All articles tagged with #nationals
Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli dominated the Cubs, retiring the lineup in order through five and carrying a no-hitter into the seventh before Washington broke it open with a five-run fifth highlighted by Abimelec Ortiz’s three-run homer. Chicago managed only two baserunners (Busch’s single and two Swanson walks) as Gausman started strong but faltered in the fifth, sealing a 7-0 win for Washington.
The Washington Nationals designated veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas for assignment, potentially ending the 37-year-old's MLB career after a tough season (24 games, 11 starts, 3-9, 5.89 ERA over 113 innings). With Washington pushing a youth movement led by CJ Abrams and James Wood, Jackson Kent was set to start soon, leaving Mikolas as the odd man out after a year of mixed results.
Phillies outfielder Derek Hill left the 11th inning after crashing into the center-field wall during a 10-4 extra-innings loss to the Washington Nationals, suffering a bruised shoulder and awaiting further evaluation; he had entered as a pinch-hitter and is a .268 hitter with five homers in 34 games for Philadelphia, with manager Don Mattingly promising overnight monitoring of his status as the team heads forward.
Phillies rookie Andrew Painter left his start after four innings and 63 pitches due to tightness in his left hamstring during a 10-4 loss to the Washington Nationals; he was removed as a precaution after checking on him following each inning. Painter said the hamstring felt better after the game and expects to start next, with no imaging planned. He had recently returned to the big leagues following a reset at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and is expected to be the Phillies' fifth starter for the rest of the year since no starting pitcher was acquired at the trade deadline.
Phillies rookie Andrew Painter left his start against Washington with left hamstring tightness after 63 pitches in a 10-4 loss and will be reevaluated, leaving Philadelphia to consider rotation options (opener, Triple-A Keller, or external addition) if he misses time. Painter had shown progress with a boosted fastball and an improved circle-change, but the night also featured injuries to Derek Hill (shoulder contusion) and a wrist issue for Bryce Harper, complicating roster plans going forward.
Washington staged a hybrid deadline, trading veterans for pitching depth and prospects to build a sustainable winner while still insisting it can contend, a move that drew fan frustration as they balanced a surprising run with bullpen issues and questions about the direction.
Luis Arraez made an immediate impact in his Phillies debut, driving in two runs on an RBI single in the first inning and a run-scoring double in the third as Philadelphia blanked Washington 5-0 behind eight scoreless innings from Jesús Luzardo. Arraez’s two hits, paired with strong defense and a crowd-pleasing Harper return, helped the Phils win their fourth straight; Turner added three hits, Kilian closed the ninth, and Philadelphia again leaned on a boosted lineup ahead of Andrew Painter’s next start.
Facing a rough stretch and shrinking playoff odds, the Nationals sold at the trade deadline, grading three deals: Curtis Mead to the Red Sox for Connelly Early (A-), Luis Garcia Jr. to the Yankees for Yovanny Cruz, Jack Cebert, Ben Grable and Jake Bird (B), and Foster Griffin to the Astros for Josh Hartle, Will Dion, Kendeglys Virguez and Nick Mitchell (D). Overall, the grade is C+. Early provides a needed mid-rotation arm, Garcia’s package is solid but not flashy, and Griffin’s return lacks upside. Dion offers a usable bullpen piece, Abimelec Ortiz is a promising replacement, and Toboni’s emphasis on pitching depth paid off to an extent, though upside was left on the table and CJ Abrams was not moved.
The Washington Nationals used the 2026 Trade Deadline to bulk up on pitching, acquiring nine pitchers across four deals while holding onto star shortstop CJ Abrams. They landed controllable starter Connelly Early (five years of control) and Cade Cavalli for a postseason-ready rotation, and shipped Foster Griffin and Luis García Jr. for depth arms. The club preserved vibes by keeping Abrams, but left room for future moves and possibly more prospect trades; overall, the trade actions earn a cautious B-plus and keep a window open for 2027 while signaling more spending may be needed in free agency.
New York acquired 1B Luis García Jr. from Washington for four pitchers (Ben Grable, Yovanny Cruz, Jack Cebert and Jake Bird). García, 26, is coming off a breakout 2026 season with 23 homers and an .873 OPS in 374 plate appearances and is expected to be the Yankees' everyday option against right-handed pitching at first base, with limited opportunities against lefties.
The Yankees have inquired about Nationals first baseman Luis García Jr. as they search for an offensive upgrade before the MLB trade deadline, but his left-handed bat and shift to first base complicate fit for a right-handed-heavy lineup, and he recently left a game with knee soreness.
In a rare deadline swap, the Red Sox sent lefty Connelly Early to the Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead. Boston adds a power bat to a lineup they’ve struggled to produce, while Washington gains a controllable arm after Early’s elbow inflammation stint. Early was 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 17 starts before June 30; Mead is hitting .256/.351/.505 with 17 homers and is under team control through 2030, not a rental. The deal is pitched as strategic rather than a salary dump, with Boston graded B- and Washington A- as both sides fill needs for the stretch run.
Miami pounced on upside with Jacob Lombard as its top pick, then stocked the rest of its draft with high‑floor arms; Washington loaded up on elite college bats at the top and sprinkled in upside later, while Atlanta, the Mets, and the Phillies balanced college and high‑upside picks across rounds under various constraints. In sum, the NL East draft leaned toward top‑tier upside with mixed depth and development questions throughout the division.
The Washington Nationals selected Texas A&M second baseman Chris Hacopian with the No. 11 pick in the MLB draft, a centerpiece of their front-office rebuild focused on development. Hacopian, a Maryland native who hit .319/.405 in college, is lauded for his plate discipline as Washington looks to bolster its farm system with multiple first-day picks.
Willson Contreras returned to Boston’s lineup for the Angels series opener, batting cleanup at first as his seven-game suspension remains on hold during an appeal; he went 2-for-4 with a walk in a 5-2 win, a result of the benches-clearing incident with the Nationals that led to discipline.