James Wood finally got the kind of grand slam you can admire from the batter’s box.
His first career slam, back on May 19, was the sort of chaotic, around-the-bases sprint that left no room for a bat flip or a long look. This one was different. Facing Astros reliever AJ Blubaugh, Wood unloaded on a fastball and watched it carry all the way out to center field, a Statcast-projected 446 feet.
That blast was no cheap shot. It left the bat at 109.8 mph, stood as the fourth-longest home run of Wood’s career, and tied Michael A.
Taylor for the longest grand slam by a Nationals player in the Statcast era, which began in 2015. Taylor also hit a 446-footer on May 13, 2015, against Arizona.
The timing made it even bigger. Wood’s slam capped Washington’s wild 12-11 comeback win at Nationals Park, a game that looked ugly early when the Astros jumped ahead 6-1 by the middle of the third inning. The Nationals answered with five runs in the bottom of that frame, then piled on six more in the fifth to flip the game completely.
Wood’s grand slam drove in Dylan Crews, Jacob Young and Nasim Nuñez and pushed him to 60 RBIs on the season. Nuñez reached first on an overturned call, and the speed showed up in a hurry: 31.3 feet per second, well above his 29.6 season average. He now has nine of Washington’s 11 fastest runs this year.
The night also added to a big season for Wood, who earned his second All-Star selection and now has 24 home runs, tops on the Nationals and seventh-most in the majors.
He wasn’t the only Nat doing damage. CJ Abrams and Curtis Mead also homered, with Abrams matching last season’s total at 19. Mead’s 15th homer put him alongside Wood, Abrams and Luis García Jr. in a rare group: Washington tied the Dodgers - Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages - for the most players with 15 or more homers on a team this season.
In Other News...
Nationals Suddenly Face A Trade Dilemma That Could Define Their Season
The Nationals have spent most of the summer trying to prove their record is no fluke, and at 47-45 they are still squarely in the postseason picture. That makes Foster Griffin one of the more interesting names on their roster right now, because the left-hander has quietly turned in a strong season with a 2.87 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 18 starts, enough production to draw attention beyond Washington.
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
Foster Griffin has quietly given the Nationals a stretch of steady work, and it comes at a time when clubs are always looking for left-handed pitching depth that can travel well into October. The former Royals arm has leaned on a seven-pitch mix this season, added a sinker, and shown enough consistency to keep his name in the conversation as a useful bullpen piece.
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 🡒]