SPRING TRAINING COVERAGE 2025

Washington Nationals Draw a Game and Lose One

Yesterday, the Washington Nationals participated in a split-squad two-game matchup against the Miami Marlins, where they settled for a 9-9 tie with the Miami Marlins in the afternoon before losing to them in another game in the evening. Yesterday’s two split-squad groups were relatively of equal quality at the plate, as were the pitching staffs on the bump. Mitchell Parker took the mound for the 1:00 game in Jupiter, while Shinnosuke Ogasawara started the nightcap.

Click here for the full game recap, thanks to Ryan. [Be sure to give Ryan a follow on X for the latest thoughts, analysis, and so much more during the season!]

Up Next:

Tomorrow, the Washington Nationals will “host” the Houston Astros at the CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, FL. The first pitch is scheduled at 1:05, with RHP Trevor Williams scheduled to the mound against the Astros. There will not be a broadcast.

 SPRING TRAINING COVERAGE 2025

Analysis: Defense Matters

The Washington Nationals are in a rough patch; the numbers tell a grim story. As of the sixth inning in yesterday's game, the Nationals had already surrendered four unearned runs. That’s bad enough on its own, but zoom out to the bigger picture: Since Friday’s game, the team has allowed a staggering 18 unearned runs due to defensive miscues. Yes, you read that right—EIGHTEEN.

Errors are part of baseball, but this level of sloppiness is tough to stomach for fans and analysts alike. Unearned runs don’t just reflect pitching woes—they point to a breakdown in the field, where mistakes are proving costly. For a team looking to build momentum, this kind of performance is a step backward.

Ironically, Manager Dave Martinez emphasized the importance of avoiding such breakdowns back at the start of spring training. In a press conference, he said, "You know, the fundamentals have to. We have to sustain the fundamentals throughout the year as well." His words ring truer now than ever, as the Nationals’ recent string of errors suggests that sustaining those fundamentals has proven easier said than done.

What’s behind this sudden collapse in execution? Is it fatigue, lack of focus, or just a string of bad luck? Whatever the cause, the Nationals need to tighten up—and fast—if they want to stop hemorrhaging runs they didn’t even earn the hard way. Stay tuned as this story develops; the box scores aren’t lying, and neither are the frustrated murmurs in the stands.

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 WHAT WE THINK THE NATIONALS FRONT OFFICE IS READING

Speed Reads

📌 Spring training: MLB stats and numbers we're watching (ESPN)

📌 What makes Marlins fans start to lose faith (Axios)

📌 Yankees’ rotation plummets to among MLB’s worst without Gerrit Cole (The Athletic)