The Washington Nationals will play game two of the three against the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon at Nationals Park. The Nationals are scheduled to send right-handed pitcher Cade Cavalli to the mound who has a 3-1 record and an 4.67 ERA. The Nationals are scheduled to face right-handed pitcher Mike Burrows who has a 2-4 record and 3.99 ERA.

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Elevate Your Performance

The Nationals lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 yesterday afternoon, despite another great outing from left-handed pitcher Andrew Alvarez who pitched 6.0 scoreless innings, and only allowed only three hits and one walk and struck out five. The Pirates scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning.

Through his first three career starts, Alvarez ha a 1.15 ERA and have only allowed two earned runs over 15.2 innings pitched.

On the offensive side of the ball, Dylan Crews once again reached base was he went 1-for-3 with a run scored and broke up Bubba Chanlder's perfect game with a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth. Crews extended his hitting streak yesterday as he has a hit in five of his last seven games, going 7-for-26 with a double, two home runs, six RBI, a walk and a four runs scored.

The Nationals have won eight of their last 12 games, posting an 8-4 record (.667) so far in September, which is the second-best mark in the National League behind the Philadelphia Phillies (10-2, .833). Washington’s lineup has produced 40 extra-base hits in September—19 doubles, 5 triples, and 16 home runs—ranking second in the NL behind the Phillies' 49. Over their last 33 games since August 9, the Nationals hold a 16-17 record (.485).

Jose A. Ferrer is on a hot streak, earning a 2-0 record with nine saves, two holds, a 1.08 ERA (2 earned runs in 16.2 innings), and collecting 15 strikeouts against only three walks over his last 15 appearances. During this span, Ferrer has successfully converted all nine save chances, ranking him tied for third in the National League for saves since August 9.

Daylen Lile has reached base in 13 consecutive games, batting .392 (20-for-51) during the streak with a double, five triples, two homers, eight RBIs, four walks, a stolen base, and 12 runs scored. He’s put together eight multi-hit games during this run.

Over his last 42 games since July 21, Lile is slashing .329/.373/.535, racking up seven doubles, eight triples, three home runs, 22 RBIs, nine walks, five steals, and 27 runs. He leads all Major League rookies with nine triples and, among NL rookies with at least 275 plate appearances, ranks first in batting average (.283), first in slugging (.449), and second in OPS (.779).

James Wood (tied for third with 36 doubles) and CJ Abrams (tied for seventh with 33 doubles) are both among the National League leaders in doubles this season. The Nationals are one of only two NL teams—with the Mets also achieving this feat—to have two players ranked in the league’s top ten for doubles.

Wood also leads all of Major League Baseball with 15 doubles since August 8, including a stretch of five doubles in his last five games (8-for-20, 5 doubles, 2 RBIs, 2 walks). Meanwhile, Abrams recently collected his 100th career double during Monday night’s game.

Cade Cavalli recently secured his third career victory—and his first on the road—on September 8 in Miami, where he limited the Marlins to two earned runs on six hits, striking out one and walking one over five innings.

At home, Cavalli has excelled, holding a 1-0 record with a 1.10 ERA (2 ER in 16.1 IP), 17 strikeouts, and just two walks across three starts. On the road, he’s 1-1 with a 7.85 ERA (16 ER in 18.1 IP) over four starts.

Against left-handed hitters, he’s allowed a .225 average (18-for-80) with 19 strikeouts and four walks, while right-handers have batted .387 (24-for-62) with 10 strikeouts and five walks.

In his third start since returning to the majors in 2025 (after missing significant time due to injury and surgery), Cavalli recorded his first Major League win on August 16 against the Philadelphia Phillies. He delivered a standout performance: seven scoreless innings, five strikeouts, and no runs allowed.