Good Morning, Washington Nationals fans.
Here are your Washington Nationals Morning headlines, news, analysis, and more for Friday, February 27, 2026
Good morning and TGIF to all!! Don't forget to donate to our Opening Day fundraising campaign! We would love to meet our goal of reaching 3K by Opening Day. Every donation amount helps us provide you with the best Washington Nationals content possible this season! We need your help!
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up!
COMING SOON
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
We are just weeks away from Opening Day, so Coming Soon is YOUR home for all things Washington Nationals for Opening Week. We will have a lot more info and events to announce, so stay tuned for the latest!
📬 SUBSCRIBER CTA
Want exclusive breakdowns before anyone else? 🔔 Subscribe to The Nats Report+ Morning Briefing — exclusive access, deep dives, and so much more!
GAME RECAP
🔥 HEADLINE
Overpowered by Offense, Nats Fall to Phillies
Final Score: Nationals 3, Phillies 7
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
Location: BayCare Ballpark
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
Smothered by a four-run third inning, the already struggling Nationals offense just couldn’t overcome the Phillies’ onslaught. When Nats pitchers made mistakes with their command, the Phillies promptly capitalized on each opportunity.
📊 THE BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: José Alvarado ([1–0], 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K)
Losing Pitcher: Gus Varland ([0–1], 0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)
Key Hitters:
Andrés Chaparro: 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 RBI
Brady House: 1-for-2, 1 RBI
Team RISP: [2-for-7]
Errors: Nats 0, Phillies 0
Attendance: 5,952
🎙️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
Regarding the team's new hitting development during Spring Training, and the new Trajek machines in particular, third baseman Brady House said, "I love it so far. You're so used to watching film on the guy you are going to face; actually getting to go into the [cage] and hit off him is huge. It prepares me a lot better actually getting to step into the cage."
📅 NEXT AT BAT
Next Game: vs. Houston Astros, February 27th, 6:05 PM ET, CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches
Probables: Nats — Miles Mikolas, Astros — Lance McCullers Jr.
Key Storyline: Can the Nationals overcome their recent offense issues?
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Who was last night's MVP?
📬 SUBSCRIBER CTA
For more in-depth analysis and coverage, be sure to check out Nats Report’s full game recap.
Subscribe to Nats Report+ for insider quotes, extra analytics, and so much more.
Weekend Matchups
Via Washington Nationals
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
The games never cease as the Nationals have a game both Saturday and Sunday this coming weekend. All of this, of course, comes right before their first break from Spring Training games on Tuesday.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
On Saturday, the 28th, the Nats face off against the New York Mets at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida
On Sunday, the first of the new month, the Miami Marlins come to CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches to face the Nationals for a second time this Spring Training
Saturday’s Mets game can only be watched via SNY, the Mets’ broadcast
Sunday’s Marlins game can be listened to on 106.7 The Fan through the MLB app
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
While the Nats have a new opponent in the Mets, which could present as a challenge, the Marlins game should be a quick reset for the team going into their first break of Spring Training. Especially considering that not only is this Marlins squad a team that they’ve beaten before and handily, but they’ve also had a rather inconsistent run of games as of late, which creates a perfect opportunity for the Nationals to capitalize on.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
What do you expect from the team this coming weekend? Do you think the Nationals will win both, drop both, or split the two games?
📬 SUBSCRIBER CTA
For day-to-day updates on the goings on of Spring Training, make sure to check out the Spring Training Liveblog.
Want the full breakdown before anyone else? 🔔 Subscribe to The Nats Report Morning Briefing — exclusive access, deep dives, and insider audio drops every weekday morning.
WHAT WE THINK THE NATIONALS FRONT OFFICE IS READING
Speed Reads
📌 3 Takeaways From Nationals Blowout Spring Training Loss Against Yankees (Sports Illustrated)
📌 The most interesting players on the new ABS challenge leaderboard (MLB)