2026 MLB First-Half Recap: Washington Nationals

The Pitching

The Good

This past winter, the Nationals made one of the more innocuous signings — at least at the time — when Foster Griffin was picked up on a one-year deal. Griffin, a former MLB first-round pick, was one of the top NPB pitchers with Yomiuri in 2025. However, the reality was that Griffin didn’t have much success in the Majors during his brief stay in 2020.

But this year, Griffin proved why pitchers go to Japan: to learn and work. Which has paid off in spades this year.

Griffin, a 2026 NL All-Star, went 10-2 with a 2.77 ERA and 109 strikeouts over 110 innings, morphing into the Nationals’ ace of the present. For a pitcher who doesn’t throw hard whatsoever, his ability to give hitters different looks has been a change of pace, compared to how others succeed in the Majors.

Cade Cavalli, a former first-round pick like Griffin, has been in a different situation. Cavalli made his MLB debut in 2022 but, thanks to injury, didn’t return to stay in the Majors until this year. He’s developed into the #2 starter for the Nationals, as Cavalli struck out 110 over 98.2 IP.

The real story, though, has been the offense.

James Wood, somehow, has improved in his second full year as a Major Leaguer. Wood hit 28 home runs in the first half, part of a stretch where he slashed .279/.410/.575 (.985 OPS). Yes, the strikeouts are still there — and don’t expect those to go away. Now, the question remains whether Wood can maintain that pace. Remember, his second half wasn’t strong in 2025.

Wood headlines what has been one of baseball’s best offenses. Part of the reason why the Nats’ lineup has been so good is that there’ve been some incredible stories. One is Luis Garcia Jr., a veteran of the team who’s been one of the most improved players in the game. The infielder already has 20 home runs this season.

CJ Abrams, with 20 home runs of his own, already tied a career high. Jacob Young, at eight, tallied a career-best. And then there’s Curtis Mead, a former top prospect in the Rays system who bounced around between Tampa Bay and the White Sox before he landed in Washington, D.C.

A more disciplined Mead has unlocked a new gear, as he’s hit 17 home runs with the Nationals.

The Bad

It’s almost impossible to complain about the Nationals’ offense. However, the pitching staff remains a work-in-progress.

Washington signed veterans to fill out the rotation over the winter, as Miles Mikolas and Zack Littell were brought over. The problem is that the two struggled to keep the ball in the yard. Littell conceded 23 home runs, while Mikolas allowed 20 before the break.

Jake Irvin, who had a problem with that last year, has been better in that regard. Unfortunately, his ERA is over 5.00 this season.

As for the bullpen, the Nationals don’t have a true horse for the late innings. Washington has rotated between Gus Varland, Clayton Beeter, and others to close out games. The problems, though, have been walks and command.

Looking Ahead

The Nationals find themselves competing for a playoff spot as of mid-July, remarkable for several reasons. One, the Braves and Phillies still look like threats to topple the Dodgers, while the Marlins‘ strong pitching staff vaulted the club to playoff contention. Second, the fact that the rebuild progressed so quickly.

Remember, this was the team that picked first overall last July and sold off ace MacKenzie Gore this past winter.

If the Nationals wanted to add, it’s something that would make sense. Washington is deep with prospects, particularly middle infielders. And if the Nats could get a piece to fit in long-term, that would be even better.

However, a case to hold can be easily made, too.