Can the Nationals maintain their surprising roll to begin the 2026 season?

I’ve spent the better part of this year calling for Paul Toboni’s head and labeling the Blake Butera hiring as the ultimate "New Age" gamble. But as April comes to a close, I have to be the first to say it: The Washington Nationals are officially a problem.

After a gritty road sweep of the Brewers and a series win against the Giants, the Nats are rolling right along with a 12-16 record. While 4.5 games under .500 doesn't sound like a pennant race, the way they are winning is a complete disregard to every critic who said this roster lacked soul (including myself).

"Nitro" and "Engine" are Top 10

If you want to know why this team is suddenly trending in the right direction, look at the MLB leaderboards. For the first time in years, the Nationals have two players in the top 10 for wRC+. James Wood (170 wRC+) and CJ Abrams (168 wRC+) aren't just "good young players"... they are carrying this franchise on their backs.

Wood has turned his "sophomore slump" into a "sophomore surge," leading the team with 10 home runs. Meanwhile, CJ Abrams is putting up MVP-caliber numbers with 7 homers and 20 RBIs of his own. If Toboni’s lab was designed to produce two of the most feared hitters in the National League, then we have to stop calling it managerial malpractice for now at least.

The "Stuff" is Starting to Stick

But it isn't just the bats. The pitching staff, which I hammered for being "dead weight," is currently holding its own. Cade Cavalli is pitching like a man possessed recently after a tough beginning of the season, sporting a 2.51 ERA through his first few starts and proving that he is the legitimate ace this rotation needs.

Even the pitching, built entirely out of "waiver wire scraps" and guys who nobody else wanted, is making me eat my words. Foster Griffin (1.76 ERA) and Richard Lovelady have transformed from roster filler into high-leverage weapons. When you can hand a lead to a bullpen and actually expect to win, the entire culture of the dugout changes. Blake Butera might be 33, but he’s managing these high-leverage spots like a veteran.

Verdict

Are the 2026 Nationals a finished product? No. The catching situation is still a disaster, and Miles Mikolas (12.41 ERA) is still overall a glaring red flag in the rotation.

But for the first time since 2019, this team doesn't look like a developmental project... they look like a baseball team. They are athletic, they are powerful, and they are winning games they would have lost by double digits last year. The "demise" of the season is officially on hold.

The Nats are rolling. Let's see how long they can stay on the tracks.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow