After getting swept to open the month, it’s been smooth sailing for the Nationals as we hit the halfway mark in June. They won their last 2 games against the Seattle Mariners for a come-from-behind series victory, making that their 3rd in a row. With the gritty Tampa Bay Rays and division rival Philadelphia Phillies on the horizon, they get a chance to extend their winning streak against a Royals team that has been far from elite this season.
Kansas City sits firmly in last place in the AL Central,
with a record of just 29-43. Their offense is in the bottom 10 of almost every statistical category, despite the MVP-level season that shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has put together thus far. They have lost their last 2 series, and now head into Washington to attempt to right the ship.
Game 1 – Monday 6:45 PM EST
WSH: LHP Andrew Alvarez (1-0, 3.70 ERA)
KCR: RHP Mitch Spence (0-0, 13.50 ERA)
Alvarez’s two starts as a swingman have been about as advertised, going less than 5.0 innings both times out but limiting opposing offenses to 2 or fewer runs. The lefty is a true “get it done” pitcher, allowing a decent amount of baserunners but having enough putaway stuff to work his way out of jams. Commanding the strike zone remains a work in progress, although he has racked up just over 9 strikeouts per 9 innings, and the coaching staff will definitely be careful with him against the Royals’ top bats.
The right-hander is on his 3rd team in 3 MLB seasons, and his lone appearance with Kansas City was back in mid-April. Spence was hit for 6 runs across 4.0 innings in said outing, and his AAA ERA sat above 6.50 over the course of 10 starts. The Nats have a chance to absolutely feast on a pitcher the Royals are essentially forced to start, and it would be great to see the lineup get off to another hot start.
Game 2 – Tuesday 6:45 PM EST
WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (7-2, 3.46 ERA)
KCR: RHP Michael Wacha (4-5, 3.58 ERA)
The days of calling Griffin a reclamation project have come and gone, and he remains the steadiest pitcher in the Washington rotation entering his 15th start. He battled through another 6.0 strong innings the last time through the rotation, surrendering a single run to the San Francisco Giants and lowering his season ERA to 3.46. It’s hard not to have utmost confidence in the 30-year-old every time he takes the mound, and he faces another stable veteran on Tuesday night.
Wacha is seemingly entering “ageless wonder” territory and has been a lock for an ERA in the mid-3.00s every year since 2021. The Nats are seeing him amidst a rough patch, though, with his ERA rising almost a full point in his last 3 starts, giving up 14 runs in 17.2 innings. His offspeed pitches are where hitters have found the most success against him, making the plan for success fairly clear.
Game 3 – Wednesday 1:05 PM EST
WSH: RHP Zack Littell (6-5, 5.32 ERA)
KCR: RHP Luinder Avila (1-3, 6.19 ERA)
Littell had been cruising in his recent starts, but that run of dominance came to a screeching halt against the Seattle Mariners on June 12th. He was tagged for 5 runs over just 1.2 innings, with the long ball getting him once and forcing him out of the game abruptly. There is something to be said about how he had to deal with an impromptu rain delay before his start, making this next appearance an important watch for Nats coaches and fans alike.
The story for Avila’s 2026 campaign is nearly identical to Littell’s, despite the 6-year age difference. His sophomore season got off to a dreadful start out of the bullpen, but he put together a fine month of May. He was moved to the rotation and had 2 impressive starts to begin June, but got absolutely shelled by the Astros for 8 runs, failing to make it out of the 1st inning. This game will come down to whichever starter can rebound better, and whether or not Littell’s experience can outlast Avila’s youthful energy.
