News Nationals Team Notes

[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

 

[Washington Nationals]

Nationals Prospects: Luke Dickerson had a down year, but hope is not lost yet

Overall, it has been a disappointing year for most of the players the Nationals selected in the 2024 draft. First round pick Seaver King’s struggles have been well documented thanks to the big names selected after him. However, I want to talk about the Nats second round pick, Luke Dickerson today.

Dickerson was not your average second round pick. He was actually the most expensive second rounder of all time, taking a $3.8 million signing bonus. The Nats built their draft strategy around spending big on Dickerson in the second round to buy him out of his UVA commitment. Seaver King was selected with an under slot deal so the Nationals could afford Dickerson. In a lot of ways, he was the real prize of the draft class. However, Dickerson did not have a great first season in pro ball.

It actually started very well though. He was quite good in the FCL, hitting .273 with a .794 OPS in 22 at bats. After just six games on the complex, the Nats had seen enough and thought he was ready for Low-A. Dickerson actually started off very well. Scouts were taking notice and people such as Keith Law and Kiley McDaniel had him as a top 100 prospect.

Keith Law on Luke Dickerson, his 48th ranked prospect in baseball pic.twitter.com/PtmsYciLat

— Paul Cubbage (@PaulCubbage23) May 29, 2025

McDaniel even compared his offensive game to Wyatt Langford due to his hard contact and strong approach. Dickerson looked like a new shining star in the Nats system. The organization was feeling vindicated in their decision to give him a ton of money.

However, things began to go off the rails for him. Some of this can be attributed to a mid-season hand injury, but he really struggled. For the season, Dickerson hit .204 with a .628 OPS in Low-A. Obviously those numbers are massively disappointing for a guy with so much hype.

Understandably, the buzz has died down and Dickerson is not on any top 100 lists these days. Having turned 20 in early August, Dickerson is also an older guy for his high school class. This turns the heat up even more.

However, there are some explanations for his struggles. Obviously the injury impacted him. He only missed a few games, but he was not right for a while after that. Dickerson was also a two sport athlete in high school, playing hockey at a pretty high level. That meant that he did not dedicate as much time to baseball as other high level prospects. It makes sense that he is a bit raw.

However, given the Nationals developmental track record, did it really make sense to go all in on a high schooler who is old for the class and has less reps than his peers. The Nats already have pretty big player development issues and with Seaver King and Dickerson, they drafted two pretty big projects.

However, there were some things to like with Dickerson that gave me hope. While the home run power did not show up a ton, only hitting 5 homers in Low-A, we saw some glimpses of it. His tools still give him a very high ceiling.

TWO GRAND SLAMS IN ONE INNING?!?!?!?!

IT'S LUKE DICKERSON'S TURN. pic.twitter.com/o2SGCBCTuc

— Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) August 19, 2025

Drafted as a shortstop, it does not look like he will stay at the position long term. That was always going to be a long shot, but with how many young shortstops the Nats have, he will be playing a lot of second base moving forward. When guys like Angel Feliz and Eli Willits showed up, he played a lot of second base. With a weaker arm, he is better suited for that position.

Second. Baseman. Luke. Dickerson. pic.twitter.com/hUohXBbuJ8

— Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) August 15, 2025

When you look at the underlying numbers, they really aren’t that bad. He struck out 25% of the time, which is high, but not untenable. Unlike a lot of Nats prospects, his plate discipline is strong. At the Low-A level, he walked 12.3% of the time, which is very solid. If he can start to raise the average or power, that plate discipline should raise his floor.

Dickerson did not hit the ball on the ground at a crazy clip either, with a 40.2 GB% in Low-A. One big problem he has right now is that he hits too many pop ups. Hopefully that is something that can be corrected this offseason. Those pop ups were why his BABIP was just .269.

I am not ready to give up on Luke Dickerson just yet. He still has big time talent, but he needs to be better next season. It will be interesting to see where he is assigned next season. He was far from dominant in Low-A, but he may have to start in High-A due to a glut of middle infielders. Dickerson, Eli Willits, Angel Feliz and Coy James will all need to play and this might force the Nats to start Dickerson in High-A.

Despite my faith in him, he needs to perform next season. The Nats built their 2024 class around him. With Seaver King’s struggles, Dickerson is going to have to step up. He has the talent, but eventually we will need to see some proof of concept.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...dickerson-had-down-year-but-hope-not-lost-yet

 

[Washington Nationals]

The Washington Nationals are in the midst of another long losing streak

When things go south for the 2025 Washington Nationals, they get really ugly. For the fifth time this season, the Washington Nationals have a losing streak of at least five games. I cannot remember a Nationals team where the lows are this low. When things go south, the Nats look like they will never win a game again.

This week has been one of those weeks that have become all too familiar for Nats fans this season. After playing solid baseball for a couple weeks, things have just totally imploded. The bullpen which was pitching well for a while can’t get an out anymore, the defense is schoolboy level and the offense is mostly quiet.

These patterns have defined the Nationals season. They play some decent baseball. Win two out of three for a couple series, maybe drop two out of three to a good team. However, they have these runs where the bottom just falls out. The 11 game losing streak in June, the 8 game losing streak to end August and now this losing streak in September. This team just cannot stop the bleeding.

I don't remember a stretch like this for the Nationals.

On their way to a 6th straight loss. Allowed 70 runs and 103 hits over a half-dozen games. (Multiple times yielding 16 runs and 24+ hits). They've also committed 8 errors in their last five games. pic.twitter.com/9vncPPGkwk

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) August 6, 2025

The crazy thing is that it is all aspects of play that just totally fall apart. These runs have no bright spots. Outside of CJ Abrams and yet another Daylen Lile triple, there was not much to cling onto last night. Last night, the Nats committed three errors, all in the outfield. Stuff like this is why I called this the most embarrassing Nationals team.

The 2025 Nationals are the most embarrassing team in franchise history https://t.co/SGLL3L2gUJ

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) August 31, 2025

Outside of these crazy losing runs, the Nationals actually show some good things from time to time. This September is a great example of this Nationals cycle. The Nats actually started this month very well. Before this losing streak, the Nationals actually started the month with a 9-4 record. They looked very bright in the series against the Marlins and Cubs to start the month.

Before this losing streak, the Nats actually won a series against the Pirates. The bullpen was locking games down with Clayton Beeter and Jose A. Ferrer at the back of the pen. However, that bullpen has totally capitulated in this losing streak.

When the Nats are losing by a run or two, the bullpen has real trouble stopping the bleeding. When you have to rely on pitchers like Mason Thompson and Shinnosuke Ogasawara to stop the bleeding, the blood will keep gushing. Lately, the bullpen has done a decent job keeping leads when they have them, but they can’t stop one run deficits from becoming five run deficits.

The Nationals have to improve a lot of things next season, but stopping the bleeding is one of them. If the Nats are not going to sweep teams, they cannot fall into these long dry spells.

These ugly runs make sense for a team that is so young, but it is also a sign of a team that lacks leadership. Where are the veterans trying to steady the ship when things get so ugly. This ugliness is why the Nationals are going to have their worst record since 2022.

2025 has been a disastrous season for the Washington Nationals. Having five losing streaks of at least five games is a recipe for failure. The next Washington Nationals manager has a lot of big tasks ahead of them, but stopping these ugly runs needs to be near the top of the list.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...re-in-the-midst-of-another-long-losing-streak

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs New York Mets Game Thread

After a pitching and defense meltdown last night, the Nationals lost their 5th straight game. Now they will look to get back on track and put a dent in the Mets playoff hopes. To do that, the Nationals will need to play much cleaner baseball.

The Nats are making a few changes at the bottom of their lineup. Robert Hassell will play center field and hit fifth, which is higher in the lineup than usual for him. Riley Adams will catch this afternoon. After sitting yesterday, Brady House is back at third base. The struggling Luis Garcia Jr. will be on the bench as Nasim Nunez plays second base. Cade Cavalli will be on the mound.

one hundred fifty five. pic.twitter.com/efB1wbdeWk

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 20, 2025

The Mets are only making two changes to the lineup. Cedric Mullins will be in for Jose Siri after Siri had a brutal game last night. Jeff McNeil will be at second base. The Mets have their new ace Nolan McLean on the mound. McLean has only made 6 MLB starts, but he has been insanely impressive. His pitches have some of the craziest movement you will ever see.

City Connect Saturday! #LGM pic.twitter.com/5AN9OoYk3A

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 20, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Citi Field

Time: 4:10 PM EST

TV: MASN 2 and MLB Network (out of market)

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

The Nationals need to snap out of their week-long malaise. It would feel like a fitting end of the season if the Nats lost the rest of their games to get to 100 losses. However, these guys cannot let that happen. Let’s stop the slide right here, right now. Let’s go Nats!

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

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs New York Mets Game Thread

After a thrilling win last night, the Nationals look to win the series this afternoon at Citi Field. The Mets are fighting for their playoff lives and desperately need a win today with the Reds only a game behind them. Meanwhile, the Nationals would love to spoil their rivals’ playoff dreams.

After jamming his shoulder on a slide last night, CJ Abrams is out of the lineup, but available off the bench. Nasim Nunez will replace him at shortstop. James Wood will continue to lead off and Dylan Crews will move into the 2 hole. With a lefty on the mound, Paul DeJong will play second base. Jacob Young will man centerfield and Jorge Alfaro will do the catching. The struggling Jake Irvin will be on the mound.

one hundred fifty six. pic.twitter.com/8p7FOaeoPU

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 21, 2025

The Mets will be making a couple changes themselves. Mark Vientos will be in the lineup at DH. Luis Torrens will do the catching this afternoon. Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso will switch places in the lineup, with Alonso moving to the cleanup spot. The top two of Lindor and Soto are unchanged. Sean Manaea will start for the Mets.

Homestand finale. #LGM pic.twitter.com/phm4yh9IhK

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 21, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Citi Field

Time: 1:40 PM EST

TV: MASN 2

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

Nationals fans would love nothing more than to ruin the Mets playoff chances. It would be a fun way to end a pretty miserable season. Today the Nats have a chance to make their mark in the playoff race. Follow along and let’s go Nats!

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

 

[Washington Nationals]

Jacob Young and the Washington Nationals stun a New York Mets squad fighting for their playoff lives

After Luis Torrens lined out to end the game, New York Mets fans booed. However, anger was not the emotion that rang out from the Citi Field crowd. Instead, Mets fans were in a state of shock. Somehow, someway, they had just lost two out of three to a Nationals team that has been absolutely hopeless all season.

The Mets are fighting for their playoff lives, but they could not get the job done against a 64-92 Nationals team. If the Mets finish off their epic collapse and miss the playoffs, this will surely be the series their fans look back on. On paper, the Mets absolutely outclass the Nationals, but the games are not played on paper.

The situation grew bleak for the Mets early in the ballgame. In the top of the second, Sean Manaea got into trouble and could not wriggle his way out. As you would expect, Daylen Lile was the man who started things off with a base hit.

After a Paul DeJong fly out, journeyman backup catcher Jorge Alfaro delivered the first blow of the contest. He ripped a ball off the wall in left field, which should have set up a second and third situation. However, Francisco Lindor made a bad throw into second base which allowed Lile to score on the play.

It was a 1-0 game and the Nats were still threatening. They would get a big boost from an unexpected source. With two outs, the light hitting Nasim Nunez launched a homer out to left field to make it a 3-0 ball game. Citi Field was stunned and the Mets knew they had a fight on their hands.

Nasim Nuñez goes yard to make it a 3-run inning for the @Nationals pic.twitter.com/CDzq4eMJsF

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2025

However, the Mets offense was unable to muster much. They scored one run in the third inning on a strange play where Daylen Lile got hurt and the ball was just sitting in the corner. With Lile down, a somewhat confused Luis Torrens jogged home.

Besides that, Jake Irvin was really sharp in his first five innings. The velocity was up today for Irvin which helped him out. For most of the afternoon, Irvin was sitting between 93-95 on his fastball. With this new found gas in the tank, Irvin had his best start in a while.

However, he was helped out massively by his center fielder in the fifth inning. Jacob Young made one of the craziest, most creative catches you will ever see to rob Brett Baty. He went back to the wall and got his glove on the ball, but the ball popped out of his glove. In a feat of insane coordination, Young used his foot to kick the ball up back into his glove to make a surreal catch.

JACOB YOUNG OH MY GOODNESS! pic.twitter.com/bHaSqV0d29

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2025

After a Francisco Lindor homer in the sixth, it was a 3-2 game that was on a knife’s edge. Miguel Cairo sent out an interesting man to walk the tightrope. That would be Mitchell Parker. This was Parker’s first relief appearance after being booted from the rotation for poor performance.

He made this first outing a special one. Parker came in with two on and one out in the sixth. However, he managed to get out of trouble, forcing a pop up from Jeff McNeil and striking out Mark Vientos.

In the next few innings, the Nats would get players into scoring position time after time, but they could not add to the lead. This game was right there for the Mets to grab. An ineffective starter was trying to get a 3.2 inning save and his offense did not provide him any insurance.

However, the Mets simply would not grab the game. Mitchell Parker was putting up zeroes inning after inning. When he came out for the ninth, there was a pit in my stomach. This game did not mean anything for the Nats, but all Nats fans desperately wanted to put a wrench in the Mets playoff ambitions.

In the bottom of the 9th, Jacob Young delivered again with another outstanding catch. This one was more conventional, but still absolutely stunning. The ball was flying out of the yard, so Young had to get to the wall quickly and time his jump perfectly. He did just that and robbed Francisco Alvarez.

JACOB YOUNG JUST DID IT AGAIN!!! pic.twitter.com/53rnITzHas

— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2025

These are the kinds of games that get the fans going. High stakes games where you can really make a mark on a team’s season. It makes me miss the days when we were playing in these high stakes games down the stretch, rather than just being a spoiler. Hopefully we will be back before too long.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ew-york-mets-squad-fighting-for-playoff-lives

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Game Thread

After a dramatic series win in New York, the Nats hit the road one last time as they head to Atlanta. The Braves are red hot, winners of 8 in a row. Unfortunately for them, they got hot too late. If they made a move a few weeks earlier, they could have been in the Wild Card mix.

Miguel Cairo is putting out an unusual lineup. With the all time strikeout record in sight, the Nats are benching James Wood with Chris Sale on the mound for the Braves. CJ Abrams is back after missing a game with a jammed shoulder, but as the DH. Nasim Nunez is leading off and playing shortstop. While Daylen Lile avoided serious injury, he is not ready to go back in the lineup after an injury scare yesterday. MacKenzie Gore is on the mound.

one hundred fifty seven. pic.twitter.com/Zu2XPLT7pf

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 22, 2025

The Braves top 3 of Profar, Olson and Acuna ran riot in DC last week. They will look to do that again. Rookie of the Year candidate Drake Baldwin is behind the plate. With Austin Riley still hurt, Nacho Alvarez will play third base. The Braves ace, Chris Sale will take the mound tonight in Atlanta.

Back home and going for 9 in a row! #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/z0MSFDEtXG

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 22, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Truist Park

Time: 7:15 PM EST

TV: MASN and MLB Network (out of market)

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

The Nats made their mark on the playoff race with a shocking series win in Queens. Now they will look to finish their season strong. There are only two more series left. It was a difficult season, but I will miss Nats baseball. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

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

 

[Washington Nationals]

Brad Ciolek leaves the Washington Nationals as front office shake up continues

As the Nationals prepare for life without Mike Rizzo, some of the remnants of the old regime are leaving. A few weeks after Danny Haas left his post as Scouting Director, there will be another shakeup in the draft room. According to reports, the Nats Director of Amateur Scouting Brad Ciolek is leaving the club to join the Tigers.

Source tells us Brad Ciolek, the #Nats senior director of amateur scouting is leaving for the Detroit Tigers.

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) September 22, 2025

This is a big move in the front office because Ciolek had a lot of power in the draft process. Ciolek and Danny Haas were brought in after the 2023 season to fix the Nationals drafting woes. Coming from the Orioles, Ciolek came in with big expectations.

Many fans viewed the fresh faced Ciolek as a modernizer who could help Mike Rizzo nail the draft. In the end, Ciolek and Haas only had two drafts, where the results were mixed. The early returns on the 2024 Draft have not been good.

Ciolek and Haas decided to cut a deal with Seaver King at 10th overall to save money and get more talent down the board. So far, King has been very disappointing and the Nats passed on players who have turned into big time prospects such as Trey Yesavage, Bryce Rainer and Cam Smith.

The picks down the board have not made up for things either. Luke Dickerson and Caleb Lomavita were high upside picks, but neither have taken off yet. The Nats made Dickerson the most expensive second round pick ever, but he struggled in his first pro season.

The early returns on the 2025 class have been stronger. While Eli Willits needs to add more strength, he looks like a strong pick at number 1 in what was a weaker class. Ethan Petry also hit well in Low-A. It will take more time to evaluate the 2025 class because it was so high school heavy. However, it looks better than Haas and Ciolek’s first class.

With this news, the next Nationals GM will have to overhaul the draft room. The two top guys are now gone. However, there are some folks staying around. There was another report that said Reed Dunn, the Assistant Director of Scouting is staying, at least for now.

Source tells us that Reed Dunn who is the #Nats Assistant Director of Scouting is staying with the team as will others in the department.

Obviously, whoever is named GM will have the final decision going forward. Dunn was with the Nats from 2007 to 2014 before returning in 2023… https://t.co/V2q78Jk534

— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) September 22, 2025

The next GM might want to keep him around. Dunn knows the organization well and has a long track record. Since he is a hold over guy, he is unlikely to be staying for the long haul, but it would not hurt to keep him around for another year or two.

When Haas and Ciolek were brought in, the idea was to give them major power in the draft room, while letting Mike Rizzo play to his strengths. In the end, the plan did not work. Two years after they were hired, both Haas and Ciolek are gone. Rizzo is also gone, following regression on the field and stagnation on the farm.

It is time for a new GM to come in with his own ideas and reshape the front office. Half measures are not good enough. A major break from the old regime is needed to get things back on track. Hopefully this news means the team will be hiring a GM from outside the organization.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/lat...ton-nationals-front-office-shake-up-continues

 

[Washington Nationals]

How will the introduction of the ABS challenge system impact the Washington Nationals

The MLB announced a seismic change to the way the sport will be officiated. In 2026, Major League Baseball will implement the ABS challenge system. It has felt like the wind has been blowing in this direction for quite some time, but today the MLB officially announced it. In a tweet, they explained the finer details of the rule.

BREAKING: Major League Baseball will use the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) during the entire 2026 season

ABS CHALLENGE RULES:

– Each team will get two challenges and can keep them if they're successful

– Challenges can only be initiated by a pitcher, catcher, or… pic.twitter.com/xHkRIbHrRx

— MLB (@MLB) September 23, 2025

The biggest part for me is that teams have two challenges per game. If the player is correct, the team gets to keep the challenge. However, they are not allowed to get any help. It will solely be on the player to identify what they think balls and strikes are.

This really changes the game and will impact different players in different ways. The most identifiable way the game will change is the value of framing. MLB is not moving to a fully automated system, so framing will still have some value. Sometimes a catcher can trick both the umpire and the batter.

However, framing’s importance will be reduced. Players will be able to challenge the truly egregious calls. That means framing specialists like Patrick Bailey or Austin Hedges could be in trouble.

If we are going off of recent history, the implementation of ABS is very good news for the Washington Nationals. This season, the Nats have been the worst framing team in all of baseball, with -18 catcher framing runs.

The Nats framing woes are not a one year problem either. Since statcast started tracking framing runs in 2018, the Nats are by far the worst team in the league. They have amassed a staggering -97 framing runs since 2018. For context, the next worst team is the Orioles at -65. The Yankees and Giants have been the best framing teams, with 82 and 79 framing runs added.

So this rule change could really help the Nats win a few extra games on the margins. The Nats have never really prioritized catcher defense much, at least in the Mike Rizzo era. Yan Gomes was the only real plus defender behind the plate the Nats had over the past decade or so.

If Keibert Ruiz can get back to health and find some life with the bat, this rule could really benefit him. He was just leaking value due to having some of the worst framing skills in the league. Of course, framing still matters, but it will not matter as much next season and beyond.

I am interested to see what kinds of strategies will be used with this challenge system. Will managers tell their players to wait until later in games or when runners are on base to use the challenges? Will some players have a greener light to challenge than others?

MLB front offices and managers will be thinking about this all offseason as they prepare for life with ABS. I actually really like the challenge system as a compromise. It helps get more calls right, while also leaving a human element.

The new strategies it will create also interest me greatly. If you are a baseball fan, you should be excited for this. We saw in Spring Training that these checks don’t take too long either. Baseball just changed forever today. I think the change is a positive one and one that could help the Nats win a couple more games.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/lat...-challenge-system-impact-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Game Thread

The Braves are red hot right now and have been running through the Nats each time they have played in the past week or so. Now, the Nats will try to fight back and finally get a win over the Braves. With the season wrapping up, getting a win over a divisional foe would feel good.

The Nats lineup cannot be described as anything other than odd. Luis Garcia Jr. is playing first base for the first time in his career. CJ Abrams is in the 3 hole tonight, with Nasim Nunez leading off. Nunez has been red hot lately. Daylen Lile is back in the fold after missing yesterday due to injury. Brad Lord will get the start for the Nats as he looks to put a bow on a solid rookie year.

one hundred fifty eight. pic.twitter.com/yYkLwp1Ia6

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 23, 2025

The Braves have a much more conventional lineup. They are only making one personnel change and it is a forced change. Ozzie Albies got hurt last night, so his season is over. That means Brett Wisely will start at second base for the Braves. Otherwise, the same cast of characters are in the lineup. Hurston Waldrep will get the start tonight in Atlanta.

Tuesday night at @TruistPark!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/2EE4lUpi5m

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 23, 2025

Game Info:

Stadium: Truist Park

Time: 7:15 PM EST

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

This game is spiced up by Luis Garcia Jr’s debut at first base. Daylen Lile being back in the lineup is also a big positive. He is the best player on the team right now. Hopefully the Nats can slow down the red hot Braves. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

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

 

[Washington Nationals]

Washington Nationals hire Red Sox Paul Toboni as President of Baseball Operations

Just as James Wood hit his 30th home run of the season, an even bigger bombshell has come. Jeff Passan has reported that the Nationals are finalizing a deal to hire Paul Toboni of the Red Sox to be the team’s new President of Baseball Operations.

BREAKING: The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to name Paul Toboni their new head of baseball operations, sources tell ESPN. Toboni, 35, rose rapidly to become assistant GM for the Boston Red Sox and is widely regarded as one of the best young executives in MLB.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 24, 2025

At just 35 years old, Toboni brings a fresh set of eyes to the Washington Nationals organization. Despite his tender age, Toboni has been working for the Red Sox for a decade now.

In that time, Toboni rose from an intern to a Senior Vice President for one of the most successful organizations in baseball. The Red Sox have a history of producing great GM talent over the years. From Theo Epstein to Jed Hoyer, the Red Sox have been a breeding ground for bright baseball minds.

The Nats seem to think that Toboni is next in line. The 35 year old has big shoes to fill. Mike Rizzo ran this team for 15 years and won a World Series. Now, it will be Toboni’s turn to try to bring winning baseball to DC.

According to Passan, Toboni is very highly regarded in the industry and is seen as an up and coming mind. After the end of the Mike Rizzo era, it is refreshing to see the Nats go in a younger direction. While the Rizzo era reached incredible heights, things stagnated at the end.

Toboni has a big task in front of him. He will have to modernize the organization while dealing with a difficult ownership group. However, he clearly backs himself to do that. While it is going to be a tough job, there are some things to build around with the Nats.

The young outfield of James Wood, Dylan Crews and Daylen Lile is a very good foundation to build on. Toboni will have to decide on the futures of players like CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore.

Toboni has done a great job building up the Red Sox young core and he has the chance to do the same here in DC. This is an exciting day for Nationals fans. The team has decided that it is time to fully commit to a new direction and that is very exciting.

For a Nationals team in need of a serious infusion of talent, it's worth noting Paul Toboni ran the draft for Boston when it chose Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, Payton Tolle, Connelly Early and the prospects who went to Chicago in the Garrett Crochet deal.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 24, 2025

As more details come out, Federal Baseball will keep you guys updated. But it looks like the Washington Nationals have found the man to replace Mike Rizzo.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/was...ul-toboni-as-president-of-baseball-operations

 

[Washington Nationals]

What September Numbers Can Tell Us About The Outlook of the 2026 Washington Nationals

As the 2025 MLB season winds down for fans of MLB teams well outside of playoff contention, it can be easy to forget about the results on the field for these final games, as it’s more about enjoying watching the club before they go on hiatus for 5 months. What you may not know, however, is that the club’s performance over this final month can actually provide us with critical insight into the team’s future, specifically for the 2026 season.

I took the wRC+ and FIP- from September of every Nationals club (2005-2024) and compared it to the full-season wRC+ and FIP- of every Nats club (2006-2025) in order to better understand how the performance at the end of one year translated onto the field in the next year. Starting with the offensive side of the ball, the results were rather unsurprising, with bad Septembers often leading to bad full seasons the following year (Often times from the 2020s Nationals clubs, who offenses have been bad most years) and good Septembers often leading into good full seasons the following year (Often times from the late 2010s Nationals club, who’s offenses have been good most years).

The most interesting part of the data, and the most relevant to the Nationals currently, is the difficulty of predicting the following year’s wRC+ when an offense is bad in the September prior, as sometimes they can come back the next year looking great, and sometimes they can look really bad. Take, for example, the 2018 Nationals offense, which finished September 2017 with an 83 wRC+ (the 4th worst offensive September in Nats history), and bounced back with a strong 101 wRC+ that next year. There is also the 2025 Washington Nationals, who finished September 2024 with an 82 wRC+ and currently possess an 85 wRC+ as a club in 2025. While the majority of the time the bad September offenses will be bad the following season, there are also times when they break out in a big way.

The pitching numbers, however, paint a much clearer picture. September FIP- is a strong indicator of FIP- the following season, often being right on the money about how a staff will look the next season. The good September staff tend to remain strong the following year, and the bad September staff tend to be pretty bad again the following year. The most interesting part, and, again, the most relevant for the Nats currently, is that past Nats clubs that have had similar September performances to the 2025 Nationals staff have often been much improved the following season. Of the 4 past Nats teams to be within 3 points of the 2025 September Nats FIP- of 110, 2 of them went on to be league average or better pitching staffs the following year, with another improving by multiple points to be close to league average, and just one staff regressing.

So, where does that leave the 2026 Washington Nationals? With an 85 wRC+ and a 110 FIP-, they sit in muddy waters in terms of the Nationals teams they sit around, but that doesn’t mean hope is lost. Offensively, most Nats clubs with bad Septembers tend to have poor offenses the following season, but that isn’t always the case, as some offenses are able to find their groove, such as the 2018 Nats. The Nationals’ lineup seems likely to add 1-2 pieces entering 2026, and when accounting for growth from a majority of the youngsters on the ballclub, I would be willing to bet the 2026 Nats lineup will be one that improves, not stays stagnant or regresses compared to the September priors numbers.

On the pitching side, there are some signs of improved fortunes for the Nationals entering 2026, as the combination of historical trends, free agent acquisitions, and a new coaching staff all point towards next season’s pitching staff being a much stronger unit than this year’s. The key for the club going forward needs to be building pitching depth so that when current rotation members, such as Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker, fall short of expectations, there is a viable option to replace them instead of being forced to use them every 5 days and hoping they can turn it around.

Overall, while September numbers certainly don’t define who the Nationals are going to be the following year, they can offer us insight into who they could become based on past trends. If the Nationals have playoff aspirations in 2026, the best way they can do that is by following the trend of an improving staff after a middling September, and becoming an outlier among offenses with weak Septembers. With how much change is coming soon to the ballclub, both on the field and off, anything is possible.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...us-about-outlook-of-2026-washington-nationals

 

[Washington Nationals]

James Wood becomes the first Washington National to hit 30 homers since 2019 and does it in style

It was lost in the shuffle after the Paul Toboni hire was reported, but James Wood hit a major milestone yesterday. With a two home run game, Wood reached 30 home runs on the season. His pursuit of 30 bombs may have ground to a halt in the second half, but eventually he got there.

James Wood reaches the 30-HR mark in his first full season! https://t.co/Da5vgdaaQr pic.twitter.com/mXsnovcZTh

— MLB (@MLB) September 24, 2025

A lot has been written about Wood’s second half struggles and rightly so. It has been a tough run for the 23 year old. The strikeout rate has ballooned to 38.7% for the second half and 31.8% for the season. He is also within striking distance of the all-time single season strikeout record, though a couple strikeout free games have given him some wiggle room.

However, it has still been a successful season for the young outfielder. Sure, he could not keep up the insane pace he set in the first half, but the final results are solid. If you told me before the season that Wood would hit 30 home runs, 92 RBI’s and post an .827 OPS, I would take it. Sure, the path to getting there has been very frustrating at times, but he got there.

As you would expect from Wood, the two homers were both majestic shots. Both homers were mammoth shots to center field. When he is at his best, James Wood can really make a ball park look small.

James Wood demolished this baseball 445 feet pic.twitter.com/X6oTwcJsim

— MLB (@MLB) September 24, 2025

With a strong finish to the season, Wood is leaving a good final impression after struggling for many months. That will make fans feel much better about the youngster the team plans to build around. There is still plenty of development for James Wood to do, but he has all the tools and has already shown he can produce to a high level.

2026 will be all about consistency for Wood. We have seen the flashes, but can he do it over a full season? I think that Paul Toboni and the player development staff he brings in will help Wood do that.

After homering the other day, Wood talked about how he had been opening up too soon and not finishing his swing. He has made the adjustment and it seems to be working. My question is why did it take about three months to make that adjustment? What had Wood and the staff been working on previously? Let’s just say, I think the next hitting coach will be quicker in figuring this kind of stuff out.

After homering last night, James Wood said he felt like he's been opening up too early and wanted to finish his swing (especially on breaking pitches).

He just launched his 30th homer to dead center on a slider over the heart of the plate. I'd say his adjustments are working.

— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) September 24, 2025

Stuff like this is why Nats fans are so frustrated with the current coaching staff. Sure, they found the adjustment eventually, but why did it take three months to make a seemingly simple tweak? Thankfully, Darnell Coles will only be hitting coach for three more games.

On a more positive note, Wood joined some illustrious company with his 30 homer season. This says more about the state of the team than anything, but Wood’s 30 homer campaign was the Nats first 30 homer season since 2019. That year, Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto both got over 30 bombs.

James Wood also joined Alfonso Soriano as the only Nats players to have 30 homers and 15 steals in a season. Of course, Soriano went 40/40, but this is still an elite club to be a part of.

With his 29th and 30th home runs today, James Wood joins Alfonso Soriano as the only Nationals (2005-pres.) to hit 30 home runs and steal 15 bases in a season.

— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) September 24, 2025

So what is next for James Wood? Ideally, he finds a way to get that strikeout rate down below 30% next year. With his long levers, there will always be swing and miss in his game, but there is still room for improvement. I would also like to see Wood be more aggressive in the zone. Too often, he stares at pitches down the middle.

He has some pretty serious holes in his game. That makes what he is able to do even more impressive. Wood is quite flawed as a hitter, but he has so much raw power and natural ability that he can put up big numbers anyway.

I am excited to see what is next for James Wood, especially now that a new regime is coming in and will put a better support system around him. The sky is the limit for the young outfielder, but Wood still has some things to figure out. For now, let’s just celebrate the 30 homer season from our young star.

Source: https://www.federalbaseball.com/gen...nal-hit-30-homers-since-2019-does-it-in-style