After, 2 straight nights of blown bullpen games, where the Nats lost after leading through 8 innings, it is seriously time to make a change. With back to back days of blown saves, the Nats now have the most blown saves in the league with 22. Say they held on to just HALF of those saves (11/22). The Nats would be sitting at 52-29 on the year. They would literally have the best record in baseball if their bullpen could keep the lead in half the games they have choked away so far. It isn’t like we are talking about just a couple of games, it is to a point where in more than half of their losses, the Nats have held a lead and blown it. It is extremely embarrassing to say the least.

What can be done about the bullpen problem? Well at this state in the season, with the All-Star break and trade deadline looming, the Nats front office must seriously make their decision on how they want the rest of the season to play out. They either need to acquire and deal for new bullpen arms, or sell or stay the same at the deadline, and win roughly enough games to keep them around .500, miss the playoffs and waste one of the most talented offenses of the decade. Obviously Nats fans want the former, but the latter will happen soon if the front office does not pick a direction and dedicate their man power to it soon.

Finding a positive to look at, the Nats offense has still obviously been amazing. Currently still leading the MLB in runs per game, it seems early in the game they continue to take explosive leads and have powerful starts, that should be enough to close out the game, but that obviously hasn’t come as easy recently. With so many young pieces that continue to shine and develop, it is severely likely that if the Nats look to buy at the deadline, dealing away some of these young offensive stars.

Final Score: Nationals 4, Phillies 5

Date: June 24, 2026

Location: Nationals Park

Winning Pitcher: Seth Johnson ([1–0], 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K)

Losing Pitcher: Richard Lovelady ([2–4], 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K)

Key Hitters:

Team RISP: [0-for-3t]

Errors: Nats 1, Phillies 0

Attendance: 27,200

Next Game: vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Today, 6:45 PM ET, Nationals Park

Probables: Nats — Cade Cavalli, Phillies — Christopher Sanchez

Key Storyline: Can the Nats steal game 4 to get back to 2 games above .500 and get the momentum they need for the weekend?

The Fred Nats, the Nats Single-A affiliate who have been the strongest so far this year, won yesterday’s game 9-3, moving them to 49-22 on the season. In the 6 run victory, Nats 21-year old shortstop/centerfielder Jorgelys Mota had an incredible game, tallying 2 hits and 3 RBIs in 3 plate appearances, hitting a homer in one of them. In June, Mota is batting .435 with 3 homers in just 23 at bats.

The Harrisburg Senators, the Nats Double-A affiliate also picked up the 3-2 victory in yesterday’s game, moving them to 35-36 on the year. In the win, Nat 24 year-old first basemen Sam Brown had a great game in the leadoff spot, tallying 3 hits in his 5 at bats. Slowly finding his rhythm, Brown could add some depth to the Red Wings any day now.

The Nats Triple-A affiliate, Rochester Red Wings were unable to get the win yesterday in a 2-10 loss to move their record to 46-29 on the season, still incredible. Despite the loss, the Nats former starter this year Brady House continued to play solid baseball, tallying 2 hits to move to .299 on the season for the Red Wings. Just working out his issues, there is not doubt that House will make the Nats roster again someday soon.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks, Nats High-A affiliate also lost their game yesterday with a 0-2 loss to put them at 34-36 on the year. Struggling pretty hard recently, the Blue Rocks have at least seen amazing numbers and performances by Nats number 17 prospect Miguel Sime Jr. In yesterday’s loss, Sime threw 3.2 innings with 7 strikeouts, moving his ERA to 3.14 on the year as he continues his climb towards a call up.