The Washington Nationals reached a .500 record after April for the first time in two years, reaching 23-25 before winning again to move to 24-25. The achievement was temporary because the team lost the next two games, but it still represented a meaningful step for a club expected to struggle in 2026. The last time the Nationals returned to .500 after April was May 14, 2024, when they beat a White Sox team projected for 121 losses. That game featured familiar lineup elements such as CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr., plus Nasim Núñez scoring the winning run. Joey Meneses and Trey Lipscomb had strong offensive contributions, while pitching delivered multiple scoreless innings from several relievers.
"Perhaps it sounds silly, especially given that it didn't hold--the team went on to lose their next two games to drop back to 23-25 before winning last night to get to 24-25--but this is a massive development for a club expected generally to go nowhere in 2026."
"The last time the Nationals won a game to return to a .500 record was over two years ago on the 14th of May in 2024. A White Sox team bound for 121 losses, rostering eight individual hitters who would finish the season with half a win below replacement level or worse, hosted the Nats that day in the first game of a doubleheader."
"From another perspective, it's a reminder of time gone by. Eddie Rosario hit third in that batting order. After slashing .183/.226/.329, the team released him in July. Atlanta picked him up and he somehow hit even worse for them before they, too, dropped him a month later. He'd finish the year as one of the least valuable players in the league."
"Names on the pitching side stand out. After a five-and-dive from Trevor Williams, the Nats got four scoreless innings out of Robert Garcia, Derek Law, Hunter Harvey, and Kyle Finnegan, none of whom wear the Curly W today."
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