After responding with authority to their game one loss on Wednesday night, dropping a 14-run barrage on the Mets’ head and winning 14-2, they came into Thursday night looking to steal the series and make it a 4-2 road trip overall. They trailed entering the late innings, but their fortunes changed when CJ Abrams launched a go-ahead 2-run home run in the 8th inning off Luke Weaver, giving them a 5-4 lead which Gus Varland would hold onto for his third save of the season and his career.
The Nationals
now return home for a 6-game home stand, which starts with a 3-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers, whom the Nats swept 3 weeks ago at their place. The Brewers aren’t playing poorly, as they have a 16-14 record and the 4th best run differential in baseball, but it’s not up to their standards, as they currently sit in 4th place in the NL Central.
The offense is currently being led by second baseman Brice Turang, who launched 2 home runs off Zack Littell when they faced off weeks ago, and he’ll get another crack at him Sunday afternoon. They may have just lost right-handed starter Brandon Woodruff for some time after he left his start the other day in the 2nd inning after his velocity dipped multiple ticks, but they have the talent to make up for it, as the Nats will face off with their 2 best starters, Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison, tonight and tomorrow.
Game One – Friday 6:45 PM EST
WSH: RHP Jake Irvin (1-3, 4.85 ERA)
MIL: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (1-2, 3.31 ERA)
Outside of a juggernaut Dodgers lineup rocking his world early on in the year, Irvin has been an effective starter for the Nats, going at least 5 innings and allowing 3 or fewer runs in every start, with his 5.2 scoreless innings against the White Sox last time out being his best start yet. He’ll now get a second shot against the Brewers, whom he managed to get through 5 innings, allowing only 3 runs despite walking 5 batters.
The 2025 all-star Misiorowski has looked even sharper in 2026, allowing fewer walks and striking out more batters per outing. He logged a quality start of 6 innings and 3 runs allowed last time out against the Pirates, and will look to keep it up against a scrappy Nats lineup.
Game Two – Saturday 4:05 PM EST
WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (3-0, 2.67 ERA)
MIL: LHP Kyle Harrison (2-1, 2.28 ERA)
Griffin has been a blessing for a mostly middling Nats rotation, as his 7 scoreless innings against the White Sox last time out was his finest work yet. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling against a weaker-than-usual Brewers lineup.
It’s been a hectic last year for Harrison, going from San Francisco to Boston in the Rafael Devers trade, then Boston to Milwaukee for Caleb Durbin and others, but it looks like he’s found his home for the future, as he currently has the best ERA among all Brewers starters. He pitched well against the Nats earlier this season but was bounced early, allowing 2 runs over 4 1/3 innings pitched, and he’ll get a second chance against them Saturday afternoon.
Game Three – Sunday 1:35 PM EST
WSH: Zack Littell (0-4, 7.85 ERA)
MIL: Chad Patrick (2-1, 2.57 ERA)
After a decent start to the season, the wheels have come off for Littell, allowing a combined 18 runs in his last 3 starts. He went 5 innings and allowed 3 runs against the Brewers when he faced them earlier this season, so hopefully he can come close to replicating a stat-line like that on Sunday afternoon.
Patrick came in after opener Aaron Ashby last time he faced the Nats, and he did his job, throwing 3 scoreless innings in an eventual loss. Patrick has allowed 2 or fewer runs in 5 of his starts or bulk innings appearances in 2026, and will look to replicate his success against the Nats on Sunday.
