James Wood isn’t just leading baseball in runs scored. He’s doing it by a mile.
The Nationals outfielder has crossed the plate 85 times this season, and that total sits 21 runs ahead of the next closest player, Bryan Reynolds. That’s the same size of the gap between second place and 86th place, which tells you everything you need to know about how far Wood has separated himself from the pack.
It’s a huge part of why Washington’s offense has been so dangerous. The Nationals are the only team in baseball to get past the 500-run mark, and they also lead the sport in home runs and stolen bases. Wood is right at the center of it all, with 25 homers and a .948 OPS, but his run-scoring total might be the most eye-catching number on the board.
A big reason for that is where he’s hitting. Blake Butera has kept Wood in the leadoff spot, and what looked a little unconventional at first has turned into a brilliant move.
Wood is getting on base at a .402 clip, and once he’s aboard, he’s not just waiting around. He’s a real threat to run, with 15 stolen bases, the same number as CJ Abrams.
That combination matters. A lot of power hitters can bat leadoff, but Wood brings more than just pop.
He can punish a mistake right away, as his 8 leadoff homers show, and he can also move himself into scoring position with his legs. That makes him a much cleaner fit at the top than a slugger who clogs the bases.
Of course, runs scored is never a one-man stat. Somebody has to bring the runner home.
For Washington, that’s been happening plenty. Luis Garcia Jr. and CJ Abrams are second and third on the club in RBI, and Wood has been the guy they’re driving in over and over again.
A July 7 post said Wood was on pace for 142 runs, and that number only keeps climbing after he scored 4 runs over the last 2 games. If he gets past 140, he’ll join Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Alex Rodriguez as the only players 23 or younger to score that many times.
Dan Kolko said on the broadcast last night that Nats fans are almost used to seeing their young outfielders in that kind of company. With Bryce Harper, Juan Soto, and now Wood, Washington has kept producing outfield stars who force their way into rarefied air.
There was also another eye-popping comparison floating around: Wood joined Bobby Bonds as the only players to post 85 runs, 25 homers, 60 RBI and 15 steals before the All-Star Break. That’s the kind of line that fills up a stat sheet in every direction.
And while Wood is clearly the engine, he’s not pulling this thing alone. CJ Abrams, Luis Garcia Jr. and Curtis Mead are part of the group around him, and that’s why this offense has been such a blast to watch. It’s a far cry from the concerns that existed coming out of Spring Training.
That’s also why the Nationals should be thinking about the deadline. They don’t need to swing for the fences with a Mason Miller-type move, but adding a couple of solid arms would make sense. Even if they move a piece or two, there’s still a case for going after controllable pitching and giving this offense a better chance to keep rolling.
However it plays out, Wood’s season has already reached historic territory. In a year where Washington’s offense has been one of the stories in baseball, he’s the player setting the pace and leaving everyone else behind.
In Other News...
Nationals Top Prospect Just Delivered A Rochester Night Worth Watching
Rochester finally got a night that looked a lot more like the version the Nationals have been waiting for, and Brady House was right in the middle of it. The top prospect turned in one of those games that can change the temperature around a lineup, helping Rochester beat Worcester 10-4 while the club snapped a four-game losing streak and got a needed lift from a roster that has been searching for one.
Luke Young also fit into the picture after coming over from Harrisburg and picking up his fifth hold for Rochester, a small but useful sign of how the organization is shuffling arms to steady the Triple-A club. With House giving Rochester a jolt and the pitching staff piecing together enough clean innings to finish the job, the bigger question is whether this was a one-off burst or the start of something more sustainable for a team that could use a few more nights like it. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Fans Have Every Reason To Question This Bullpen Approach
The Nationals bullpen plan was under the microscope again after a late-inning matchup decision backfired in New York. Washington leaned on a left-handed reliever in the ninth against a Yankees lineup that tilted heavily to the left side, sticking with its platoon-advantage approach even as the relief corps has been shaky in the biggest spots this season.
Blake Butera didnt hide the fact that the choice invited questions after the loss, but he also signaled that the organization still believes in the broader strategy. For a team trying to sort out how to survive the final three outs, the issue is no longer just whether the matchup theory makes sense, but whether the current bullpen can keep paying the price when it doesnt work. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Face A Huge First-Place Test With Momentum Building
The Harrisburg Senators kept building momentum in Erie after backing up Riley Maddoxs first Double-A win with another productive night at the plate, including home runs from Ethan Petry and Devin Ortiz. That pushed the club into position to chase a third straight series victory, a useful marker in a tight stretch where every game against the division leader carries extra weight.
Jared Simpson got the ball for Harrisburg in a short-opening role, expected to cover roughly an inning before handing things over to the next arm, while the SeaWolves countered with Jake Miller in his first appearance of the season for Erie after being called up from High-A West Michigan. With the Senators already assured of at least a split, the matchup had the feel of a first-place test that could say plenty about how real this recent run is. [Read more 🡒]