Nats Look To Find Their Footing In 3 Game Set With Cardinals
Everything was going the Nationals’ manner for many of yesterday’s recreation, as they’d a 6-1 lead coming into the sixth inning due to a 2-run Luis Garcia Jr. dwelling run, a Keibert Ruiz single which ricocheted off the primary base bag, permitting CJ Abrams to attain, and a 3-run laser dwelling run off the bat of James Wood.
The lead tightened after a 2-run homer by Dalton Rushing within the sixth inning off PJ Poulin, however the recreation got here fully unraveled after Cionel Perez let the primary 5 hitters within the eighth inning attain base, bringing in a single run earlier than he was pulled for Clayton Beeter, bought a pressure out, sacrifice fly who, and strikeout to finish the inning, however not with out 2 extra runs scoring to make it 7-6 Dodgers. They would tack on some insurance coverage within the ninth inning with a Teoscar Hernandez solo shot, nevertheless it would not matter, because the Dodgers gained 8-6 to safe the sequence sweep in DC.
The Nats have now misplaced 5 straight video games, regardless of the offense scoring no less than 5 runs within the final 4 video games. Nats’ starters rank final in ERA at 6.69, and the bullpen ranks twenty sixth at 5.85, ensuing within the general pitching unit rating because the worst in baseball with a 6.27 ERA and -1.1 fWAR. Outside of a robust begin for Foster Griffin in his return to MLB motion and Cade Cavalli holding 2 sturdy lineups at bay, there have been only a few positives on the pitching aspect for the Nats.
The Nats will look to get again heading in the right direction now throughout a 3-game homestand with the 5-4 St. Louis Cardinals, who’re coming off their first sequence lack of the yr to the Detroit Tigers. The report appears to be like stable for the Cardinals, however the numbers counsel their success could not final, as they at the moment rank twenty fourth in crew OPS and twenty sixth in crew ERA. The offense is at the moment led by 23-year-old Jordan Walker, an eleven prime prospect who could lastly be realizing his true potential in yr 4. Matthew Liberatore is their ace on the mound, and the Nats will get a have a look at him throughout recreation two of the sequence.
STL: RHP Andre Pallante (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
WSH: RHP Zack Littell (0-1, 5.40 ERA)
Pallante was sharp in his first begin of 2026, working 5 scoreless innings in a no-decision towards the Mets, though he did stroll 3 hitters and struck out simply 3. Walks and the house run ball plagued Pallante in 2025, that means persistence can be key for Nats hitters tonight to allow them to get forward in hitter counts.
Littell was nearly as marketed in his 5 innings of labor following an opener towards the Phillies, giving up 3 runs and dealing his manner out of hassle quite a few occasions. He’ll now make his dwelling debut towards a struggling Cardinals lineup, the place hopefully he can reduce down on the exhausting contact he was giving up in Philly.
STL: LHP Matthew Liberatore (0-0, 1.64 ERA)
WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (0-0, 2.79 ERA)
Liberatore has completed the whole lot he can to earn that first win of the yr in his first two begins of 2026, giving up one run in 5 innings towards the Rays on Opening Day and one run in 6 innings towards the Mets, getting the no-decision each occasions. He’ll now must face a Nats lineup that ranks prime 5 in crew OPS at the moment, and has had success towards left-handed pitching to start the yr.
Like Liberatore, Cavalli has seemed sharp in his first two begins of the yr, however nonetheless does not have a win to point out for it, as he earned a no-decision after going 6 innings and permitting 1 run towards the Phillies. He’s stored sturdy lineups within the Cubs and Phillies at bay, and now will get a weaker Cardinals lineup in his first dwelling begin of the yr.
STL: RHP Michael McGreevy (0-1, 2.53 ERA)
WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas (0-2, 14.46 ERA)
McGreevy was nice in his first begin of 2026, going 6 scoreless towards the Rays, earlier than getting roughed up a bit by the Tigers, giving up 3 runs in 4 2/3 innings of labor, incomes him the loss. The righty has struggled with left-handed hitters up to now, and he’ll face a Nats lineup filled with spectacular left-handed hitters on Wednesday afternoon.
Despite how a lot it appears to be like like a typo, Mikolas does, actually, have a 14.46 ERA via his first 2 Nats begins, averaging a run after which some allowed per inning. Granted, he is confronted 2 excellent lineups within the Cubs and Dodgers, however so has the remainder of the rotation, and their ERA’s haven’t got 2 numbers earlier than the decimal. He’ll look to get again on observe towards a struggling Cardinals lineup, but when in addition they get to him early, it might already be time to swap him to the lengthy reduction function.
Unlucky scheduling, or a extra severe challenge?
3-6 is just not the place the Nats wished to be after a robust 3-1 begin to the yr, however they’ve additionally needed to face a gauntlet of playoff-level groups to start the season. For me, the true take a look at of what to anticipate from these Nats goes ahead tonight, towards a extra center to decrease finish of the pack NL crew within the Cardinals. Can they present they belong and take the sequence to get again on observe, or will they roll over and make issues worse?
