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Here are your Washington Nationals Morning headlines, news, analysis, and more for Tuesday, April 28, 2026
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📅 NEXT AT BAT
Tonight @ New York Mets, 7:10 PM ET
Wednesday @ New York Mets, 7:10 PM ET
Thursday @ New York Mets, 1:10 PM ET
Friday vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 6:45 PM ET - New Home Series
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Nats Find Rhythm Over the Weekend
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
After dropping the first game to Chicago on Friday, the Nats collect back-to-back wins in Chicago to take the series. After a week of many ups and downs, the Nats finally look to be finding a solid rotation and keeping their offense consistent.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
Could the Nats pitching finally be working out their struggles? In their 3 games against the White Sox, the Nats did not allow more than 5 runs in any of them, and allowed less than 3 in their 2 wins. Anyone who has watched the Nats this season knows how much the pitching has struggled, allowing 7-8 runs a game on the regular. This could finally be a sign of the Nats turning the page to .500.
The foundation for the Nats pitching finding a rhythm? Foster Griffin. In a season where the Nats have had few reliable arms, putting up inconsistent performances, Foster Griffin has been the rock. Pitching 7 scoreless innings in Sunday’s win, Griffin is pushing his stats to new lengths, shooting for an All-Star bid. At 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA in 6 starts, teams should start to worry when he is on the mound for the Nats.
Offensively, the Nats have cooled off a little, but are still doing all they need to do to win the Nats games. Despite not scoring more than 6 once against the White Sox, the Nats still sit in the top 3 runs scored per game in the MLB, a spot they’ve found themselves in all year. What’s changed for their offense however is the quality of at-bats. As of late, the pinch hitting and quantity of high pitch at-bats has really helped the Nats offense stay consistent.
Winning 2 straight games in extra innings over the weekend really says something for how good of a job rookie manager Blake Butera is doing. While winning in regulation is ideal, winning 2 games in extras as the away team is a very impressive feat. Butera continues to put in pinch runners late and play small ball, showing his trust in his young team to grit out wins.
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
Foster Griffin’s incredible numbers this season, and great start on Sunday is not going under the radar. Butera especially, knows that when Griffin is taking the mound for the Nats, it is slated to be a good game for them defensively.
“[We have] a ton of trust,” manager Blake Butera told Zuckerman. “He's definitely earned our trust in the staff, no matter what the rest of the year looks like for Foster. Every time he's out there, we seem to know what we're going to get. [He] just does a tremendous job of just pitching and navigating through lineups. He's facing really tough lineups, and just seems to do a better and better job each time.”
📈 MORNING STAT
The last time the Nats won back-to-back games in extra innings? August 9-10 2024, facing off against the Angels at home.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Do you think the Nats pitching can continue strengthening up, giving them much more confidence in the later innings of games?
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Drive engagement and growth. Miss the series win? Check out the Sunday game recap by Luke Faircloth.
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Nats in Queens for Series vs. Struggling Mets
📅 NEXT AT BAT
Today’s Game: vs. New York Mets, 7:10 PM ET, Citi Field
Probables: Nats — Zack Littell (0-3), Mets — Clay Holmes (2-2)
Key Storyline: Can Zack Littell get his first win and keep Nats hot, propelling them to a 3 game win streak?
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
The Nats take on the New York Mets tonight, the first of 3 games this series. The Mets, a favorite to win the NL East at the start of the season, seen as a much better put together team, currently holds the worst record in the MLB. Sitting at 9-15, with highest payroll in the MLB, this series should be an interesting one for the Nats.
In recent years the Mets have had the National’s number, and now is the best chance they will have to get back on top. The Mets offense has been terrible, meaning as long as the Nats can put runs on the board, they should have no problem winning the first series vs the Mets. Let’s just hope the Mets don't decide to finally wake up and turn their season around now.
🎙️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
The Mets are at rock bottom struggle-wise right now looking for anything they can to get going.
“You watch film, you talk to players individually, support them, encourage them, challenge them,” Mets manager Mendoza said. “There’s a lot that goes behind the scenes as a manager, that you’ve got to stay positive, obviously. It’s just finding ways to get the guys going.”
The Nats have a chance to easily capitalize on the Mets weak points right now, and Butera should be game planning for this series, doing anything he can to keep the Mets sluggish batters out of rhythm. They cannot get things going here.
📈 MORNING STAT
The Nats haven’t won a regular season series against the Mets since 2020, going 6-4, this is their chance to get back on top.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
How do you see the series against the Mets going? Can they continue to beat up on the NL east last place team?
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theFUTURE
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
The Fred Nats and Harrisburg Senators continue to be unstoppable as the season goes on while the Blue Rocks and Red Wings cool off a little, sitting around .500 on the season.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
The Fred Nats had been the Nats hottest farm league team so far this season, and over the weekend nothing changed. Going 3-0 with 3 straight blowouts, the Fred Nats move to 14-7 on the season. Nats prospect Jack Moroknek had himself a weekend, going 6-11 with 7 RBIs and 5 Runs.
The Nats other minor league powerhouse is the Double-A Harrisburg Senators who are up to 13-7 on the year. Nats number 7 prospect SS Seaver King had a great game Sunday, hitting a home run and a triple in a 3 run 2-4 performance. Don’t miss as he continues to excite this year.
Despite sitting at 10-10 on the year, the Nats High-A affiliate just called up a new player from the Fred Nats, and he is already starting to shine. Nats 19 year-old number 25 prospect Ronny Cruz was called up last Monday and is already shining. In his first four games, Cruz has gone 7-19 with 2 homers, incredible numbers for such a young entertaining star.
The Nats Triple-A affiliate Rochester Red Wings are now 13-14 on the season, still finding their rhythm as the season goes on. However they are putting names on display, with RHP Andry Lara being named the International League Player of the Week, being the first red wing to throw 7 shutout innings since 2024.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
What Nats prospect excites you the most this year, and are most looking forward to see wearing a Nats jersey in the future?
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Drive engagement and growth. Want a breakdown of the Harrisburg Senators series? Here’s the recap and results by Nash Henry!
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WHAT WE THINK THE NATIONALS FRONT OFFICE IS READING
Speed Reads
📌 Eddy Yean Profile: Washington Nationals Minor League Prospect | Washington Nationals News & Analysis
📌 This Nats newcomer wasted no time turning heads at High-A (MLB)
📌Nationals takeaways: An elite offense is uber-patient, a struggling staff is too patient (Athletic)