With the bats rolling and one of their better starters in Cade Cavalli on the mound, the Nats had a prime opportunity to take 3 out of 4 from the Mets and clear the .500 mark the deepest into a season they have since 2021. Unfortunately, the Mets arms shut down the Nats lineup, allowing just 1 run on a groundout in the 5th inning, and the Nats stranded the tying run on third base in the 9th inning to lose 2-1 and drop back down to one game under .500.
To clear the .500 mark this weekend, the Nationals
will have to do it against a Braves club that is going scorched earth to its opponents right now, with their 35-16 record and +104 run differential both being the best in baseball. After a few years of underperforming and missing the playoffs despite a strong ballclub, the Braves have found their identity again in 2026, a team with a strong pitching staff and a deadly lineup. Led by Matt Olson and Ronald Acuna, the Braves have 7 hitters in their lineup with an above-average wRC+, resulting in a team 117 wRC+, second best in baseball.
On the pitching side, Chris Sale has gotten healthy and been a force for the Braves at the top of their rotation, with a 1.89 ERA in 10 starts in 2026. Thanks to a rebound season by Bryce Elder and a rebirth year by 35-year-old Martin Perez, the Braves’ starting pitching has gotten the job done, and their bullpen has been lockdown, leading to their 3.09 team ERA being the best in baseball.
Game One – Friday 7:15 PM EST
WSH: LHP Richard Lovelady (2-2, 2.61 ERA)
ATL: RHP Bryce Elder (4-2, 2.01 ERA)
The Nats will roll with an opener before sending Miles Mikolas out for the bulk work in tonight’s game against the Braves. Lovelady picked up a save Tuesday night against the Mets and now will open up a ballgame three days later.
Elder had a 3.81 ERA in 31 starts in 2023, but after a 6.52 ERA in 2024 and a 5.30 ERA in 2025, it looked like his career as a starter was on the ropes. He’s been proving the doubters wrong so far in 2026, with a 2.01 ERA in 10 starts, but the scrappy Nats lineup will look to inflate that ERA tonight.
Game Two – Saturday 4:10 PM EST
WSH: RHP Jake Irvin (1-4, 5.79 ERA)
ATL: RHP Grant Holmes (3-1, 3.80 ERA)
Irvin looked good on paper in his last start against the Mets, striking out 6 batters and only walking 1, but he allowed 6 hits and didn’t generate many quick outs, resulting in him going just 4 innings and allowing 2 runs. The Nats would take that stat line tonight from Irvin against a deep and dangerous Braves lineup.
Holmes had his best start of the season last time out against the Red Sox, throwing 6 scoreless innings and earning the victory. He doesn’t strike out a ton of hitters, meaning there’s opportunity for the bottom half of the Nats lineup to grind out at-bats and the top half to do the heavy lifting.
Game Three – Sunday 4:10 PM EST
WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (5-2, 4.02 ERA)
ATL: LHP Martin Perez (2-2, 2.85 ERA)
After a pristine start to the season, things have come unraveled for Griffin in his last 2 starts, allowing 14 runs over 9.1 combined innings. The ERA has ballooned over 4, in part to him being kept in the Reds game to try and save the bullpen, and he will look to get that back under the 4 mark against the Braves on Sunday.
Perez has done it all for the Braves in 2026, whether that be opening ballgames by throwing an inning or two, or actually starting games and pitching rather well when he does. He gave up 4 runs in 5 innings to the Marlins last time out, so the Nats will be looking to get to him in a similar way on Sunday.
