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3 struggling Nationals who are actively holding the team back to start the season

Even with so much success to start the year, D.C. still has a struggle bus of it's own.
ByAJ Stone|
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Apr 3, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas (36) pitches against Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Apr 3, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas (36) pitches against Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

After a statement win against the scuffling Mets, the Nationals are sitting at 14-17 and looking to take the series tomorrow against the New York ace, Freddy Peralta. 

Even with so many remarkable performances from the offense and slight improvements on the mound, D.C. isn’t without its own dreary performances. Here are three players who have done more to hold the team back than push the winning narrative. Outside of Zack Littell, who has struggled a ton in his own right, there are other Nationals not doing well.

Cionel Perez

The numbers refuse to lie, and the eye test is sore. Cionel Perez owns a 7.62 ERA in 13 innings thus far. His Baseball Reference WAR relays the subpar performance, as it stands at -0.5. 

Perez, 30, is a veteran arm whom the Nats brought in for stability. He’s been anything but reliable in his short tenure. At his best in 2022, he was arguably the best left-handed reliever in baseball. Since his dominance with the Orioles, he’s been spiraling. 

The hole he’s dug keeps getting deeper after every appearance. If the Nats want to cycle through more talent, Perez might be one of the first names to go. 

Miles Mikolas 

A surprise signing this past offseason, Miles Mikolas was coming off a hellish year with the St. Louis Cardinals. His ‘bad luck’ was so persistent that it followed him all the way to the nation’s capital. 

In six appearances and three games started, Mikolas has a record of 0-3. Specifically, his start against the Dodgers had fans’ tempers ablaze. Since giving up 11 earned runs to last year’s World champions, Mikolas has slotted into more of a bulk innings role and hasn’t fared much better. 

Yet another veteran signing inked to provide consistent innings has been a disaster in D.C. Mikolas has -0.9 Baseball Reference WAR this year. If things remain gloomy for the grizzled veteran, he’ll be in for an early vacation. 

Keibert Ruiz 

Keibert Ruiz is quickly turning into one of D.C.’s biggest fiscal failures in recent memory. His combination of poor defense and minimalistic offense makes him one of baseball’s least valuable backstops. 

So far this season, Ruiz has an OPS+ of 59. He’s already reached negative WAR territory in 50 at-bats. If his co-worker behind the dish, Drew Millas, had been competent, he’d likely be seeing next to no playing time. 

Ruiz is currently in the midst of an eight-year $50 million deal. The Nationals will have to tread water until he comes off the books. This new regime should take note of the poor use of yesterday’s finances for future signings. 

The Nationals have had plenty of bright spots thus far. Don’t let the struggle bus stray your attention away from what’s being built. CJ Abrams, James Wood, Brady House, and Cade Cavalli are morphing into a real core. Unfortunately, the backend of the Nats roster is keeping their win total in check. 

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