At long last, baseball is back, Nationals fans. The Washington Nationals kick off their Spring Training exhibition schedule on Saturday, February 22nd, against the Houston Astros. Technically, it is a road game, although since the Nats and Astros share a facility in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Nats won't have to travel for their first game of the spring.
Although this contest won't be broadcast on live TV, the Nats will have seven games on MASN and one on MLB.com. Let's take a look at the Nationals TV broadcast schedule.
The wait isn't long to see the Nats live in action for the first time this Spring, as Sunday's game against the Mets will be shown on MASN, starting at 1:05 pm EST. The starting pitcher on Sunday is newly-acquired Shinnosuke Ogasawara from Japan. The left-hander will compete for a spot in the starting rotation to begin the season. The 27-year-old had a 3.62 ERA in the NPB across nine seasons, according to baseballreference.com. Ogasawara has four complete games in his career, so he's shown the ability to pitch deep in games. His stamina on the mound could benefit the Nats either in the starting rotation or as a late reliever.
Spring Training broadcasts have been scarce for MASN in the past few years, often frustrating Nationals fans seeking to watch their team. The Nats are still in a bind with MASN and the MLB, as the team is one of the few without a complete broadcasting deal. Washington shares a network with the Baltimore Orioles, which is unfortunate for Nationals fans, who have fewer games on TV.
spring training broadcast schedule! 🌴 pic.twitter.com/5JXqNK6nUF
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) February 20, 2025
Not only do the fans lose the ability to watch their team, but ownership is missing revenue from the deal. The Orioles have profited off the Nationals for years due to this TV deal, and, unfortunately, Major League Baseball hasn't facilitated a new agreement. As previously stated, fans suffer because of the current deal.
Nevertheless, a new season is upon us, with the Nats' first Spring Training game on Saturday, February 22nd, against the Houston Astros. Will you be following along? We certainly will, and then we'll be watching again on Sunday to see Jake Irvin take the bump! It's an exciting weekend for Nats fans: two games in two days, one on MASN. The debut of Shinnosuke Ogasawara will be interesting to watch. Let us know your thoughts on the current state of MASN in the comments!