We are exactly 1/3 of the way through the 2026 season, and the Washington Nationals sit at .500 here on Memorial Day. Tonight, they will begin a three-game set with the Cleveland Guardians, who enter the day with baseball’s fourth-best record. It will be Zack Littell facing off against Tanner Bibee in this Monday’s matchup, as Washington looks to finally get over the hump and earn a positive record.

Foster Griffin continued his breakout season Sunday afternoon, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing just three hits with six strikeouts and one walk in the Nationals’ 2-1 win over Atlanta. Griffin improved to 6-2 and kept one of baseball’s best lineups off balance throughout the afternoon. Washington’s bullpen nearly let things unravel in the ninth after Gus Varland allowed traffic and Nasim Nuñez committed an error that helped load the bases, but Orlando Ribalta entered and escaped the jam by striking out Chadwick Tromp before retiring Ronald Acuña Jr. for the save.

Offense was limited for both sides, but the Nationals did enough to secure their second straight win. Nasim Nuñez delivered a fifth-inning RBI single to put Washington on the board and later scored what became a crucial insurance run in a game where every baserunner mattered. The Nationals finished the series taking two of three from Atlanta and handed the Braves their first N.L. series loss of the season.

On Deck…

This mid-week series will continue tomorrow night, as Cade Cavalli will face off against Joey Cantillo in a matchup between two of this season’s early breakout arms.

In the hole…

The set will wrap up on Wednesday, when Miles Mikolas will take the bump to oppose Gavin Williams, who was Cleveland’s 2021 first-round pick in the matinee finale.