The Nationals return home at a rough moment, and the timing offers little mercy for Colorado. Washington has dropped three straight to Miami, slipped to 10 games under .500, and sits only 1.5 games ahead of the last-place Mets in the National League East.
August has been a slog, and with the playoff chase long gone, the remaining goal now looks far more modest: avoid finishing fifth in the division. The Nationals are 2-8 over their last 10 games, but they open this four-game set against the worst team in baseball.
That’s where the Rockies come in. Colorado has only 50 wins through 130 games, has lost six in a row, and is well removed from any October conversation. The pitching staff has been the same old problem, and this series gives Washington’s offense a chance to do some damage.
Monday night’s opener features a clear edge on paper for the home club. Cade Cavalli takes the ball for Washington with an 11-5 record and a 3.22 ERA, while Ryan Feltner goes for Colorado at 5-7 with a 5.97 ERA. Cavalli can push his ERA below 3.20 with another strong outing, and Feltner’s season-long struggles set up a favorable night for the Nationals’ bats.
Tuesday brings a left-on-left matchup with Andrew Alvarez and Kyle Freeland. Alvarez enters at 2-5 with a 3.60 ERA, and his August work has been especially sharp, carrying a 2.42 ERA for the month.
That kind of stretch has made him look like a real piece for Washington going forward, and more starts like this could strengthen his case for a rotation spot next season. Freeland, meanwhile, has gone the other direction at 4-10 with a 6.37 ERA.
Wednesday’s game is still waiting on Washington’s starter, listed as TBA, but the Nationals should like the shape of that matchup too. Tanner Gordon gets the ball for Colorado, and his 0-4 record and 5.75 ERA reflect the trouble that has defined the Rockies’ rotation. Washington may also lean on several relievers, with uncertainty at the back end of the staff.
The series wraps up Thursday afternoon, and the final matchup still carries plenty of concern on both sides. The Nationals would love some kind of bounce from the 29-year-old Irvin, whose August ERA has climbed above 6.50. Hughes hasn’t been much steadier, posting a 6.54 ERA across his first 42.2 big league innings.
In Other News...
Nationals Are Giving Luis Perales A Shot Fans Have Waited For
After a loss to Colorado, the Nationals made a bullpen move that has been waiting in the wings for months. Washington recalled right-hander Luis Perales from Triple-A Rochester and sent Jake Bird down, giving Perales his first major league promotion of the season and a chance to finally see if his arm can translate to the big-league level.
Perales arrives with plenty of intrigue because the Nationals have kept him on the 40-man roster and have been patient through his return from injury. The right-hander missed most of the 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and his profile still comes with some command questions, but this is the sort of arm Washington has been eager to get a real look at as it sorts through its pitching depth. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Squander Chances As Blake Butera Faces Lineup Questions
The Nationals got solid relief work in a game that otherwise turned into a study in missed opportunities, with the bullpen doing its part after Andrew Alvarez was lifted in the middle innings. Washington kept the Rockies from adding on from that point, but the offense could never fully cash in on the chances it created, and the absence of James Wood continued to loom over the lineups overall depth.
Blake Buteras decisions under pressure became part of the story, especially on the bench side. A pinch-hit choice for Jose Tena helped leave Jacob Youngs bat and speed sitting in a crucial late spot, even though Young had been Washingtons hottest hitter in the second half, and a caught-stealing attempt also clipped one of the Nationals better opening to keep the game moving in their favor. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Face A September Roster Decision Two Prospects Just Complicated
The Nationals are staring down the annual September roster expansion, with the club set to go from 26 players to 28 on Sept. 1, and two prospects have made the decision more interesting than it looked a week ago. Seaver King has been turning heads in Triple-A with a hot stretch that drew league-wide recognition, while Luis Perales has been making a case out of the bullpen with a string of sharp relief outings.
Kings recent production has put him squarely on the radar as a potential late-season call-up, and Perales has given the Nationals another young arm to weigh as they map out the final month. The club has not announced any roster moves involving either player yet, which leaves the next step hanging over an organization that could use the extra roster flexibility to reward performance, add depth, or simply keep its options open. [Read more 🡒]