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Good Morning, Washington Nationals fans.
Here are your Washington Nationals Morning headlines, news, analysis, and more for Monday, March 16, 2026
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Weekend Game Recaps
Via Washington Nationals
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
The Nationals went on a bit of a weekend skid, losing all three games by multiple runs. This, of course, comes after the team had built up a five-game win streak.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
The Nationals lost 8-3 to the New York Mets on Friday after a tight and competitive game through seven innings, with the Mets driving in three runs each in the eighth and ninth innings to drive away with the lead
Friday also saw the Nationals debut of right-handed pitcher Zack Littell, who, despite the loss, had a strong outing with two strikeouts and only one run across three innings
Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Miami Marlins saw Miami take an early lead within the first four innings, and the Nats’ bats unable to mount a proper comeback
On Sunday, the Nationals lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3, the only offense being a three-run home run from Joey Weimer
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
Zack Littell looked in fine form on Friday despite only being signed a handful of days before and strongly believes that his pitches will improve in time for the start of the season, saying, “As I continue to get everything in sync, the timing gets better, the body continues to organize itself better, everything should continue to get sharper.”
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
What do you think was the Nats’ Achilles heel in this past weekend’s losses? What did you think of Littell’s first performance as a National?
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Three Starters Optioned to Rochester
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⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
Friday afternoon, the Nationals optioned starters Mitchell Parker, Andrew Alvarez, and Jake Eder to the Rochester Red Wings. This opens up roster space for the multiple veteran pitchers that the team picked up in the offseason.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
Left-handers Mitchell Parker, Andrew Alvarez, and Jake Eder have been optioned to Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
While each pitcher will be starting their season with the Red Wings, they have the opportunity to be called upon if the big league team ever becomes in need of a left-hander at any point throughout the six-month-long season
This leaves the door open for the Nationals to have more depth in their pitching rotation while competing through the 162-game schedule
This move comes after an offseason spent by the Nats focused on bolstering the pitching roster with the additions of Zack Littell, Foster Griffin, and Miles Mikolas
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
This move has benefits both for the Nationals as well as Rochester. For the Nationals, this move makes sense and fits with the offseason moves they’ve made as of late, while still leaving the door open for the young left-handers to get the call-up to the majors should the team need them. For the Red Wings, this adds even more strength to their own pitching rotation, which seems to be one of their best. Parker, Alvarez, and Eder join Riley Cornelio, Luis Perales, and Kyle Luckham for a starting rotation that will drive strikeouts for Rochester and bring them one of the best starting rotations in all of the International League.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
What do you think of this move for the Nationals? What about for the Red Wings?
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The Week Ahead
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⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
In the upcoming games, the Nationals have the opportunity to bounce back strong and even get some vengeance on two of the teams that beat them over the weekend. This potential bounce back would also help to end on a strong note, as this week is the last full week of Spring Training.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
This evening at 6:10 PM ET at Clover Park, the Nats face off against the New York Mets in a rematch of last Friday’s game, with David Peterson and Andre Granillo taking the mound this time for the Mets and Nats, respectively
On Tuesday, the Nationals play at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches against the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:05 PM ET; Dustin May starting for the Cardinals, and Jake Irvin getting the start for the Nats
Today’s game against the Mets can be listened to on The Team 980 via the MLB App, while tomorrow’s game can be watched through Nationals.tv (and on MLB Network for out-of-market fans) and listened to on WSH Audio via the MLB app
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
A bounce back in these next few games could really help the Nationals build up the momentum to finish out Spring Training on a high note and not a low one. Particularly with the team starting to get more and more solidified with each day closer to the start of the season, getting momentum for the last week of Spring Training could very well carry over into Opening Day and the first games of the regular season.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Do you think the Nationals can gain momentum for the last week of Spring Training? What do you think they need to do to gain that momentum?
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WHAT WE THINK THE NATIONALS FRONT OFFICE IS READING
Speed Reads
📌 Why the Nationals went young with their leaders, and why it just might work (The Athletic)
📌 1 player who has made a big impression in each camp (MLB)