Washington Nationals: Dates to know for the 2018 season
By Brian Foley
The Washington Nationals are just a couple weeks from Opening Day, so let’s dive into important days on the calendar this year.
The Washington Nationals are working through spring training right now as they prepare for the start of the 2018 season. Earlier in the offseason, we wrote about the Nationals’ soft schedule, which features 115 games against teams that finished below .500 in 2017.
Despite the forgiving slate, Nats fans can still circle several benchmark dates on the calendar this season. Here are the 11 games and series to watch in 2018.
March 29: Opening Day (at Cincinnati)
The Nationals begin their NL East title defense in Cincinnati this season. Even though future Hall of Famer Joey Votto continues to wreck opposing pitchers, the Reds figure to finish towards the bottom of the National League once again. Washington, meanwhile, enters 2018 with World Series aspirations.
Watch out for Bryce Harper on Opening Day; he has blasted five home runs in five career openers.
April 5: Home Opener (vs. New York Mets)
After two series on the road to begin 2018, the Nats will head home for six straight games in early April, including three against the Mets from April 5-7.
If Davey Martinez uses all five starters in the first time through the rotation (there is one off day, which would allow the Nats to bump Cole for a turn), then Stephen Strasburg will start the home opener. Strasburg owns a 2.82 ERA in 100 career starts at Nationals Park (including the postseason).