The Nationals 2026 season officially begins on Thursday, when a team constructed by a revamped front office and coaching staff takes the field in the Windy City at 2:20 p.m. ET against the Cubs.
The Nats are coming off a 66-96 season in which they ranked third-to-last in the National League in run production and had the second-highest ERA as a pitching staff. They have not had a winning record since 2019.
President of baseball operations Paul Toboni is prioritizing development and long-term success as the Nats build a foundation for the future. While James Wood remains the centerpiece of the offense, players you saw in the big leagues last season are spending more time in the Minors this year, like Dylan Crews and Robert Hassell III.
On the pitching side, manager Blake Butera is looking for consistency from the starting rotation, prioritizing quality of innings versus quantity. Relievers will be tasked with pitching multiple innings.
“I learned how hungry and motivated these guys are,” said Butera. “They want to be great. They want to work. There was no pushback on anything we asked of them. They came in with eyes and ears wide open, and wanted to try new things, wanted to be challenged.”
What Needs to Go Right: Young core takes next step
Development is key at the Major League and Minor League level. For example, Wood, 23, will look to carry his offensive power throughout the entire season; Crews, 24, will look to re-establish consistent production beginning the season in Triple-A; and No. 3 prospect Harry Ford, 23, will get regular playing time in Rochester after appearing in just eight Major League games with Seattle. The Nationals are creating continuity among pro levels to ensure there is a consistent development plan for players, whether they are on the Major League roster or working toward being called up.
Great Unknown: Who will be the closer?
Last year, the Nationals traded closer Kyle Finnegan to the Tigers and tabbed Jose A. Ferrer as the new closer. Then in December, they traded Ferrer to the Mariners. They enter the season without a clearly defined closer. The Nats could fill the role by committee after high-leverage options stood out in camp. Right-hander Cole Henry, who earned two saves and finished 13 games last season, is the likely top candidate. The Nats also have been impressed by righty Clayton Beeter, who threw eight scoreless relief appearances during Spring Training.
Team MVP Will Be ... James Wood
In his first full year in the Majors, Wood earned an All-Star selection while ranking in the 98th percentile in average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage. Yet, he isn’t settling for those results. Wood mashed 24 home runs in the first half compared to seven in the second half, and he entered the 2026 season focused on 162-game consistency. Part of that will be lowering his league-high strikeout rate.
Team Cy Young Will Be … Cade Cavalli
Cavalli pitched in Spring Training like the hurler the Nationals drafted back in 2020. After a three-year comeback from injuries, including Tommy John surgery, Cavalli dominated in the Grapefruit League, emerged as a team leader and earned the honor of Opening Day starter. He added a sweeper to his pitch mix, which already included a four-seam fastball that ranked 88th percentile in velocity last season (97 mph). In a Spring Training sample size, Cavalli threw 14 scoreless innings.
Bold Prediction: Seaver King reaches the Majors
King, the Nats’ No. 7 prospect, is not projected to make his Major League debut until 2027, per MLB Pipeline. But there are a combination of factors that lead to this bold prediction. King, the 22-year-old No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 Draft out of Wake Forest, can play second base and shortstop. If the Nationals were to trade CJ Abrams this season, that opens up a huge vacancy in the middle infield. Combine that with the fact King made a strong impression in his first big league Spring Training for his play on the field and leadership off of it.