Next Game
Probable Pitchers
-
![player headshot]()
- Z. Wheeler PHI
- -
-
![player headshot]()
- M. Gore WAS
- -
Schedule
| Preseason | |
|---|---|
| vs | |
| @ | |
| vs | |
| @ | |
| vs |
Cancelled
|
| Regular season | |
| vs | |
| vs | |
| vs | |
| @ | |
| @ |
Now Playing
Share Video
Link copied!
Top Nationals News
-
-
Nationals' DJ Herz: Diagnosed with elbow UCL sprain
Herz has been diagnosed with a left elbow UCL sprain, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Herz's velocity was down this spring, which originally attributed to a "dead arm" phase. However, as it turns out, he's dealing with an injury that often requires season-ending UCL surgery, although it's not yet clear whether Herz might try the rest-and-rehab route first. At minimum, the lefty is likely to be out a few months, and in all likelihood, much longer.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' DJ Herz: Shifted to IL
The Nationals placed Herz on the 15-day injured list Monday due to an undisclosed injury.
Washington previously optioned Herz to Triple-A Rochester on Friday after he fell short in his bid for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, but as a result of his move to the IL, he won't immediately report to the minors. Though the nature of Herz's IL placement isn't known, the lefty dealt with dead arm in spring training, so he could just need more time to build up. Washington will presumably have more details on the nature of the 24-year-old's injury as well as a potential timeline for him to return from the IL in the coming days.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Alex Call: Set for bench role
Call is expected to begin the season as the Nationals' fourth outfielder, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The 30-year-old may not see much work however, with Dylan Crews, Jacob Young and James Wood entrenched in the starting lineup and all 25 years of age or younger. Call solidified his spot on the Opening Day roster by batting .333 (13-for-39) this spring with 12 walks against only five strikeouts, but his .231/.332/.364 career slash line in the majors better reflects his lack of fantasy upside should he find himself getting consistent playing time.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Michael Soroka: Stumbles in final spring outing
Soroka got tagged for six runs on five hits and four walks over 4.2 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. He struck out three.
The 27-year-old righty won't head into the regular season with much momentum, but Soroka is still locked into a rotation spot for the Nationals. He wraps up his spring with a 7.47 ERA and 13:11 K:BB through 15.2 innings, and his breakout 2019 season with Atlanta is a long time, and multiple serious injuries, in Soroka's past.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Derek Law: Won't be ready for Opening Day
Law (elbow) said Saturday that he doesn't believe he'll be ready for the start of the season, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Law has been brought along slowly this spring, as lingering issues from an elbow injury he suffered late last season have followed him into camp. The Nats still haven't decided whether to put him on the injured list, though that seems like the most likely outcome at this point. Once healthy, the 34-year-old righty will likely be used often out of the bullpen, as he's expressed interest in breaking the franchise record for most innings pitched by a reliever (93).
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Colin Poche: Joins active roster
The Nationals selected Poche's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.
Poche has given up four earned runs in just 4.2 innings during Grapefruit League play, but the Nationals will add him to their big-league bullpen anyway -- likely based on the 3.27 ERA and 1.13 WHIP he owns over the past three seasons. He'll likely start in a middle-relief role but could work his way into high-leverage opportunities given the overall lack of experience in Washington's bullpen.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Drew Millas: Beginning '25 in minors
The Nationals optioned Millas to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
After going just 1-for-18 with six strikeouts this spring, Millas is now out of the race for the backup catcher job in Washington, leaving Riley Adams and Andrew Knizner as the remaining candidates. Millas turned in an .879 OPS in 241 Triple-A plate appearances last season, and he may get another shot in the majors if he can replicate his past performance.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Nasim Nunez: Misses Opening Day roster
The Nationals optioned Nunez to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
Nunez turned heads in Nationals camp with a .419/.486/.484 slash line through 35 plate appearances and seemed to be making a real push for the Opening Day roster. He'll instead begin the season in Triple-A, which will allow the 24-year-old infielder to continue developing while playing every day -- something he wouldn't have been able to do in Washington.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' DJ Herz: Optioned to Triple-A
The Nationals optioned Herz to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
Herz will miss the cut for Washington's Opening Day rotation and wrap up Grapefruit League play with nine runs allowed (seven earned) over 9.2 innings. The 24-year-old southpaw posted a 4.16 ERA across 19 starts with the big club last season, and if he's able to return to form in Triple-A, he could rejoin the Nationals at some point this summer.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Shinnosuke Ogasawara: Sent to Rochester
The Nationals optioned Ogasawara to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
Ogasawara's transition from Japan to the U.S. hasn't gone as well as he probably had hoped. In five Grapefruit League games, the 27-year-old lefty allowed 19 runs (15 earned) in 12 innings while striking out 10 batters and walking eight. He'll now head to the minors as a result of his rough start, and it may be a while before he's ready to face MLB hitters.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Nasim Nunez: Forcing tough decision on Nats
Nunez may be playing his way onto the Opening Day roster, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
This was not part of the plan for the 24-year-old Nunez, a Rule 5 pick in 2024 who essentially lost a year of development while spending the whole season on the Washington bench and seeing just 78 plate appearances over 51 games. He's been one of the standouts in camp for the Nats, batting .419 (13-for-31) with a 3:4 BB:K and seven steals in nine attempts while playing excellent defense, and he is making a strong case for a utility spot on the 26-man roster. CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia are locked in at shortstop and second base however, so the most likely scenario is for Nunez to begin the year in a starting middle-infield role with Triple-A Rochester -- a level he has yet to play at after being plucked from Double-A in the Marlins' organization last year.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' DJ Herz: Might begin season in minors
Herz appears to be on the outside looking in for a spot in the Nationals' Opening Day rotation, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
Mitchell Parker seems on track to claim the fifth starter role behind MacKenzie Gore, Jake Irvin, Trevor Williams and Michael Soroka. Herz tinkered with his mechanics this offseason, and the results this spring haven't been pretty, as he's walked nine batters in 9.2 Grapefruit League innings while recording only four strikeouts. The 24-year-old lefty may need some time at Triple-A to regain the form that saw him rack up a 27.7 percent strikeout rate against a 9.4 percent walk rate over his first 88.2 big-league innings in 2024.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Favorite for rotation spot
Parker appears to be in the lead for the Nationals' fifth starter job, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
The 25-year-old southpaw worked six innings in a minor-league game Thursday as he gets stretched out for the regular season. Parker has merely been competent this spring, posting a 3.65 ERA and 8:4 K:BB over 12.1 Grapefruit League innings, but that's been good enough to move ahead of DJ Herz, who is still trying to get comfortable on the mound after tweaking his mechanics in the offseason, and Shinnosuke Ogasawara, who simply hasn't looked capable of retiring big-league hitters. Parker delivered a 4.29 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 133:43 K:BB over 151 innings in his MLB debut in 2024, and his minor-league numbers suggest he might have another level he can reach as he consistently posted K/9 rates above 10.0 as he moved up the ladder.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Facing hitters
Cavalli (elbow) is scheduled to throw against live hitters Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Thursday will mark the first time Cavalli has faced hitters this spring. The 26-year-old righty is already slated to begin the season on the injured list as he finishes up his rehab from the Tommy John procedure he underwent two years ago, though it may not be long before he returns to a competitive setting if he gets through a few more live sessions with no setbacks.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Jorge Lopez: Making appearance Friday
Lopez (hip) will make an appearance during Friday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Marlins, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Lopez hasn't pitched since March 10 due to a left hip issue but has been cleared to return to game action. Barring a setback, he'll be ready to go for Opening Day. Lopez is projected to serve as a setup man ahead of closer Kyle Finnegan.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Jake Irvin: Not concerned with velocity drop
Irvin averaged 91.4 mph with his fastball during Wednesday's Grapefruit League start against the Cardinals, down significantly from the 93.8 mph he averaged in 2024, but he said after the game he felt fine, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
The Nationals allowed the right-hander to build up to 91 pitches (64 strikes), so even though the results weren't pretty -- six runs allowed on 10 hits, including two home runs, over 5.2 innings -- the team would seem to share Irvin's confidence in his fitness. "No, we would've definitely taken him out [if we thought he was dealing with a health issue]," manager Dave Martinez said after the game. "But he said he felt great. He said nothing to worry about. He's tinkering. One, he's throwing the slider, he's throwing the cutter, so his fastball was just a little off." Irvin had been pitching fairly well this spring prior to the blowup, and he still has a 3.86 ERA through 16.1 innings after Wednesday, albeit with a lackluster 9:8 K:BB. He's expected to get one more turn during the exhibition schedule before starting the second game of the season for the Nats on March 29 against the Phillies.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Zach Brzykcy: Poised to start on IL
Brzykcy (quad) is expected to begin the season on the injured list, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Brzykcy has made just one appearance this spring due to a right quad injury that appears to have lingered longer than expected. It's not clear how much time the reliever might miss.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Headed for IL to begin season
Cavalli (elbow) is expected to start the season on the injured list, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Cavalli is considered healthy this spring after being limited to just 8.1 innings over the last two seasons following March 2023 Tommy John surgery. However, he has not made any Grapefruit League appearances and the Nationals plan to manage his workload in the first half of the season. Cavalli could be a factor with the big club after the All-Star break, but the club will bring him along slowly.
... See More ... See Less -
Nationals' Andres Chaparro: Will start season on IL
Chaparro (oblique) is slated to begin the season on the injured list, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
An MRI last week on Chaparro's left oblique confirmed a strain, which will knock the infielder out of commission for a few weeks. Chaparro had been competing for the final spot on the Nationals' bench.
... See More ... See Less
2024 Team Statistical Rankings
| Avg | R | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team |
.243 (15th) |
660 (25th) |
135 (29th) |
4.30 (23rd) |
Injuries
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| D. Herz SP Davidjohn Herz SP | Elbow |
| C. Cavalli SP Cade Cavalli SP | Elbow |
| D. Law RP Derek Law RP | Elbow |
| A. Chaparro 1B Andres Chaparro 1B | Oblique |
| Z. Brzykcy RP Zach Brzykcy RP | Quadriceps |
| Buy Tickets |
|---|