bad it is, but let’s dive into it to get a deeper understanding. To do that, we need to look at the numbers, both traditional and under the hood metrics. As you would expect, neither are pretty.

Jake Irvin’s ERA sits at 5.76 this season. That is way higher than the 4.41 mark he posted last season. However, this did not come out of nowhere. After putting up near All-Star numbers in the first half, Irvin collapsed. His 3.49 first half ERA ballooned to 5.90 after the break.

So Irvin has pretty much been the same guy he was in the second half, just across a full season. Just about every Jake Irvin stat you look at is a massive red flag. His strikeouts are down, his walks are up, his home runs allowed are way up and his velocity is way down from 2024. That trend started in the second half of last season and continued into this season.

With his velocity going from about 94 to 92, he does not have a way to consistently get guys out. The fastball, which was a tone setter at points last year is now a bad pitch. His secondary pitches are mediocre and his command has regressed.

The under the hood numbers are also ugly. His FIP of 5.62 and xERA of 5.65 both suggest that his 5.76 ERA is not very unlucky. It is just a reflection of who he is as a pitcher and you can’t have that kind of pitcher in your rotation.

With all that being said about Irvin, Mitchell Parker has been even worse. Parker did not reach the heights that Irvin did, but his 4.29 ERA over 151 innings was very solid. However, regression has hit Parker like a truck.

After a strong April, Parker has been lit up. His ERA is the worst among qualified starting pitchers at 5.85. That just edges out Irvin. His fringy stuff has been no match for MLB hitters, who are batting .277 against him. Parker’s 50.2% hard hit rate is in the bottom 1 percentile of pitchers. That is why his xERA of 6.04 is even higher than his actual ERA.

Parker is a contact oriented pitcher who gives up a ton of loud contact. That is just not a combination that is going to work at the MLB level. The thing that ties Irvin and Parker together besides their poor performance is the fact their stuff is just not that good.

In the modern MLB, you need to be nasty. It is tough to be a command artist in the modern game, and those guys aren’t exactly spotting it like Greg Maddux. You need a pitch or two that can reliably fool MLB hitters. Neither Parker or Irvin have that weapon in their locker.

When Irvin was throwing in the mid-90’s he could lean on his fastball, but his velocity has slipped and with that his fastball performance has regressed. It is critical for the next GM to find more interesting arms to put in this rotation.

A guy like Cade Cavalli is a good example. The actual results have been mixed, but you can see the vision. Cavalli has an upper 90’s heater with a wipeout curveball. Sure, there are things to work on, but he has a path to get guys out.

With Parker and Irvin, it is more about smoke and mirrors. Personally, I was never the biggest Parker guy even when he was doing decently. The stuff never really popped and a lot of the metrics suggested he was getting lucky.

With Irvin, I really liked his game in early 2024. He was really fun to watch with his good fastball and commanding mound presence. However, with the fastball losing steam, his game has been neutered. If he comes into Spring Training throwing 96, it would be worth giving him a look at some point, but the velocity has not been there for 18 months at this point.

While both of these guys have had their moments, they should not start next season in the rotation. They need to be replaced, either internally or through free agency. It just needs to happen. You can’t have the two worst qualified starters trotting out there every fifth day again.

It was fun seeing two homegrown guys have success in the Nats rotation. That was something fans had not seen for a long time. However, baseball is a what have you done for me lately business and these two guys have not produced. We need to let go of the sentimentality and make the smart decision here. Nationals fans cannot do another year of Parker and Irvin.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...pitched-way-out-of-washington-nationals-plans

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Washington Nationals will not improve their record this season

After yesterday’s loss to the Braves, the Washington Nationals officially cannot improve on the 71-91 record the team posted each of the last two seasons. The team’s record sits at a disappointing 62-91 with 9 games left in the season. This has been a long time coming, but it is still mind blowing to think that the team regressed in what was supposed to be a step forward season.

Before the season, Martinez talked a big game. He talked about how this young team was ready to win and that winning games was at the top of the agenda this year. That was a very different tone than previous years where he spoke more about the team’s rebuild. In fact, Martinez even declared the rebuild as over during Spring Training.

However, this has been far from the reality of the 2025 Nationals. Instead of seeing progress, the team has regressed. Most people saw the 71-91 record of the last two seasons as the team’s floor. Now the Nats would have to win all of their last 9 games to even get to that mark.

Yesterday, the Marlins officially secured a better record than the Nats. Last season, the Nats were 9 games better than the Fish, but they have been leapfrogged. The Marlins did not close the gap by spending heavily or making splashy trades. Rather, they just outperformed the Nats on the margins. The Marlins just have more depth than the Nationals. This is something the next GM will have to improve.

The Marlins have clinched a better record than the Washington Nationals.

They will not finish last in the NL East pic.twitter.com/st730MZ79M

— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) September 18, 2025

This season, the pitching was the team’s achilles heel. The offense wasn’t amazing either, but the unit actually improved from last season. They have already hit more home runs than they did all of last season while having similar batting average numbers. The offense will need to improve, but that is not why the team regressed.

The 2025 Nationals pitching staff has been a dumpster fire. Their bullpen has the worst ERA in all of baseball and they let the two worst qualified starting pitchers in baseball take the ball every fifth day. In the first half, the bullpen was an all time disaster and cost the Nats so many games, even when the rest of the team was performing at a decent level the first two months.

In the last couple months, the wheels have really come off for the rotation. MacKenzie Gore has struggled since the All-Star break. Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker are walking disasters. While Brad Lord and Cade Cavalli have been solid, they have had their ups and downs as well.

It is no surprise then that the Nationals have the second worst team ERA in all of baseball at 5.33. Only the historically bad Rockies who play at high altitude have a worse ERA than the Nats. The team’s ERA is over a full run higher than it was last season.

In 2024, the Nats pitching was a pleasant surprise. As a team they posted a respectable 4.30 ERA. Guys like Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker and DJ Herz looked like the real deal. However, Herz went down in Spring Training and the other two were awful. This pitching staff just doomed the Nats.

It also doomed Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez, who were fired in July. Frustration was building as the Nats had a miserable June that tanked the season. It all boiled over when Davey Martinez threw his players under the bus when he talked about how the team’s struggles were never about coaching.

Even today, it is clear that the players are frustrated. MacKenzie Gore gave a surprisingly honest commentary on the radio where he talked about how the new front office will have to find a way to get the most out of the players. Hearing a player say this publicly shows the level of frustration in the locker room.

MacKenzie Gore thinks that getting the most out of the Nats' young core players will start from the front office. pic.twitter.com/h7CSn7Ey1w

— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) September 17, 2025

Everyone in this town is sick of losing. However, with how this season has gone, a quick fix does not seem to be right around the corner. How much closer are the Nats to being a winner than they were when they had their 2021 fire sale? Probably a bit closer, but they are not that much closer. These last four years have largely been wasted.

With a new GM and manager coming to town, it will be on them to right this ship. It will also be on the Lerner family to show they actually care about this team. The first thing they need to do is nail the GM hire and then they need to spend some money to make this team something the city can be proud of again.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...nationals-will-not-improve-record-this-season

 

[Washington Nationals]

Nationals Aim to Play Spoiler as Mets Fight for Final Wild Card Spot

For the Washington Nationals, this situation has become familiar since they won the World Series in 2019, as they are now well out of the playoffs and looking towards the off-season. However, this series is important, as the outcome can determine the final Wild Card spot in the National League. Whether or not Washington wins or loses means nothing for their 2025 season, but it means everything for the New York Mets’ chances for another postseason run.

The New York Mets started off the 2025 season red hot and took a large division lead early on in the season. Since the hot start, the wheels have started to fall off, and now sit at just five games about .500. They hold a small lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds, and depending on how this series goes, this race could get very interesting down the stretch.

For one squad, it is a meaningless series as they inch closer to improving the roster, and for the other, this series could determine their season. Let’s dive into the New York Mets’ 2025 season.

TEAM STATS

Soto, Lindor, and Alonso Power a Steady Mets Lineup

New York’s offense has been top-heavy this season, with Pete Alonso, Juan Soto, and Fransico Lindor carrying most of the workload. However, players like Starling Marte, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, and Fransico Alvarez have played well but have missed considerable time due to injury. Juan Soto is currently posting one of the best offensive seasons in Mets history, becoming just one of three players ever to have 40 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and 100 walks in the same season. As a team, they are batting .250 (14th), scored 716 runs (11th), hit 211 home runs (5th), on-base percentage of .327 (6th), and a slugging percentage of .429 (7th).

Injuries Cloud, but Young Arms Offer Hope

The starting rotation, as well as the bullpen, has arguably been the most inconsistent group in baseball. With stellar starts to the season from first-time All-Star David Peterson, Kodei Senga, and Clay Holmes, injuries and poor second-half production have forced the Mets to dig into their farm system. However, Brandon Sprout, Jonah Tong, and Nolan McLean have provided much-needed innings. McLean has pitched out of his mind since making his debut, becoming one of the most valuable pitchers on the team. Trade deadline acquisition Ryan Helsley has been a disaster since joining the team, posting a 9.60 ERA since the trade deadline. As a team, New York has a 4.03 ERA (16th), allowed 140 home runs (2nd), 1.34 WHIP (24th), and teams are batting .246 against them (18th).

GAME ONE – Friday, 7:10 EDT

WAS: LHP Andrew Alvarez (1-0) – 3 G, 1.15 ERA, 11 SO, 0.83 WHIP, 368 ERA+

NYM: RHP Brandon Sproat (0-1) – 2 G, 2.25 ERA, 10 SO, 1.08 WHIP, 186 ERA+

In a limited number of games, Alvarez has been the spark that this pitching staff needed. Alvarez is competing for a long-term spot in the rotation and looking to start on the big league roster in 2026. He has been nothing short of spectacular through his first three games. His last start was his best start yet, throwing six innings and allowing zero runs on three hits while striking out five batters.

Sproat, along with many other rookies, has recently been thrown into the spotlight as the Mets are dealing with injuries. Sproat has impressed in his first two starts and should help the Mets get to the finish line as the season comes to an end. His first start was a quality start, giving up three runs. However, he improved on preventing runs in his latest start, throwing six innings and allowing zero runs on six hits against the tough Texas Rangers.

GAME TWO – Saturday, 4:10 EDT

WAS: RHP Cade Cavalli (3-1) – 8 G, 4.76 ERA, 31 SO, 1.46 WHIP, 88 ERA+

NYM: RHP Nolan McLean (4-1) – 6 G, 1.19 ERA, 40 SO, 0.98 WHIP, 342 ERA+

Cavalli’s 2025 season, regardless of the good and the bad, is a milestone in his career. After not throwing in a Major League game since 2022, Cavalli has eaten innings and, at times, has shown why he was considered a long-term option for Washington in the starting rotation. In his last start, he threw a quality start, lasting five innings and giving up three runs in a win against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Nolan McLean has arguably been the best pitcher in baseball since making the jump to the majors. He is 4-1 through six starts and holds an ERA of 1.19. If the Mets were to make the playoffs, it is almost certain that McLean could become a valuable starter for them in their postseason run. In his last start, he was dominant, throwing six innings, allowing zero runs on five hits while striking out seven batters.

GAME THREE – Sunday, 1:40 EDT

WAS: LHP Mitchell Parker (8-16) – 30 G, 5.85 ERA, 101 SO, 1.47 WHIP, 71 ERA+

NYM: RHP Clay Holmes (11-8) – 30 G, 3.77 ERA, 124 SO, 1.34 WHIP, 108 ERA+

Parker has regressed since 2024 and has disappointed many fans this season. However, with his young age, he has the opportunity to continue to grow and show the talent he flashed at the beginning of the season. In his last start, he struggled, going five innings and allowing six runs on ten hits in a loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Before 2025, Clay Holmes had not started a game in the majors since 2018 in his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Holmes has been an important and consistent arm for an injury-riddled starting rotation. With a 108 ERA+ in his first year as a starter, Holmes has earned his role as a starter in the majors. In his last start, he threw four innings, allowing two runs on three hits in a win against the San Diego Padres.

As the season comes close to the end, Washington Nationals fans can rejoice as they can put a brutal season behind them. However, they could determine the outcome for the New York Mets and their chance at making the postseason. This could be a great series victory for a young team that is desperate for moral victories.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...ay-spoiler-as-mets-fight-final-wild-card-spot

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs New York Mets Game Thread

The four game sweep against the Braves was a gut punch, but the Nats have a chance to make a splash in the playoff race this weekend. Of course they are not competing for the playoffs, but they could throw a wrench in the Mets playoff hopes. Playing a spoiler role would be very fun.

As they did in the last game of the Braves series, James Wood will lead off and CJ Abrams will hit second. Paul DeJong will actually get the start at third base over Brady House tonight. Jacob Young will patrol center field and Jorge Alfaro will be behind the plate. Andrew Alvarez will start and following Mitchell Parker’s demotion to the bullpen, he is officially the 5th starter.

one hundred fifty four. pic.twitter.com/Yl9DWRaP9E

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 19, 2025

The Mets are rolling out a formidable lineup. Of course, Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso are the stars of the show at the top. However, guys like Brett Baty, Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte provide quality depth. Like the Nats, the Mets are starting a rookie. They will hand the ball to Brandon Sproat.

Friday night! #LGM pic.twitter.com/FkHGqdJFR3

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 19, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Citi Field

Time: 7:10 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

After a rough series earlier this week, the Nats will look to bounce back. They only need one more win to avoid a 100 loss season. Getting that out of the way will be very important. Hopefully they can be a spoiler and break the hearts of Mets fans this weekend. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ington-nationals-vs-new-york-mets-game-thread