The Nationals are getting dangerously close to the basement of the National League East, as a 3-game sweep at the hands of Miami now has them 10 games below .500 and just 1.5 games above the last place New York Mets. Their month of August has been simply abysmal, with hopes for a playoff berth having crashed all the way down to attempting to avoid ending the year 5th in the division. Washington is 2-8 across their last 10 games, but luckily, they begin the homestand with the worst team in MLB.
At
just 50 wins through 130 games, 2026 has been another hard-to-watch chapter of Rockies baseball. Colorado has lost their last 6 games, and is months removed from being in any type of conversation regarding October baseball. Their pitching, per usual, has been the anchor dragging their team down, so this week’s series could be a good time for the Nationals’ offense to come alive in a big way.
Game One – Monday, 6:45 PM ET
WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (11-5, 3.22 ERA)
COL: RHP Ryan Feltner (5-7, 5.97 ERA)
With the season all but over, Cavalli is one of the few reasons to continue tuning in to Nationals’ games, especially against a team like Colorado. He can drop his ERA below the 3.20-mark with another great outing, and Feltner’s struggles this season create a favorable matchup for the Washington hitters.
Game Two – Tuesday, 6:45 PM ET
WSH: LHP Andrew Alvarez (2-5, 3.60 ERA)
COL: LHP Kyle Freeland (4-10, 6.37 ERA)
Freeland and Alvarez have been going in opposite directions this season, with the latter emerging as a potentially crucial piece to Washington’s future. His 2.42 ERA in August has continued his strong season, and a few more starts of similar caliber could earn his spot in the rotation next season.
Game Three – Wednesday, 6:45 PM ET
WSH: TBA
COL: RHP Tanner Gordon (0-4, 5.75 ERA)
The Nats have yet to announce a starter for Wednesday night’s game, but whoever they start is likely to have better numbers than Gordon. He’s another part of a rough Colorado rotation, and Washington will likely deploy a handful of relievers with uncertainty at the back end of their staff.
Game Four – Thursday, 1:05 PM ET
WSH: RHP Jake Irvin (2-8, 5.82 ERA)
COL: RHP Gabriel Hughes (0-5, 6.54 ERA)
It would certainly be nice to get any semblance of success from the 29-year-old Irvin, whose August ERA has ballooned above the 6.50 mark. Hughes hasn’t fared any better, riding a 6.54 ERA through his first 42.2 innings in the big leagues.
