The Nationals pulled away with one of their wildest wins in years yesterday afternoon in Pittsburgh, beating the Pirates 8-7 in 10 innings. This game had it all, from a bases-clearing ground ball to short, a hit by pitch and wild pitch giving the Nats the lead in the late innings, and a single in the 9th tying and the game and almost winning it, but Oneil Cruz of the Pirates inexplicably didn’t head for home. Thanks to Orlando Ribalta coming in and slamming the door in the 10th inning for his first
big league save, the Nationals split the 4 game set with the Pirates, making them 5-2 on the road trip and 9-10 overall as they head back home.
So here we are once again, the Nationals one game under the .500 mark and looking to even their win and loss columns. They will get a chance to do so this time at home against a San Francisco Giants club that has struggled to find its footing so far in 2026, led by first-time big league manager and former decorated college coach (of my university, go Vols) Tony Vitello. The Giants enter the series against the Nats 7-12, having scored the least amount of runs of any team in baseball. They’ll now get a chance against a Nationals pitching staff that is tied for the most runs allowed.
Despite a lineup filled with some of the better sluggers in the sport, the Giants have gotten little production out of their lineup to start the season, with shortstop Willy Adames and second baseman Luis Arraez being the only ones performing up to par so far. After that, it’s been a struggle for their stars such as Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, and Heliot Ramos to get things going.
The Giants have received solid production from their pitching staff to begin the season, and the Nationals will face some of their top arms in this 3-game set. Their ace, Logan Webb, currently has an ERA over 5, but his 3.21 FIP suggests his luck should be turning soon. They’ve received strong starts to the season from some surprise names as well, such as Landen Roupp, Keaton Winn, and Erik Miller.
Game One – Friday 6:45 PM EST
SFG: RHP Logan Webb (1-2, 5.25 ERA)
WSH: RHP Zach Littell (0-1, 4.20 ERA)
After getting shelled on Opening Day by the Yankees, Webb has rebounded nicely in his last 3 starts, going 6 innings and allowing 4 runs most recently against the Orioles. Lefties have him well against him so far in 2026, with a .292 average, potentially an opportunity for the Nats lefties to do some damage.
Littell has been exactly as advertised in his 3 games for the Nationals so far in 2026, going 5 innings in each outing and allowing 3 runs or fewer. He did that in appearances against strong lineups such as the Phillies and Brewers, and now he will get a chance against a struggling Giants lineup at home.
Game Two – Saturday 4:05 PM EST
SFG: RHP Adrian Houser (0-2, 5.06 ERA)
WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (0-1, 4.60 ERA)
Houser has pitched to an ERA above 5 to begin 2026, but his FIP is actually a respectable 3.67, meaning there may be some bad luck going on for him currently. The Orioles got to him in his last start, knocking him out after 4 2/3 innings with 4 runs.
Cavalli’s command failed him in the 2nd inning of his last start against the Pirates, walking 3 batters and giving up 4 runs before being pulled after getting just 4 outs. The walks have been an issue for Cavalli in all 4 starts this year, as he’s now up to 12 walks in 15 2/3 innings pitched on the season. He’ll look to find his footing back at home against a struggling Giants lineup.
Game Three – Sunday 1:35 PM EST
SFG: LHP Robbie Ray (2-2, 2.42 ERA)
WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas (0-3, 11.49 ERA)
Ray has looked ultra sharp to begin the 2026 season for the Giants, throwing 6 2/3 innings scoreless 2 starts ago against the Phillies, and most recently 5 innings of 2-run ball against the Reds. He’s mowed down righties to a .148 batting average in 2026, but lefties have performed somewhat better, hitting .235.
Mikolas went 3 1/3 innings and allowed 3 runs in his last outing after PJ Poulin opened the game, and it was somehow almost his best appearance for the Nats yet. I’m not sure how much else Toboni and the front office need to see out of him before they pull the plug, but he’ll have a chance against the currently worst lineup in baseball to prove he can at least get to 5 innings and save the bullpen some work.
Can They Get Over The Hump?
The Nationals have finally gotten to a point where the schedule softens up a little bit, getting to play the Giants, Braves, and White Sox over their next 3 series and 10 games. They’ve been so close to getting over the .500 hump again for the last week or so, and have a chance to finally get it done at home.
