Our beloved Washington Nationals are quickly approaching Opening Day, less than one week from today. The season will kick off in Chicago as the Nats take on the Cubs at 2:20 PM. The franchise has many questions to be answered over the course of the season, and as fans of our team, we hope for big things. These are 5 bold predictions for the upcoming season that could logically happen, and thus, feed wins upon wins.
James Wood Hits 40+ Home Runs
The former second-round pick out of the IMG Academy has been set up from the start to succeed. In that endeavor, success has indeed been found, where Wood played his first full MLB season in 2025, posting 31 home runs. Wood ranks in the 98th percentile on Statcast in exit velocity and hard hit rate. He is also in the top-5% of bat speed, top-6% of barrel rate, and top-11% in walk rate.
With this new, analytical brass in place to manage the Nationals, Wood should logically only get even better. I will sign up for 40 home runs, and I know you will too.
Brady House is the Nationals Best Hitter
It is bold, but certainly possible. House is raking in a .438 batting average with a 1.363 OPS in 12 spring training games; 35 plate appearances. We, the fans, can't ask for any better from House. He is currently slated to start at 3rd base, batting roughly 7th in the Nationals rotation. It is about time that the 6'4", 22-year-old former first-round draft pick breaks out and brings this Nationals lineup up to higher batting standards. Quite frankly, if House cannot enter the 4-or-5 spot in this lineup by the end of the spring, the season may be toast.
Cade Cavalli Looks at a Sub-3.50 ERA
Cavalli has the tools to be among the better pitchers in the MLB. In his long-awaited 2025 debut, Cavalli pitched in 10 games, ranking in the top-7% of MLB pitchers in chase rate, barrel rate, and walk rate. Cavalli's velocity is truly something to behold, ripping an 86 MPH curveball, a 97 MPH fastball, and a 90 MPH changeup. We have tremendous confidence in this coaching staff, and if they live up to expectations, they may do very impressive things with the canvas that Cavalli provides.
Seaver King Makes Major League Debut in 2026
King is about to be 23 years old, which means the man is more primed than most to climb the minor league ranks like a breeze of wind. Yes, we may be unsure how to place King in a lineup where CJ Abrams owns the shortstop job. However, should King continue to thrive in the minors, he will have earned some sort of TBD role with the Nationals.
A King struggled at times in 2025, but he went to the Arizona Fall League, where he posted a .359 batting average and 1.031 OPS. After that, King came to spring training this month and has now played in 10 games with 20 plate appearances, a .375 batting average, .938 OPS, 4 walks, and just 2 strikeouts.