Good Morning, Washington Nationals fans.
Here are your Washington Nationals Morning headlines, news, analysis, and more for Friday, June 19, 2026.
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📅 NEXT AT BAT
Tonight: vs. Rays, 7:10 PM ET — How will the bullpen pitch against the Rays? Can Cavalli have a long outing on the mound?
Saturday: vs. Rays, 4:10 PM ET — Can Mikolas replicate the success from his last outing against the Mariners?
Sunday: vs. Rays, 1:40 PM ET — How will Washington’s offense compete against Nick Martinez?
RAYS SERIES PREVIEW
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
After their day off, the Nats will face the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays are 41-30 and are coming back home after being swept by the Dodgers. Washington has won four straight series and is looking to continue their streak.
📊 THE BOX SCORE
Nationals Pitchers: Game 1- Cade Cavalli (4-4, 3.98 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) Game 2- Miles Mikolas (2-5, 5.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP) Game 3- Andrew Alvarez (1-0, 3.49ERA, 1.45 WHIP)
Rays Pitchers: Game 1- Griffin Jax (1-5, 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) Game 2- Undecided Game 3- Nick Martinez (6-2, 2.60 ERA, 1.16 WHIP)
Designated Hitters: Washington frequently rotates their DH, and it's typically either Jose Tena or Daylen Lile. Yandy Diaz leads the Rays with a.317 batting average and a .504 Slugging percentage.
Third Basemen: Jorbit Vivas has a .242 Batting average and has been Washington's third baseman in most games this year, ever since Brady House left. Junior Caminero for the Rays is currently in first place in All-Star voting for AL third basemen.
🎙️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
“Every game matters; it's great to win a series, but at the end of the day we want to win every game we possibly can.” Said manager Blake Butera post-game on June 17. “ Day off tomorrow, and be ready to go for a big series against a good team in Tampa, and then also after that, Philly is coming here for a big series as well.”
📅 NEXT AT BAT
Next Game: vs. Rays, June 19, 2026, 7:10 PM ET, Tropicana Field
Probables: Nats — Cade Cavalli, Rays — Jax Griffin
Key Storyline: How will the bullpen pitch against the Rays? Can Cavalli have a long outing on the mound?
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Who will be the difference maker for the Nationals in this series?
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BUTERA BACK IN THE BAY
Washington Nationals Manager Blake Butera
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
Tonight, Blake Butera makes his return to Tampa Bay. This is Butera's first game coaching against the team that drafted him. Butera mainly played for the Princeton Rays during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays organization.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
Coaching History: Before coaching the Nationals, Butera was the Manager for the Hudson Valley Renegades and the Charleston RiverDogs. Butera was also the Assistant Field Coordinator and the Senior Director of Player Development for the Rays organization.
Accomplishments: In his time coaching the Charleston RiverDogs, Butera won two Manager of the Year awards and led the team to two of their three Carolina League championships.
Time in DC: While being the youngest MLB manager in the modern era, Butera has so far led the Nats to a 39-36 record.
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
Manager Blake Butera said, “I spent 11 years there and know pretty much everybody over there pretty well. It’s going to be a weird feeling, for sure, going back there.”
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Do you think Butera's history with the Rays will impact anything with the outcome of the series?
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NEW HOME RUN DERBY FORMAT
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
With All-Star voting going on, something thats on the radar is the home run derby. The derby is a key event in All-Star weekend, but this year's event will look different.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
Previous Rules: In previous years, in the first two rounds, each player had 3 minutes to hit as many home runs as possible from 40 pitches, with the final round being 2 minutes to hit from 27 pitches.
New Rules: This year, there will be no timer, and players will have 20 swings to hit as many home runs as possible in round one and 15 swings in the later rounds.
Past Nats: Two Nationals have won the derby in the past. Bryce Harper won it in 2018, and Juan Soto won it in 2022. James Wood competed in the derby last year, and since he currently leads Right fielders in home runs, he has a chance to be selected to compete again.
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
Before last year's home run derby, James Wood was asked what he would do with the prize money if he won the derby. Wood responded, saying, “Probably go to Waffle House.”
📈 MORNING STAT
Both Bryce Harper and Juan Soto won the Derby their second time competing, and Soto did it four years after Harper won. It has been four years since Soto won the derby, and James Wood could compete in his second derby if he's selected this year.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Do you like the new derby format? Do you want James Wood to compete again?
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📌 Eli Willits shines, but Blue Rocks struggle in Greensboro (The Nats Report)