The Washington Nationals entered their four-game series against the Atlanta Braves seeking to alter their course after a difficult stretch. Recent performances have raised valid concerns about both consistency and execution, especially at the plate and in the bullpen.
Swept at home by the Cardinals and outscored 18–3, Washington faced a divisional opponent known for pressuring struggling clubs. This series presented more than just four games—it was a mid-May checkpoint that could influence the tone for the rest of the month. The Nationals have a chance to reset their rhythm, but only if several key adjustments take hold immediately.
Limiting Damage Starts on the Mound
Washington’s starters haven’t been overmatched, but they haven’t been overwhelming either since April 25. MacKenzie Gore remains a steady force despite his bumps and bruises. The bigger concern lies in the rest of the group. Nats pitchers in this series needed to keep Braves’ hitters off-balance early. Atlanta thrives on jumping out fast, especially with run-producers like Marcel Ozuna, Matt Olson and Austin Riley in the heart of their lineup with the absence of Ronald Acuna Jr.
The Nationals need to limit the free passes, HBPs, and wild pitches. Walks have turned potential clean innings into multi-run frames. They’re well aware that the good teams punish mistakes. This means a focus on location over velocity and taking control of the strike zone from the first pitch, and framing up pitches to get the strike calls that are hard to come by near the edges. If the Nats can exit the first three innings without trailing, they give themselves the breathing room needed to settle in where they are now 13-7 when the Nats score first.
Offensive Urgency Must Improve
Only scoring three runs across three home games wasn’t sustainable in the sweep by the Cardinals. Even with young talent still finding footing, the lineup cannot afford to be passive. Players like CJ Abrams and James Wood must set the tone early in games. Getting addition production would be welcomed as the rest of the lineup has been inconsistent The Nationals rank near the bottom in first-inning run production, which puts immediate pressure on their pitchers.
One solution lies in being more aggressive on the bases per manager Dave Martinez‘s postgame comments after Wednesday’s win — but you saw how costly a running mistake can be. Speed remains an under-utilized asset. If the Nats can stretch singles into doubles or swipe bags in high-leverage spots, they force the other team to make defensive decisions under pressure. Manufacturing runs—especially in close games—matters more now than waiting for a power surge.
The Nationals must also attack fastballs and especially the meatballs that are too often fouled off. Braves pitchers had success with early-count heaters, and too often Washington hitters have let hittable pitches pass.
These offensive tendencies haven’t gone unnoticed. They’re reflected in reputable online sportsbooks like FanDuel that track team scoring trends closely, especially when evaluating matchups and momentum swings.
Youth Must Respond to Pressure
The club’s young core—not just physically, but mentally need to step up. Players like Jacob Young, Luis García Jr., and Dylan Crews need to get it going to join Wood and Abrams as difference makers. Atlanta presented a high-caliber pitching and playoff-level intensity with the big crowds. For the Nationals to win consistently, their younger players must embrace the challenge, not shrink from it.
Defensive metrics are another area where youth is tested. Garcia is slumping defensively. He must improve. Simple execution—cutoff throws, communication on fly balls, double-play turns—could mean the difference between holding a one-run lead and losing it. Other teams have proved to be opportunistic and will exploit hesitation or misreads as we saw in throwing out three base runners on Wednesday. The Nationals must stay locked in on every pitch, regardless of the inning or score.
Across the league, several teams are relying heavily on under-25 talent, as highlighted in the latest MLB news. How these players mature under pressure is shaping the early-season landscape. Washington’s young core has a chance to prove they can compete with the best of them—starting now.
Bullpen Balance Will Be Tested
The bullpen has flashed promise since the DFA of two struggling relievers, but lacked consistency — and they must find that. Players like Kyle Finnegan have been the only constant. And middle innings have become a problem, and especially for any reliever entering mid-inning with runners on-base. Bridging the gap from the starter to the back-end has often required too many arms, burning through the bullpen too often.
Facing a team like Atlanta, which battled deep into counts and elevated pitch counts quickly, makes it more difficult on managing relief usage which becomes critical. The Nationals may benefit from leaning into a piggyback approach—pairing long relievers with short starters—to create predictability in bullpen deployment. Look at Michael Soroka who looks great until he hits the wall in the final inning of his work. The same with Mitchell Parker.
If Washington can enter the eighth inning with a lead like on Wednesday, their chances improve significantly. But blown leads in the middle innings will leave little margin for error. Trust in roles must be reinforced early in the series.
