Welcome to the season preview edition of the Nationals Beat newsletter! This is your stop for the latest on and off the field, from news to exclusive player interviews and insights, brought to you by MLB.com club reporter Jessica Camerato. |
The Nationals host Opening Day on Thursday at 4:05 p.m. ET against the Phillies. After that, there are 161 regular-season games to be played as they look to improve on consecutive 71-91 finishes. Let’s look ahead at key topics that could impact the Nats in their 20th anniversary season. |
What needs to go right? Young talents produce This is a key moment the Nationals have been building toward in their new chapter. Outfielders Dylan Crews, 23, and James Wood, 22, are playing in their first Major League seasons, joining All-Star CJ Abrams, 24; Silver Slugger Award finalist Luis García Jr., 24; and Gold Glove Award finalist Jacob Young, 25. On the mound, MacKenzie Gore, 26, gets his first Opening Day nod and Jose A. Ferrer, 25, is likely to see save opportunities. The Nats added veterans such as Josh Bell, Nathaniel Lowe, Amed Rosario and Paul DeJong to provide experienced leadership to the young core in the clubhouse and on the field. |
Great unknown: RHP Michael Soroka Soroka returns to the starting rotation after spending time in the White Sox bullpen last season re-establishing his production. Soroka, 27, comes to Washington with a career 17-18 record and a 3.67 ERA. Last season, he posted a 2.75 ERA and recorded 15.0 strikeouts per nine innings in the bullpen. Soroka battled his walk rate toward the end of Spring Training, but he emphasized a refusal to be complacent in his opportunity back in the rotation. |
Team MVP will be: James Wood Wood offered a 79-game glimpse into his Major League potential after he reached the bigs last season. In that sample size, he slugged nine home runs and 41 RBIs, and he paired his speed to record 13 doubles, four triples and 14 stolen bases. Wood also ranked fourth in the NL with 54 batted balls that recorded an exit velocity over 105 mph from his July 1 debut to the end of the season. Wood demonstrated his opposite-field power in Spring Training, and he belted four homers in 16 games. |
Team Cy Young will be: LHP MacKenzie Gore Gore is building off a 2024 season in which he ranked fifth among NL pitchers in home runs per nine innings and seventh in strikeouts per nine innings. He improved his ERA to 3.90 and led the Nats with 181 strikeouts, an increase of 30 from the previous season. Gore pitched to a 2.76 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings during four Spring Training outings. He earned his first honor as Opening Day starter. |
Bold prediction: Orlando Ribalta leads bullpen in innings pitched Last season, Derek Law accumulated a head-turning 90 innings out of the bullpen. Law ended camp sidelined by right arm soreness, and the team is likely to watch his workload. So who will be the most called upon this season? Ribalta (No. 30 prospect) impressed in Spring Training and showed a notable improvement from his rookie performance. Last year, Ribalta posted a 13.50 ERA in four appearances (3 1/3 innings). This spring, he looked ready for a full season in the Majors with a 1.88 ERA in 14 1/3 innings (nine appearances). |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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The Nationals' starting pitching depth experienced a setback on Tuesday when the team placed left-hander DJ Herz on the 15-day Major League injured list with a left elbow UCL sprain.
Herz, 24, had been in the running for the fifth starter spot, but was optioned to Triple-A Rochester last week. His velocity dipped during camp, and he posted a 6.52 ERA in four Grapefruit League appearances (three starts). The plan had been for Herz to continue developing in Rochester with the intention of being called back up to the Majors this season.
The Nats have been contemplating having right-hander Brad Lord (No. 23) in a reliever role on the big league level, but they could decide to keep him as a starter on the Red Wings for starting depth following this injury update. |
CARPENTER ANNOUNCES FINALE SEASON |
When the 2025 season comes to a close, so too will Bob Carpenter’s 20th -- and final -- year as the lead voice behind Nationals baseball.
The play-by-play television broadcaster announced during the pregame show ahead of Washington’s scheduled exhibition game against Baltimore on Monday that he will step down at the end of the season, his 42nd as an MLB announcer.
“This is totally a family decision, and is the most difficult one I’ve ever had to make,” Carpenter said in a statement. “These 19 seasons with the Nationals have been the greatest thrill of my career, and I value the lifelong friends I’ve made in D.C. Debbie and I want to thank Ted, Annette, and Mark Lerner, Alan Gottlieb and the entire Nationals family for making this midwestern boy feel very welcome far from home. Thanks to MASN as well, as they have always been professional and respectful to us.
“But it’s Nats fans I will miss the most. You have welcomed me into your homes, and I hope I’ve been a worthy visitor. Through good winning championship times and tough losing ones, you have been so wonderful to me, and I will be forever grateful. I truly do hope to ‘See! You! Later!’”
Click here to read the full article from MLB.com’s Paige Leckie. |
The auction from the Washington Nationals Philanthropies annual Homecoming Gala is open until 8 p.m. ET on Friday. A complete list of items, ranging from tickets to memorabilia to experiences, can be found at nats.com/homecomingauction. The 2025 event raised nearly $800,000 on Monday. |
• Thursday -- Opening Day: T-shirt giveaway (first 20,000 fans in attendance); pregame festivities; ceremonial first pitch by Hall of Fame sportswriter Thomas Boswell • Saturday and Sunday: Debut of City Connect uniforms |
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