September is about more than just checking the standings for the Nationals. It’s also the time when Washington can start sorting out who might actually matter in the next version of this team.
The season has already swung from optimism to disappointment, and the club is now in the familiar spot of watching the postseason from the outside. With rosters set to expand and clubs out of contention giving younger players a shot, the Nationals have a chance to see what they’ve really got for the stretch run and beyond.
That means the focus isn’t only on prospects. It’s also on players already in the organization who need to show real growth before the end of the 2026 season.
Dylan Crews is the biggest name in that group, and the pressure around him keeps building. The second-overall pick in 2023, taken right behind Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, has not looked like the polished hitter Washington expected out of Baton Rouge.
The comparison to Skenes is brutal, especially with Skenes already a Cy Young winner with a 2.53 ERA in 82 starts, but Crews’ own struggles are the real issue. He has had a hard time even reaching average at the plate.
There’s been some belief that the previous regime - Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez - pushed him to the majors too quickly in an effort to satisfy fans and spotlight the player viewed as the future face of the franchise. But even after the current decision-makers sent Crews to Triple-A to begin the 2026 season, the production still hasn’t followed.
A strong finish would at least ease some of the noise around him. Right now, he looks like a player who needs to figure out his bat fast.
Abimelec Ortiz has brought something very different to the table: power. He has five home runs in 23 games, and that pop is the kind of tool that can force a front office to pay attention.
But he’s also gone cold since the start of the Rangers series on August 18, with just three hits in nearly two weeks. His average has fallen to .208, and his slugging has dipped to .444.
If he can keep the power and lift the average, he could put himself in position to be Washington’s first baseman next season and possibly longer.
Eddy Yean is another player who deserves a longer look. His 1.80 ERA has made it hard for some fans to understand why he has only appeared in seven big league games this season.
The bullpen has been an obvious problem area, and Yean has a chance to prove he can be a steady arm there. A September recall would give him exactly the kind of audition he needs.
Luis Perales also fits into that conversation. His debut had its rough edge - Blake Butera kept him in longer than necessary - but there was plenty to like otherwise.
Perales showed off a four-pitch mix, and his first MLB strikeout came on one of 16 splitters. If he can string together a few more solid outings, he could turn himself into another important part of Washington’s future.
For the Nationals, any progress from those three, or from any other September call-up, would count. Fans are looking for something to hold onto as another offseason approaches, and with the looming lockout, that winter could feel even longer.
In Other News...
Nationals Prospects Just Delivered A Minors Night Fans Will Want To See
The Nationals farm system had one of those nights that reminds you why minor league box scores can be so much fun to follow. Across Rochester, Harrisburg, Wilmington and Fredericksburg, there were solid pitching efforts, timely hits and a few results that kept the affiliates in the spotlight, giving Washington a broad look at how several of its young players handled a busy slate.
Harrisburg provided the most dramatic finish, with Chad Lomavita and the Senators right in the middle of it, while Wilmingtons offense did most of its damage in a different kind of showcase. Jacob Walsh and Ronny Cruz helped power that lineup, and when multiple prospects across the system are driving games like this, it gives the organization a little extra reason to pay attention to what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Cut Loose A Veteran Who Still Looked Worth Keeping
Trevor Williams time with the Nationals ended after he cleared waivers and was released, a move that follows last weeks designation for assignment. It is a notable turn for a right-hander who had only recently worked his way back from UCL surgery and still looked like a useful depth arm for a club sorting through the final stretch of its roster.
Williams left a small but solid sample behind in Washington, putting up a 2.65 ERA over 17 innings before the team moved on. For a pitcher in his spot, the timing matters, because he could still land with another team before tomorrows postseason eligibility deadline, leaving open at least one more chance to surface in a meaningful role this fall. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Just Turned One Bad Decision Into A Bigger Bullpen Problem
The Nationals' bullpen issues have been easy to spot lately, but Sundays loss also brought the earlier lineup choices back into view. Washington handed away a game after a defensive mistake turned into a costly two-out throw into the dugout, and it fit the same frustrating pattern that has been hanging over the club whenever the late innings arrive.
Blake Butera has already acknowledged the need to get better relief work from that group, and the concern is that the problem is no longer just what happens on the mound. Decisions that leave the defense less stable can add stress to pitchers and make every inning feel heavier, which is why the recent missteps have the Nationals looking at one bad loss as part of a larger bullpen problem instead of an isolated error. [Read more 🡒]