Game #149 Cavalli has to be the stopper!

The Washington Nationals are back home and hoping it is home sweet home. After a disappointing road trip out west, the Nats have their ace, Cade Cavalli, on the mound to be the stopper on this long losing streak.

Today is also a somber day as we are 25 years removed from the tragedy of 9/11 in 2021. The Nationals will honor first responders and service members that will include a memorial stair run inside Nationals Park by the Marine Barracks Washington, and as part of the Patriotic Series, today is Heroes Day with the annual Fallen Heroes Tribute. Additionally, 184 seats in Section 107 will remain reserved and draped in bunting in remembrance of the 184 individuals who were killed in the 9/11 attack at the Pentagon.

About 10 minutes before first pitch, the Nationals will have a tribute for both Kurt Suzuki and Adam Eaton who return as manager and coach respectively with the Los Angeles Angels.

The Nationals recalled outfielder Andrew Pinckney from Triple-A Rochester and placed infielder Nasim Nuñez on the Bereavement List on Thursday. Pinckney, 25, hit .273 with a triple, homer, two RBI, one walk, one stolen base and six runs scored in 13 games during his first stint with Washington from Aug. 4 to Sept. 2.

Since the World Series season of 2019, the Nationals have not won more than 71 games in a season. Can these Nats surpass that number? That would take 5-wins to reach that mark. There are 14 games remaining in this 2026 season. To avoid a 90 loss season, the Nats need to get 6-games in the win column to get to 73 wins. It won’t be easy, but can the Nats go 6-8 to finish this season?

❝Failures in life, we can either look at and put our head down and accept it, or we can face it head on and take something from it and learn from it. That’s what I’m hoping we do.❞
— said manager Blake Butera said during the road trip

On offense, the Nats have the second most runs scored in MLB this season at 756 runs, and that is an impressive 5.11 runs per game. With the Nats pitching giving up 4.75 earned runs per game, the difference is really those pesky unearned runs due to the errors. Overall, the Nats have a +0 run differential on the season.

Here is manager Blake Butera‘s bullpen chart:

The FanGraphs WAR chart is now large in its sample size. You can certainly start to extrapolate the numbers for the full-season. The OAA defense stat is now giving us a picture of what the Nats have — and don’t have.

Los Angeles Angels vs. Washington Nationals

Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 6:45 PM EDT
TV: Nationals.TV
Radio: 106.7 The Fan radio and via the MLB app. On Sirius/XM, tune to Channel 204 for the home broadcast and the road team is online only.