James Wood keeps putting himself in rare company, and the latest swing only sharpened the picture. The Washington Nationals outfielder launched a leadoff homer Tuesday night against the Houston Astros, his eighth of the season, and he did it by jumping on the second pitch from starter Tatsuya Imai. The 83-mph cutter disappeared over the right-field wall at Nationals Park.
It was the second leadoff blast in four games for Wood. He got the first pitch last Saturday, then showed a little more patience this time before striking again.
That eighth leadoff homer puts Wood within striking distance of some notable marks. He is now one shy of Alfonso Soriano’s franchise record of nine, set in 2006, and he is also tracking toward Kyle Schwarber’s MLB single-season record of 15, which Schwarber established with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024.
Wood’s leadoff power has become part of a bigger surge. He entered Tuesday with 81 runs scored, which led the majors by a wide margin - 19 more than Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, who sat second. Since 1900, only Ted Williams in 1940 and Mike Trout in 2012 had led the league by at least 16 runs scored past July 5 while aged 24 or younger.
The numbers around Wood keep getting louder, too. He is trending toward becoming the fourth player in MLB history aged 23 or younger to finish a season with 40 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
Even in a 6-3 loss to Houston, Wood found the plate twice. Over six July games, he has scored 10 runs, including five in the last two games against the Astros.
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Nationals Suddenly Face A Trade Dilemma That Could Define Their Season
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MLB insider Robert Murray reports the interest in Griffin is expected to be plenty, which puts the Nationals in a familiar but tricky spot for a team trying to move forward without giving up too much ground. For a club that has already spent months climbing into contention, the question around Griffin is not just about what he has done so far, but what Washington is willing to risk if the market keeps building before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Former Royals Arm Is Suddenly Raising A Familiar Question Again
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The control issues have not disappeared, but his recent run has been hard to ignore. Over his last four appearances, Griffin has put up a 0.95 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 28.1 innings despite 10 walks, and his overall line for Washington remains solid at 2.87 ERA with a 4.27 FIP and 1.04 WHIP. He also brings recent experience from Japan, where he worked from 2023 to 2025, and that background only adds to the appeal for a contender weighing whether he might fit a late-season bullpen puzzle. [Read more 🡒]
CJ Abrams Deadline Tension Just Got Real For Nationals Fans
CJ Abrams has spent the summer carrying the pressure that comes with being a two-time All-Star and the Nationals starting shortstop, and lately that burden has only grown heavier. His recent struggles at the plate have put him back in the trade-rumor conversation ahead of the deadline, even as Washington keeps pushing in the postseason race and needs its young core to stay steady.
Abrams has been trying to keep the outside noise from taking over, using meditation to stay centered while the speculation around him keeps building. He gave the Nationals a jolt with a key three-run homer against the Astros, a reminder of how quickly his bat can change a game, but the larger question hanging over him and the club is whether Washingtons surprising run changes the way the front office views his future. [Read more 🡒]