CJ Abrams is emerging as the ultimate savior for the 2026 Nationals

As the Nationals head into the series finale against the Brewers this Sunday, they are riding a two game winning streak that has moved them to 6-8. On the surface, taking a series in Milwaukee is a massive win for a 33-year-old manager like Blake Butera. But a closer look, and you’ll see that this "success" is being built on an incredibly shaky foundation.

We are currently witnessing the ultimate "carry." CJ Abrams isn't just playing like an All-Star... he’s playing like the MVP. With 4 home runs and 15 RBIs in the first two weeks, Abrams is the only reason this offense hasn't flatlined. But here is the terrifying reality: If Abrams cools off, who is going to step up? The rest of the lineup is still searching for an identity, and James Wood, despite heating up overall after a slow start, is still battling the K-rate demons we warned about in March.

While the offense is leaning on Abrams, the rotation is currently being anchored (literally) by Miles Mikolas. In his latest outing, the veteran righty looked every bit like the "dead weight" signing we feared. If the goal was veteran stability, surrendered leads and a ballooning ERA are a strange way to show it.

By continuing to run Mikolas out there while younger, higher-upside arms are waiting in the wings, Toboni is committing a slow motion act of managerial malpractice. You cannot claim to be a "player development monster" if you are actively blocking your best young talent with a 37-year-old who can't find the strike zone.

If there is one "Ivy League" offseason move that is actually paying off, it’s Foster Griffin. With a 1.76 ERA, Griffin has become the high leverage weapon this team desperately needed. While we spent all winter complaining about the lack of "big name" signings, Toboni found a gem in the waiver wire bin.

But a good reliever can only do so much if the starters can't get past the fifth inning. The Nats are currently 5-3 on the road but a pathetic 1-5 at Nationals Park. This team is the definition of inconsistent, and until they find a way to win in front of their own fans, the winning streaks are just a smoke screen for a flawed roster.

The 2026 Nationals are currently a one man show starring CJ Abrams. While the recent sweep in Milwaukee is a nice distraction, the fundamental issues of this roster...the lack of veteran protection for Wood and the "dead weight" in the rotation, combined with the subpar bullpen, have still not gone away. Paul Toboni better hope Abrams can keep up this historic pace, because if he can't, the "demise" we predicted for this season is going to arrive a lot sooner than 2027.