Good Morning, Washington Nationals fans.
Here are your Washington Nationals Morning headlines, news, analysis, and more for Tuesday, March 24, 2026
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📅 NEXT AT BAT
MLB Opening Day - Thursday, March 26, 2026, Nationals @ Cubs 2:20 PM ET
NL East First Series Start - Monday, March 30 - April 1 2026, Nationals @ Phillies
Nats Home Opening Day - Friday, April 3, 2026, 3 Game Home Series against the Dodgers
Nats Ready for Start of Season Gauntlet
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
The Nats team of young stars is ready to show the MLB their offseason improvement and growth as they take on the 2025 NLDS team Cubs, the 2025 NL East Winner Phillies, and then the reigning World Series Champions Dodgers in a most challenging first 9 game stretch.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
Coming in as the 8th best team according to MLB Opening Day Power Rankings, the Cubs will somehow be the Nats easiest series of their first 3 to start the series. Cavalli and the Nats have a strong task of propelling the Nats to a hot start, winning their Opening Day game on Thursday.
The Nats second series will be against MLB’s 6th best team, as well as the reigning NL East champion and National’s rival Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies, who have done a good job of retaining their core will be tasked with a series against the Nats, with the Nats hoping to win the series and get an early lead of their division.
Come April 3rd, the Nats Home Opener series is a 3 day weekend series against the Reigning MLB World Series Champions L.A. Dodgers. After battling out against the Cubs and Phillies, the Nats enter the hardest team of the gauntlet, hoping to show that they are legit contenders against Shohei Ohtani and the number 1 team in the world.
If the Nats are going to show the MLB they are real contenders this season, they will have to prove it in their first 3 series’ to put the league on notice, and put their 2025 season in the past
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
While it would be unrealistic to hope for the Nats to sweep all these Series in this gauntlet run they have, they must do their best job of winning close games and putting up fights. Even winning 2 of them and taking a game in 1 would be a huge start to the season for the Nats as battling 2 straight weeks of top 10 teams is no joke. Regardless of the results, they should be able to build off all the experience they’ll gain from playing such competitive teams and let it drive their core through more tame games throughout the early half of the season.
📈 MORNING STAT
The Nats got 1 win in 7 games to start their season in 2025. They must start stronger this year in order to get off on the right foot.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Which one of the 3 first series are you looking forward to most?
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Nats Wrap Up Spring Training, Finish 14-11-3
🔥 HEADLINE
Despite losing their final Spring Training game against the Orioles yesterday, Nats Spring Training was huge success and helped gear up the team for the regular season
Final Score: Nationals 0, Orioles 2
Date: Monday, March 23, 2026
Location: Nationals Park
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
With the bats cold in their last Spring Training game, the Nats weren’t able to support their great bullpen pitching performance, with 9 pitchers each pitching an inning allowing only 2 runs and 5 hits. Holding a team to 2 runs is great, and we can only hope the Nats bats will heat up come the real seasons start.
📊 THE BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Chriss Bassitt ([1-0], 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K)
Losing Pitcher: Holden Powell ([0–1], 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K)
Key Hitters:
Keibert Ruiz: 1-for-3, Single
Daylen Lile: 1-for-2, Single, 1 SB
Nasim Nunez: 1-for-4, Single
Team RISP: [0-for-3]
Errors: Nats 0, Orioles 0
Attendance: 9,329
🎙️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
Getting 4 at-bats from the leadoff position, Nats All-Star RF went 0-4 in yesterday’s game, hoping to build some momentum into the regular season. Despite a rough Spring Training at the plate, we can hope to count on Wood to lead the team in WAR and Home Runs again this season, brushing off the dust
📅 NEXT AT BAT
What’s on deck: Upcoming game details, probable pitchers, and storylines.
Next Game: vs. Chicago Cubs, March 26, 2026, 2:20 PM ET, Wrigley Field
Probables: Nats — Cade Cavalli, Opponent — Matthew Boyd
Key Storyline: Can the Nats start the 2026 season in the win column?
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Will the Nats win the series or possibly even sweep the reigning NLDS Cubs to start off their year?
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Gavin Fien Named to 2026 MLB Pipeline All-Spring Breakout First Team
Following his historic performance in the Nats Spring Breakout game against the Cardinals, Nats Number 5 Prospect DH Gavin Fien has been named to the MLB Pipeline 2026 All-Spring Breakout First Team.
Fien, who went 3-4, tallying up 5 RBIS with 2 doubles and a walk, is getting his props for his fantastic performance as a young developing star. The MLB Pipeline’s First and Second Spring Breakout teams were announced today and Fien found himself amongst the best of the best.
WHAT WE THINK THE NATIONALS FRONT OFFICE IS READING
Speed Reads
📌 An Updated Look at Nats’ Projected Opening Day Roster (MLB.com)
📌 What is the Washington Nationals’ strategy? Inside the team’s vision for fans and the future (The Athletic)