The Washington Nationals have reached 71 wins with 10 games left, and that number matters. It ties the most wins a Nationals team has posted since the 2019 World Series season, but the bigger story is what comes next. Every one of these final 10 games can still push the season into territory the franchise hasn’t seen in years.
The next victory would make this the best Nationals season since 2019. A finish at 73 wins would amount to a 10 percent jump over the 2025 club, which finished with 66.
If Washington can get to 76 wins, that would represent a 15.2 percent improvement from last year. That kind of growth is hard to dismiss, especially when the organization is trying to build something that lasts.
“We’re setting our sights to create a sustained winner here, and I think that that starts with what we’re doing right now. … I know that we’re eliminated [from this year’s playoffs], but at the end of the day, these guys aren’t giving away any games. … They’re showing what they’re capable of doing, and I think they’re building some momentum towards 2027 - and beyond that.”
- Butera said last night
That’s the thread running through everything right now: the Nationals are not just stacking wins, they’re trying to show what the next version of this team can look like. The clearest needs are obvious.
Washington still has to build out the rest of the starting rotation around Cade Cavalli and Andrew Alvarez, and it has work to do in the back of the bullpen. Erik Tolman and Orlando Ribalta may have already emerged as important pieces there.
Paul Toboni’s job is to identify the weak spots and fill them without draining the minor league system. The cleaner path appears to be free agency, even if that means ownership will have to open the wallet. There’s no easy shortcut here, and there’s competition for every meaningful upgrade.
A source said that in two weeks, Toboni’s player development group will hold a hitter’s camp at the West Palm Beach facility, along with a camp for pitchers. Toboni has already pointed to one specific example in that work: he wants Andrew Alvarez to add 2-to-3 mph to his fastball.
The broader focus is on bat speed for hitters and fastball velocity for pitchers. It all fits into the offseason plan, and the route there is straightforward enough: better mechanics and hard work.
There are targets out there, but getting them will not be simple. Acquiring Tarik Skubal and Adrian Morejon would require a lot of cash.
Even adding players such as Foster Griffin would still move the roster forward. The Top-10 pending free agents have also been ranked.
For the Nationals, the message is clear. What happens now still counts, and what comes next will matter even more. The improvement is real, and the next step is making sure it leads somewhere bigger.
In Other News...
Nationals Offseason Reset Starts With Two Pitchers Running Out Of Time
The Nationals offseason checklist starts in a place that has become impossible to ignore: the back end of the pitching staff. After a season in which Washington set a Major League Baseball record with 38 blown saves, the club is staring at a reset that figures to center on finding a dependable reliever who can steady games late and keep the bullpen from unraveling again.
Two arms in particular sit at the heart of the issue, even if their paths are moving in different directions. Clayton Beeter has already been shipped to the minors, while Jake Irvins season has been interrupted by injuries and uneven results, leaving the Nationals with more questions than answers as they map out how to fix a problem that became far too familiar this year. [Read more 🡒]
Yovanny Cruz Is Giving The Nationals A Bullpen Question Worth Watching
Yovanny Cruzs latest appearance gave the Nationals another encouraging look at a reliever who seems to be settling in after his stint at Triple-A. Sent down to work on his mechanics, Cruz came back with noticeably better command and a sharper feel for how to attack hitters, and Washington has every reason to keep paying attention when a bullpen arm starts pairing confidence with cleaner execution.
His outing also hinted at something new in the mix, with a different pitch giving him another way to navigate a major league lineup. Cruz kept traffic off the bases, limited quality contact and fit into a relief effort that saw the Nationals bullpen pile up four scoreless innings, leaving the club with a worthwhile question about where he fits once those mechanics keep holding up. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Prospect Choices For Fall Ball Say Plenty About Their Plans
Rochesters recent 9-8 loss to Buffalo offered a little bit of everything for the Nationals Triple-A affiliate, from a productive night at the plate to a rough outing on the mound. Riley Adams, Sam Petersen and Cayden Wallace each chipped in multiple hits and runs, giving the lineup enough punch to stay in the game even as the pitching staff worked through a tough one.
The bigger organizational tell, though, may have come with Washington sending six prospects to the Arizona Fall Leagues Salt River Rafters, a move that lines up with the clubs desire to get certain young players more reps before next season. Fall ball assignments are always part evaluation and part opportunity, and this batch of names suggests the Nationals are still sorting out which arms and bats need the most live action in a developmental setting. [Read more 🡒]