Good Morning, Washington Nationals fans.
Here are your Washington Nationals Morning headlines, news, analysis, and more for Thursday, April 23, 2026
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📅 NEXT AT BAT
Thursday vs. Atlanta Braves, 1:05 PM ET
Friday @ Chicago White Sox, 7:40 PM ET - New Series
Saturday @ Chicago White Sox, 4:10 PM ET
Sunday @ Chicago White Sox, 2:10 PM ET
How to Watch? Find out here!
Nats Finishing Out 4 Game Home Series Against Braves, 6 Game Road Trip to Follow
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
Nats, down 1-2, look to close out and tie up the series against the Braves after dropping a tough game yesterday before they head on the road to face the White Sox and Mets; two teams that could definitely help the Nats get over the .500 hump.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
Losing yet another game where the Nats put up 6 runs, the Nats lost 6-8 to the Braves yesterday in a tough game, moving to 1-2 on the series. If the Nats can get even 2-2 with the Braves today it would be huge, showing that they can easily stand tall in a series against the current best team in the NL East.
Sounding like a broken record at this point, the Nats offense is still nothing shy of incredible. Continuing to put up their insane numbers, the Nats did so yesterday, scoring 4 runs in the first inning. Averaging 7 runs per game in their last 3, the Nats offense still scores the 3rd most runs per game in the MLB, a stat that shouldn’t equate to a 11-14 record.
Putting up 4 runs in the first yesterday was an awesome start to what should have put them in the drivers seat for the game. Instead, they lost that lead by the 3rd inning, and were down 4 by the 4th inning. The clearest display so far this season of how disappointing the pitching has been, and putting on display what needs to change for the Nats be a winning team.
With the Nats going on a 6 game road trip against the White Sox and Mets, it almost feels like it has to be a winning trip. The White Sox, a 9-15 team still finding their identity like the Nats would be a perfect tune-up for them, as they then go to New York and play a horribly struggling NL East Mets team. The perfect recipe for the Nats to finally eclipse .500 on the year.
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
The Nats have 2 clear standout performers chasing down an All-Star bid this year. CJ Abrams and James Wood. As they continue to shine and be leaders on the Nats overpowering offense, it’s starting to look like CJ could easily eclipse 70 RBIs and Wood could easily get to 50 homers on the year.
Wood on Abrams: “He doesn’t miss his pitch. He formulates a good plan, and when he gets his pitch, he’s all over it.”
Abrams on Wood: “Everything he hits [seems] 110 or above miles per hour. You saw it [Friday] -- going 440 [feet] the other way is not easy. Stuff like that, it's just amazing.”
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Do you think the Nats can get over .500 in their upcoming series against the Mets and White Sox?
📬 SUBSCRIBER CTA
Drive engagement and growth. Miss yesterday’s game? Check out the game notes by Ryan Shenker.
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Nats Lose 8-6 Shootout Against Braves
🔥 HEADLINE
After a 4 run first inning, Nats pitching is unable to hold off a Braves rally, giving up home runs in 3 straight innings. Wood blasts 413 foot homer.
Final Score: Nationals 6, Braves 8
Date: April 22, 2026
Location: Nationals Park
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
James Wood, Daylen Lile launch home runs as the Nats offense continues to shine. Littell was quickly shook in the 2nd inning and wasn’t able to slow down the Braves high powered offense for the rest of the game. The Nats bullpen played great for the first time in a while however, allowing 0 runs in 3 innings.
📊 THE BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Dylan Lee ([1–0], 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K)
Losing Pitcher: Zack Littell ([0–3], 6.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K)
Key Hitters:
James Wood: 2-for-3, HR, 2 Runs
Daylen Lile: 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBIs
Jacob Young: 2-for-5, 2 Singles, RBI
Team RISP: [1-for-11]
Errors: Nats 1, Braves 1
Attendance: 16,308
📅 NEXT AT BAT
What’s on deck: Upcoming game details, probable pitchers, and storylines.
Next Game: vs. Atlanta Braves, April 23, 2026, 1:05 PM ET, Nationals Park
Probables: Nats — Cade Cavalli, Braves — JR Ritchie
Key Storyline: Can the Nats win to close up the series, tying it up against the number one NL East team Atlanta Braves?
📈 MORNING STAT
The Nats, despite being 11-14 on the year are only one game out of 2nd place and 6 games out of first in the NL East. It is wide open this year.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Where do you see the Nats finishing up in the NL East based on their series vs the Phillies and Braves so far?
📬 SUBSCRIBER CTA
Like this recap? Read up on CJ Abrams fantastic year so far by Aaron Lichstrahl!
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theFUTURE
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
Fred Nats remain extremely hot, Nats 4 minor league affiliates continue to reign supreme, all still standing at .500 or above. Red Wings grit out a win, as the Harrisburg Senators move to 4-1 against Altoona this season. having their number early.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
The Fred Nats, winning 7-6 against the RidgeYaks move to 11-6 on the year, standing tall at 1st in their division. In Wednesday’s win, the Fred Nats were led by Nats number 8 prospect Luke Dickerson who tallied 3 hits, 2 RBIs and 2 runs, batting .292 on the year.
The Red Wings won a 2-0 gritty matchup against Scranton yesterday, moving them to 12-11 on the year. The Red Wings are now 4-4 against the RailRiders this year with 4 games left in the series. Let’s see if they can catch some momentum and gain the upper hand on the year.
Harrisburg drop game on Wednesday against Altoona, but still remain 4-1 on the season against them. Nats young shortstop Kervin Pichardo has been a strong focal point in their games so far this year, batting 2-4 in the loss and tallying a .367 average on the season.
Wilmington Blue Rocks have forgetful 18-2 loss dropping them to .500 on the season. Their strongest player so far this season however has been Nats number 12 prospect Ethan Petry, now batting .333 on the year.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Which Nats farm league team do you think will finish the best on the year?
📬 SUBSCRIBER CTA
Drive engagement and growth. Miss the last Senators series? Read up on Nash Henry’s Recap Here!
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WHAT WE THINK THE NATIONALS FRONT OFFICE IS READING
Speed Reads
📌 How Wood, Abrams could be best offensive duo in Nats single-season history (MLB)
📌 How the Nationals plan to get their elite infield prospects to the majors (Athletic)
📌 In an all-too-familiar tale, Nationals can’t overcome their pitching woes (Washington Post)