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Here are your Washington Nationals Morning headlines, news, analysis, and more for Wednesday, February 25, 2026
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GAME RECAP TEMPLATE
🔥 HEADLINE
Strong Performance From Bullpen, Nats Rout Cardinals
Final Score: Nationals 6, St. Louis Cardinals 1
Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Location: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
Taking advantage of a powerful outing by Cade Cavalli and the bullpen, the Nationals played the long game until the eighth inning, in which they scored five runs, making the final score 6-1 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Riley Cornelio and Kyle Luckham both had particularly strong outings, combining for a total of five strikeouts across four innings.
📊 THE BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Kyle Luckham ([1–0], 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K)
Losing Pitcher: Mason Molina ([0–1], 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K)
Key Hitters:
Cristhian Vaquero: 1-for-2, 2 RBI
Cayden Wallace: 1-for-1, R, RBI, BB
Team RISP: [1-for-6]
Errors: Nats 1, Cardinals 2
Attendance: 2,228
🎙️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
On new Spring Training teammates, and in particular Eli Willits, Gavin Fien, who’s been getting reps at third base as well as second and shortstop, said, “We're taking grounders at short and third right now … training together, hitting in the same group, being able to push each other, too. I can take stuff from his game, maybe he can take stuff from mine. To have that level of talent that you can train with, I think it only enhances you and makes you better.”
📅 NEXT AT BAT
Next Game: vs. New York Yankees, February 25, 6:35 PM ET, George M. Steinbrenner Field
Probables: Nats — Andrew Alvarez, Yankees — Ryan Weathers
Key Storyline: Can this Nats team really take it to a faltering Yankees
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Who was tonight’s MVP?
✅ Vaquero
✅ Wallace
✅ The Bullpen
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Cade Cavalli Returns
Via Washington Nationals
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
In what will be his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, Cade Cavalli seems to be the go-to ace for the Nationals after the MacKenzie Gore trade. While that may be a lot of pressure for one man, Cavalli seems up to the task and ready to return to the mound.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
Cade Cavalli had not seen any major league action since the 2022 season due to his Tommy John injury before his string of 10 games last season
Despite his 4.25 ERA last season, inflated by a solitary poor outing, Cavalli allowed just three or fewer earned runs across eight of his starts
He made his return to Nationals Spring Training against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday as the starter
In his outing against the Cardinals, Cavalli pitched two innings and gave up no runs or hits while also striking out a batter
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
According to the president of baseball operations, Paul Toboni, “With Cade in particular, he’s farther along, just because of the nature of when these injuries happened. He’s rolling. We all have high expectations for Cade. He has high expectations for himself. The sky’s the limit for him, and he’s full go.”
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
What do you think of Cavalli’s progress so far? What do you think his pitching will look like going forward?
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The Year-End Moves No One’s Watching
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Upcoming Games
Via Washington Nationals
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
Continuing with the week, there are even more games up ahead for the Nationals for the coming week. The team has Spring Training games for the entire week until their first break next Tuesday at the beginning of March.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
Today, the Nats take on the New York Yankees at 6:35 PM ET at George M. Steinbrenner Field
Thursday afternoon at 1:05 PM ET, the Nationals face the Philadelphia Phillies again at BayCare Ballpark
Probable starters for this evening’s game are Andrew Alvarez for the Nats and Ryan Weathers
The Nationals' starting pitcher for tomorrow’s game against the Phillies is likely to be Jake Eder
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
While this evening’s game against the Yankees can be seen as an opportunity to bring competition to a powerful but struggling team, tomorrow’s game against the Phillies can be seen as an opportunity to finish business. Despite a strong showing against the very strong Philadelphia team on Tuesday, the game ended up concluding in a 5-5 tie with neither team being able to really claim the win outright. This upcoming game can be an opportunity for the Nationals to take that for themselves once and for all in a way they were not able to fully do the other day.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
What do you think about the Nats’ upcoming schedule? What outlook do you have about their game against the Yankees?
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WHAT WE THINK THE NATIONALS FRONT OFFICE IS READING
Speed Reads
📌 The Nationals’ rotation could be led by 2 pitchers out to prove they belong (The Baltimore Banner)
📌 1 dark horse candidate for each team's Opening Day roster (MLB)