The Home for Washington Nationals Game Talk

The Washington Nationals are back home with a 2-game set against the Braves, a team in a fight for the final Wild Card spot. The Mets are rooting hard for the Nationals to help them. Of course, next week the Nats have a 3-game series with the Mets. The Cubs are also hoping the Nats win. They have a small chance to sneak into the playoffs.

The Washington Nationals had not played in a doubleheader since May 14 in Chicago, and they had not swept a doubleheader since April 19 of 2022 against Arizona. In fact, last year on April 29, the Pirates swept the Nats in a doubleheader.

This doubleheader sweep had a miraculous finish with four runs against Pirates closer, Aroldis Chapman, in a dramatic 9th inning. Ildemaro Vargas got a 2-run double that went in and out of the glove of the Pirates’ rightfielder with 2-outs for the game winner. Too often it has been the Nats on the other end of a final inning heartbreaker, and this time they were the team celebrating. Today, the Nats will go for the series win in the 4-game set with the Pirates.

The Washington Nationals got a very nice win this afternoon led by DJ Herz‘s five scoreless innings with no hits. Dylan Crews carried the offense with a home run, double, walk, two RBIs and two runs scored. With the unexpected day-off yesterday after a rain-out in Pittsburgh, this is the second game of this afternoon/evening split-doubleheader today against the Pirates.

The Washington Nationals came out swinging and took a quick 3-0 lead. Then they failed at the little things, and their lead quickly evaporated and boiled over into a 9-4 loss. After a rain-out on Friday, the Nats have a split-doubleheader today in Pittsburgh.

The Washington Nationals had yesterday’s game won until they didn’t. Another case of the wins can’t be counted until final score is determined in the end. The Nats suffered another 1-run loss in extra innings. The value of 1-run and executing on the “little things” continue to bite this team in the W/L column.

Starter MacKenzie Gore had a perfect game going until a 3-2 pitch on the corner was ruled in favor of the batter, a rookie callup, with 2-outs in the 6th inning. Of course that runner scored on a double — and should have been out by a mile at the plate. A good throw would have easily beat the runner to the plate, but CJ Abrams threw the ball into the dirt, and it bounced 3-times and allowed the runner to score. The Nats came back with a 3-run 8th inning to take the lead, but Kyle Finnegan blew the save in the 9th inning.

The Washington Nationals took care of business last night in Miami and will now try to secure a 2-game sweep in this quick series. After tonight’s game, the Nationals will fly through the night to Pittsburgh. This is a sad situation with Marlins management as they have not been accommodating the Nationals and other teams with an early get away game on weekday games.

The Washington Nationals had chances on Friday and Saturday night for walk-offs, and then were blown-out on Sunday. That happens, and with a day-off yesterday — the team is back at work today in Miami. These are the final 25 games of the 2024 season. A sprint to the finish.