Washington Nationals: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Back at .500, Nationals go for 3-game sweep of Orioles

The Washington Nationals will go for their first home series sweep of the season when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. The Nationals pulled away late for a 13-3 win on Saturday, allowing them to reach .500 (23-23) for the first time since May 2024.

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The Washington Nationals finally reach .500 thanks to Keibert Ruiz’s heroics

The Nats have finally done it! After 15 failed attempts, the Nationals finally got over the hump, beating the Orioles 13-3 to reach .500. It is May 17th, and the Washington Nationals enter play with a 23-23 record.

MLB News / Field Level Media / May 16

Nationals pummel Orioles by 10 runs to reach .500

Keibert Ruiz had three hits, including a homer, and drove in five runs, and Cade Cavalli pitched into the seventh inning as the Nationals beat the Baltimore Orioles 13-3 on Saturday in Washington.

Washington Nationals News / Washington Nationals on SI / May 16

After 15 Previous Failed Attempts, Nationals Finally Reach the .500 Mark in May

It was a long time coming, but the Washington Nationals were finally able to break their longstanding curse of failing to reach a .500 record in the month of May.

Seattle Mariners News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Active 40-HR MLB seasons' quiz

There are 24 active MLB players with at least one 40-home run season under their belt. How many of those players can you name in five minutes?

The '50-HR, .300 average MLB seasons' quiz

The 'American League MVPs' quiz

The 'Last 40-homer season by MLB team' quiz

Zack Littell News / Washington Nationals on SI / May 16

Zack Littell Has Quietly Turned Things Around, Which Is Huge for Nationals

Zack Littell was signed by the Washington Nationals to be a steady rotation presence for them. After two consecutive seasons where the right-hander posted

MLB News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest rookie seasons in MLB history

Not every all-timer has instant success at the next level. For many baseball players, it takes a few bumps in the road out of the gate before they ever reach stardom.

Washington Nationals News / Federal Baseball / May 16

Can the Washington Nationals finally get back to .500?

Whenever the Nats have a chance to get to .500, they fall on their face. This is not just a gut feeling, we have the numbers to back this up. The Nats have lost the last 15 times they have had the chance to get to .500.

Daylen Lile News / Field Level Media / May 16

Nationals' Daylen Lile eager to continue power surge vs. O's

Daylen Lile looks to continue his hot streak when the Washington Nationals host the Baltimore Orioles in the middle game of the Beltway Series on Saturday.

Daylen Lile News / DC Sports King / May 16

Nationals Edge Orioles With Daylen Lile Blast and Bases-Loaded Escape

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a tense Friday night Beltway clash at Nationals Park, the Washington Nationals (22-23) outlasted the Baltimore Orioles (20-25) 3-2, fueled by stellar starting pitching and a clutch, standout performance from Daylen Lile.

MLB News / Field Level Media / May 15

Daylen Lile's big night at plate boosts Nats over Orioles

Daylen Lile finished a triple short of the cycle, Zack Littell pitched five scoreless innings and the Nationals beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 on Friday night in Washington to open a three-game series.

CJ Abrams News / Washington Nationals on SI / May 15

Nationals Unlikely to Move CJ Abrams Out of Shortstop Despite His Struggles

CJ Abrams has been sensational at the plate for the Washington Nationals once again this season. Amongst shortstops with 10 or more games of action, he leads in wRC+ (168), on-base percentage (.402), slugging percentage (.558) and RBIs (36), while he's also hit the second-most home runs with nine.

MLB News / Yardbarker

Which 20 players have hit four home runs in an MLB game?

The only two things rarer in modern-day baseball than the four-homer game is the Triple Crown and the unassisted triple play. The former is, of course, done over an entire season, while there's a large level of lucky in the unassisted triple play.

Alex Young News / Athlon Sports / May 14

Nationals Add Veteran Reliever on Minor League Deal

The Washington Nationals added some pitching depth on Thursday as they signed veteran southpaw Alex Young to a minor league deal. Young, 32, last suited up for a major league game in 2024 as a member of the New York Mets.

Andrew Alvarez News / Washington Nationals on SI / May 14

Nationals Reportedly Recalling Andrew Alvarez After Optioning Recent Addition

The Washington Nationals did not have a good showing in their finale against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, but they still were able to come away with a series victory to get their stretch of 16 consecutive games off to a solid start.

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The 'PGA Championship host courses' quiz

The 'Most 40-point games in a season' quiz

The 'Active 40-HR MLB seasons' quiz

The 'NFL's active 1K-rushers' quiz

MLB News / MLB on ClutchPoints / May 14

Nationals stay below .500 with Reds loss, continuing impossible stat

The Washington Nationals made unpleasant history after the Cincinnati Reds dismantled them in a 15-1 blowout on Thursday evening. Going the game, Washington secured the series win after winning Game 1 by a 10-4 score and Game 2 by an 8-7 score.

Alex Young News / MLB Trade Rumors / May 14

Nationals Sign Alex Young To Minor League Deal

The Nationals have signed left-hander Alex Young to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. The client of THE·TEAM has been assigned to the Florida Coast League Nationals for now but will presumably report to Triple-A when he’s ready.

Harry Ford News / Federal Baseball / May 14

Harry Ford Is Finding Himself Again Up In Rochester

It’s no secret that Harry Ford’s start to the 2026 season was less than ideal. Acquired this offseason from the Seattle Mariners for Jose A. Ferrer, many expected Ford to step in day one and be the Nationals’ starting catcher, but the Nats front office felt he could benefit from some time in Triple A to work on his defense.

Washington Nationals News / Washington Nationals on SI / May 14

3 Things Stood Out During Nationals Series Win Over Reds

The Washington Nationals got back into the win column when it came to taking a series. Following their day off on May 11 after they lost two out of three against the Miami Marlins, the Nationals were able to storm back and win two out of three on the road against the Cincinnati Reds.

MLB News / Yardbarker / May 14

Five young NL breakout performers in MLB this season

Let's explore five young NL breakout performers who have made memorable impressions this season.

Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski continues dominant run with brilliant start

Why Cardinals' Michael McGreevy is the luckiest pitcher in MLB this season

'In a zone': Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani early Cy Young favorite, but his bat lags

MLB executives predict if Mets will embrace fire sale before trade deadline

Aaron Judge has advice for Anthony Volpe after disappointing return

Cade Cavalli News / Just Baseball / May 14

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: How To Fix Cade Cavalli

Back in the 2020 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals were absolutely thrilled to land right-hander Cade Cavalli with the 22nd overall pick. After all, he possessed many of the qualities needed to succeed at the next level: an electric fastball, clean mechanics, and a good feel for his arsenal as a whole.

Daylen Lile News / DC Sports King / May 14

Daylen Lile Is the Hometown Hero Again in Nats win

For the second consecutive night, 23-year-old outfielder Daylen Lile proved why playing close to home brings out his best. The Louisville, Kentucky native—playing just down the river from where he grew up and with his father in the stands—was the undisputed hero.

Matt Mervis News / MLB Trade Rumors / May 14

Matt Mervis Signs In Mexican League

First baseman Matt Mervis has signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League. The club announced the deal on Monday. Mervis went 0-4 with three strikeouts in his team debut last night.

MLB News / Yardbarker / May 13

Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski continues dominant run vs. Padres

Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski continues dominant run with brilliant start vs. Padres

Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski was already one of the best young starting pitchers in baseball and one of the league's must-see players. Over his past three starts, including Wednesday, he has managed to reach an entirely new level of dominance.

Braves become MLB's first team to reach early-season milestone

Watch: Mets get hosed by umpire Junior Valentine's blunder

Marlins top pitching prospect lands on IL with concerning injury

Yankees ace leaves start with injury

Cubs sign three-time All-Star reliever to minor-league contract

MLB News / MLB on ClutchPoints / May 13

Insiders shares Juan Soto, Bryce Harper warning for possible Nationals James Wood contract extension

While the Washington Nationals are hovering right around the .500 mark at 20 wins and 22 losses through the first 42 games of the 2026 MLB season, James Wood has been one of the few bright spots for the team.

Daylen Lile News / DC Sports King / May 13

Nats young OF Daylen Lile picked a great time for career night

The Washington Nationals brought the power to Great American Ball Park, launching a season-high six home runs to overwhelm the Cincinnati Reds. The barrage improved the Nationals’ stellar road record to 14-9—the second-best road mark in the majors behind the Atlanta Braves.

CJ Abrams News / Fastball on SI / May 6

3 CJ Abrams Trade Landing Spots as Trade Buzz Heats Up After Big Night

The Washington Nationals have slowly made some improvements over the last few years, but they're still not in a position to contend for the World Series.

Jackson Rutledge News / MLB Trade Rumors / May 5

Nationals Designate Jackson Rutledge For Assignment

The Nationals announced they’ve designated reliever Jackson Rutledge for assignment. That opens the 40-man roster spot for Max Kranick, who has officially signed a major league deal with the team.