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Game Details
Washington Nationals (61-69) at Miami Marlins (65-64)
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jake Irvin (2-7; 5.80 ERA) vs. RHP Eury Perez (6-9; 3.23 ERA)
Date: Saturday, August 22 ,2026 | 4:10 p.m. EDT | Game: #131 | Road Game: #68
Location: loanDepot Park | Miami FL.
Game storylines and notes
This afternoon, the Washington Nationals will look to even up the series against the Miami Marlins with the first pitch at 4:10 p.m. EDT at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
The Nationals are scheduled to send right handed pitcherJake Irvin who has a 2-7 record and an 5.80 ERA and are scheduled to face right handed pitcher Eury Perez with a 6-9 record and an a 3.23 ERA.
Jake Irvin is set to start against the Marlins for the first time this season. Irvin is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA with 10 strikeouts and three walks in three career starts at IoanDepot park.
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Washington Nationals Schedule
Up Next…
On Deck…
Tomorrow, the Washington Nationals will wrap up their three city road trip and the series against the Miami Marlins with the first pitch at 1:40 p.m. EDT. The Nationals are scheduled to send left handed pitcher Jackson Kent who has a 0-1 record an a ERA of 9.39. Kent is set to make his third career start and his first start against the Marlins. The Nationals are scheduled to face right handed pitcher Janson Junk who has a 6-8 record an a 4.37 ERA.
In the hole…
On Monday night the Washington Nationals will return home to Nationals Park and will face the Colorado Rockies with the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. EDT. [Stay tuned for the probable pitching matchups for the Rockies series. As soon as we know you will know!!]
I want to be FOREVER YOUNG
Jacob Young has been one of the Nationals’ hottest hitters recently, going 15-for-41 (.366) with two doubles, a triple, a home run, five RBI and five runs scored over his last 13 games.
Young has reached base in 10 of those 13 contests, drawing two walks and getting hit twice while striking out only five times. Since July 25, Young owns a .932 OPS in 21 games, with a .492 slugging percentage, four doubles, a triple, a homer and 10 walks in 77 plate appearances.
Why it matters:
Young’s recent surge gives Washington a valuable source of on-base ability and unexpected extra-base impact near the top of the lineup. If he continues pairing his elite speed and defense with more consistent quality at-bats, he can create more scoring opportunities and strengthen the Nationals’ everyday outfield mix down the stretch.
It also matters because Young’s approach has improved alongside the production. His 10 walks against 13 strikeouts since July 25 suggest he is seeing pitches well and avoiding empty at-bats, rather than relying solely on balls falling in for hits.
For a speed-based player, reaching base more often can quickly change an inning: Young can pressure pitchers, create stolen-base opportunities and put defenders in uncomfortable situations, all while giving the Nationals’ hitters behind him more chances to drive in runs.
Washington Nationals Player Spotlight: Orlando Ribalta
Orlando Ribalta has emerged as a dependable high-leverage option in the Nationals bullpen, posting a 3.20 ERA with 12 holds across 41 appearances in 2026. The 28-year-old right-hander has been particularly effective lately, allowing four earned runs over his last 16 innings for a 2.25 ERA while striking out 19, and he has excelled in pressure spots: opponents are hitless in 11 at-bats with the bases loaded against him. Ribalta’s slider-heavy mix has also neutralized left-handed hitters, who are batting just .121 against him this season.
Why it matters:
The Nationals need trustworthy relievers who can protect narrow leads and navigate difficult late-inning matchups, and Ribalta is increasingly proving he can fill that role. His ability to handle lefties, miss bats and strand inherited runners gives Washington more flexibility when setting up the back end of games.
Washington Nationals Notes from the Nationals Dugout
“Notes from the Washington Nationals Dugout” compiles key game notes, recent performances and notable milestones from across the roster.
Below is a quick snapshot of standout trends and individual highlights during the current stretch.
CJ Phone Home: CJ Abrams has followed his National League Player of the Month award in July by remaining among the game’s most productive offensive players. He enters play with 91 RBI, matching Ian Desmond’s 2014 club record for the most RBI by a shortstop in a single season in Nationals history (2005-present).
Abrams needs nine more RBI to become the franchise’s first 100-RBI player since Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto in 2019, while six more stolen bases would make him only the second National to record a 30-homer, 30-steal season joining Alfonso Soriano’s 40-homer, 41-steal campaign in 2006. His July surge was especially dominant: Abrams led the National League in home runs, OPS and slugging percentage while posting a 1.149 OPS with 10 homers and 23 RBI.
Why It matters:
CJ Abrams is not merely having a strong season for a shortstop—he is delivering the kind of middle-of-the-order production that can reshape a lineup. Reaching 100 RBI would place him among a small group of the most productive hitters in Nationals history, while doing it from shortstop would further highlight the positional value of his performance. His power production gives Washington a consistent run-driving threat at a premium defensive position, something few teams can match.
A 30/30 season would carry even greater significance because it would show the full scope of Abrams’ offensive impact. Thirty homers would establish him as a legitimate power hitter, while 30 steals would confirm that he remains a game-changing athlete on the bases. That blend forces opponents to account for him in every phase of an inning—whether he is driving the ball for extra bases, creating runs with his speed or putting pressure on defenses—and gives the Nationals a foundational star around whom they can build their next competitive team.
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads. Runnin' down a dream: The Washington Nationals have built one of baseball’s most aggressive and effective running games, leading Major League Baseball with 139 stolen bases and 10.1 base running runs above average, according to FanGraphs. Nasim Nuñez has been at the center of that attack, leading the Majors with 42 stolen bases.
Nasim Nuñez is five steals away from matching CJ Abrams’ Nationals-era single-season record of 47, set in 2023, and has already joined Alfonso Soriano, Trea Turner and Abrams as the only Nationals players since 2005 to reach 40 steals in a season.
Why it matters:
The Washington Nationals’ speed gives them a way to manufacture offense even when the lineup is not consistently producing extra-base hits. A stolen base can move a runner into scoring position without requiring another hit, force pitchers to divide their attention and create more favorable counts for the hitters at the plate. Washington’s league-leading base running value shows that its impact extends beyond raw steal totals.
Nuñez’s pursuit of the franchise record also underscores his growing importance to the club’s identity. His ability to get on base and immediately create pressure can alter an opposing team’s defensive positioning, bullpen decisions and willingness to use certain pitches. If he reaches or surpasses Abrams’ mark, it would be a notable individual accomplishment but, more importantly, it would reflect a Nationals team using athleticism and aggression as a legitimate offensive advantage.
On the mound for the Washington Nationals
Jake Irvin
Right handed pitcher Jake Irvin is set to start against the Marlins for the first time this season. Irvin is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA with 10 strikeouts and three walks in three career starts at IoanDepot park.
Jake Irvin will look to rebound against the Miami Marlins after allowing four earned runs over six innings in Washington’s 4-3 loss to the Mets on Aug. 16. The right-hander has had success against Miami in his career, going 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA and 18 strikeouts across five starts.
Irvin has also made life difficult for opposing hitters recently, holding them to a .207 average and .287 on-base percentage over his last five starts, while his curveball has remained a major weapon: opponents are batting just .125 against it this season, with only two extra-base hits. His strong three-start rehab assignment—including 12 strikeouts and one walk in 11.1 innings—also offered an encouraging sign that his stuff and command are in a good place.
Why it matters:
Irvin’s ability to limit hits is particularly important for a Nationals rotation that needs length and stability. Even in his most recent start, he completed six innings, and his recent opponent batting average suggests he has largely been keeping traffic off the bases. If he can pair that contact suppression with more consistent run prevention, Irvin gives Washington a reliable starter capable of saving the bullpen and keeping the club competitive deep into games.
His curveball may be the key to that next step. With hitters batting .125 against the pitch, it gives Irvin a legitimate put-away offering that can help him escape difficult counts, generate strikeouts and avoid damaging contact. His track record against Miami, plus the sharp results from his rehab work, gives the Nationals reason to believe he can deliver a bounce-back outing and set a stronger tone for the rotation.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS BY THE NUMBERS
The Washington Nationals have the following records.
Day: 27-28 | Night: 34-41 | Home Record: 27-36 | Road Record: 34-33
Month Record: 6-13 | Current Streak: L2 | Previous Month Record: 11-13
A.L. Teams: 23-19 | N.L. Teams: 38-50 | A.L. West: 7-5 | N.L. East: 11-28
vs. LHSP: 23-19 | vs. RHSP: 38-50 | Last 5 Games: 1-4 | Last 10 Games: 2-8 | Extra Innings: 6-5 | Scored 3 or Fewer Runs: 8-44 | Scored 5 or More Runs: 48-19
White Script Nationals: 11-20 | Red Curly W: 6-4 | City Connect: 5-4 | Blue Jersey: 13-17 | Road Gray: 25-22
Important information about the Nats Report Game Notes:
Unless otherwise noted, all times listed are in the Eastern USA Time Zone.
Please note that Game Notes will not be updated in the event of lineup changes, postponements, or cancellations by the Washington Nationals.
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Baseball-Reference, the Washington Nationals, and MLB.com provide the stats and content unless otherwise noted. The Nats Report isn’t responsible for the accuracy of the stats provided.