Washington Nationals News

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Eli Willits • SS • Nationals

Eli Willits Showcasing Power Upside in Lower Levels

Washington Nationals top infield prospect Eli Willits has begun to tap into his power upside at Low-A Fredericksburg. The former No. 1 overall selection from last summer's draft has tallied a round-tripper in each of his last two games. These marked his first two long balls of the campaign and snapped a 10-game power drought to open the season. Since going 4-for-27 to open the regular season, Willits has begun to find his footing. Over his last five contests, Willits has gone 5-for-22 while swiping two bags and adding three extra-base hits. After joining the Nationals last summer, he was sent to Low-A for a short 15-game stint where he posted an elite .300/.397/.360 line. If Willits can return to this form, he should earn a promotion to High-A later this summer.

2 days ago

Clayton Beeter • RP • Nationals

Clayton Beeter Blows Second Save of the Season

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Clayton Beeter continued to struggle with his command during Thursday's outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Beeter was handed the ball in the ninth inning with a one-run lead on Thursday. The right-hander allowed two walks, one hit, and one run to blow his second save of the season. He was able to get out of the inning and eventually earn the win with the Nationals taking the lead in the 10th inning. Orlando Ribalta wound up earning the save by tossing a scoreless inning in the 10th. Beeter could be on a short leash in the closer role with eight walks in 9.1 innings this season.

3 days ago

Clayton Beeter • RP • Nationals

Clayton Beeter Falls to Setup Role on Tuesday Night

Washington Nationals closer Clayton Beeter was leveraged in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Pirates rather than getting the save opportunity in the ninth. That honor was given to Gus Varland, who was also granted the team's previous save opportunity on Sunday. Nats' manager Blake Butera has not indicated that Beeter is no longer the closer, so both pitchers could be in the mix for saves going forward. Neither has pitched particularly poorly, but Beeter has allowed one more home run than Varland (two vs. one) and is walking batters at a higher rate (6:6 K:BB vs. 7:3 K:BB), which might be the catalyst for Varland's recent opportunities. Beeter managers and other fantasy managers searching for saves should give Varland a look, who is rostered in just one percent of Yahoo! leagues.

4 days ago

Gus Varland • RP • Nationals

Gus Varland Earns Second Save of the Week, Emerging as New Closer in Washington?

Washington Nationals reliever Gus Varland tossed a scoreless ninth in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Pirates, earning his second save in consecutive appearances. It wasn't without drama, though, as the right-hander allowed a one-out double and walked the next batter, but was able to get the next two hitters out and close the door on the threat. Clayton Beeter, who had notched the team's prior two saves, was notably used in the eighth to record a pair of outs instead of the ninth. Neither pitcher has been particularly overpowering, with Beeter having the edge in ERA and WHIP (3.24, 1.08 vs. 4.50, 1.50) but Varland with the better K-BB% (14.8 percent vs. 0.0 percent). The team could continue to use both pitchers going forward, but the 29-year-old Varland has planted himself squarely on the fantasy radar if he will be in the mix for saves going forward, which he appears to be. The 6-foot-1 hurler is available in nearly all Yahoo! leagues, but that number is sure to rise.

4 days ago

Miles Mikolas • SP • Nationals

Miles Mikolas to Work Behind an Opener on Tuesday

Washington Nationals right-hander Miles Mikolas will work as a bulk reliever behind opener PJ Poulin on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports. Mitchell Parker will also be available out of the bullpen for the Nats. Mikolas could be in danger of moving to a bullpen role exclusively if he doesn't start improving soon in his first year in D.C. The 37-year-old veteran has a 12.41 ERA and 2.35 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and seven walks in 12 1/3 innings in his first three starts for Washington this year. He leads the league in earned runs allowed (17) and home runs allowed (five) as well, so nothing has been going his way early on. Mikolas has never been a high-strikeout arm, so he already doesn't have much fantasy baseball appeal. The left-handed Poulin has a league-high nine appearances (one start) so far this year, recording a 4.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with six punchouts and seven walks in nine innings pitched. Avoid him as a DFS streamer.

5 days ago

Cole Henry • RP • Nationals

Nationals Place Cole Henry on 15-Day Injured List With Rotator-Cuff Strain

The Washington Nationals announced on Monday that they placed right-handed reliever Cole Henry (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with a right rotator-cuff strain. Manager Blake Butera said that Henry's MRI exam didn't show anything "too serious," but it's unclear when the 26-year-old will throw again. The 26-year-old has gotten off to a tough start in 2026 in his second MLB season, allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits (one homer) while walking four and striking out eight in seven innings out of the bullpen. There is opportunity in Washington's bullpen this year, but Henry is not only not healthy, but he hasn't been pitching well enough to be trusted in high-leverage situations. Henry might never be a very reliable late-inning pitcher for fantasy purposes with shaky control and fly-ball tendencies.

6 days ago

Clayton Beeter • RP • Nationals

Clayton Beeter Picks up His Second Save of the Season on Saturday

Washington Nationals right-handed reliever, Clayton Beeter, picked up his second save of the season on Saturday in the Nationals' 3-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Beeter worked the ninth inning up 3-0, and allowed an earned run on one hit, two walks, and two strikeouts. He needed 24 pitches to get through the ninth inning, 12 of which he threw for strikes. Beeter wasn't particularly sharp in this outing; however, he appears to be the leader in the relievers' room to continue to earn saves for a Nationals team that is sitting at 7-8 on the season after sweeping the Brewers over the weekend. Beeter has three save opportunities compared to Cole Henry's two, Gus Varland's two, and Ken Waldichuk's one. While the path is still a bit muddy for Beeter, he appears to be the frontrunner and is worth a waiver wire pickup in deeper leagues requiring saves as a category. On the season, Beeter owns a 3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and six strikeouts in seven appearances to go along with those two saves.

6 days ago

Brady House • 3B • Nationals

Brady House Emerging as a Priority Early-Season Waiver Wire Target

Washington Nationals third baseman Brady House struggled in his first taste of MLB action in 2025, posting a .574 OPS with just four home runs across 274 plate appearances. Early on in 2026, House appears to have turned a corner. The 22-year-old is hitting .255/.321/.431 with two home runs, five RBI, and seven runs scored across his first 56 plate appearances of the year. House also looks to have locked down every day playing time and a prominent spot in the Nationals lineup, as he's batted third in nine of his 13 games played so far this season. With a 28.6% strikeout rate, swing-and-miss remains a concern in House's profile. Still, he's logged an impressive 11.4% barrel rate and improved his walk rate by six percentage points from 2025. In leagues where he's not already rostered, House profiles as a worthy waiver wire target for fantasy managers across most league formats.

7 days ago

James Wood • LF • Nationals

James Wood Off To a Hot Start Through 12 Games

Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood has connected on four homers in his first dozen games this season, and he's hitting the ball well despite a .216 batting average. He has cut down on his strikeout rate a bit from last season and has an improved .294 ISO and .370 wOBA. Wood has a 54.5% hard-hit rate and an impressive 21.2% barrel rate so far this year, and his low batting average seems to be mostly bad BABIP luck (.241). Wood has 11 runs scored and 10 RBI in his first 12 games and should continue to be at the heart of the Nationals' run production. The hulking 23-year-old still has room for improvement and continues to deliver strong power and run production numbers. He continues to be a top outfield option in all fantasy formats.

Apr 9

Cade Cavalli • SP • Nationals

Cade Cavalli Can Contribute from the Waiver Wire

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli is set to make his third start of the season on Tuesday against the Cardinals, and he makes sense to consider if you need a starting pitcher pickup from the waiver wire. The 27-year-old righty has allowed a total of three earned runs in his first two starts of the season, picking up eight strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings in a pair of no-decisions. He looked strong in his last outing on the road against the Phillies, going six innings and allowing one run on five hits. He's in a favorable matchup at home against the Cardinals on Tuesday night and will be looking to turn in his second straight quality outing after struggling a little with his command in his first start of the season. If you're looking for solid innings off the waiver wire, Cavalli is a solid place to look on Tuesday.

Apr 7

James Wood • LF • Nationals

James Wood Dealt With Several Injuries in 2025

Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood admitted that he dealt with nagging knee and quadriceps injuries in 2025, which helps explain why he cooled off so much in the second half, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. Wood initially dealt with left-quad tendinitis in spring training last year before recovering and playing well in the first half of the season. "It was just kind of more of a nagging thing. One series I'd feel great, and the next, not so great. So it was just kind of a series-by-series, or week-by-week thing," Wood said. The young left-handed slugger came into the 2026 season fully healthy, but he's hitting .111 with a homer, 12 strikeouts, and a .496 OPS in the early going this year. The difference this year is that Wood believes he's better equipped to handle slumps, and he's not worried about the lower-body injuries that plagued him a year ago. There's no reason to go into panic mode on the 23-year-old just yet.

Apr 3

Joey Wiemer • LF • Nationals

Joey Wiemer Continues Dominant Start to the Season, Emerging as a Top Waiver Wire Target

Washington Nationals outfielder Joey Wiemer is absolutely on fire to open the 2026 campaign. Across 22 plate appearances, the 27-year-old is hitting .588/.682/1.059 with two home runs, four RBI, and seven runs scored. The righty-swinging Wiemer did not start Washington's season opener against a right-handed starter, but he's been in the lineup for each of the Nationals' last two matchups against righties. Wiemer logged just MLB 61 plate appearances with the Miami Marlins in 2025, spending most of the year in Triple-A. Swing-and-miss has been a major issue for him to this point in his big league career, as he's struck out in 29.2% of his 521 career plate appearances in the Majors. However, Wiemer logged a 61.8% hard-hit rate in a small sample with Miami last season, so this early-season breakout is not entirely out of the blue. While his numbers are sure to regress over a larger amount of playing time, Wiemer currently profiles as a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.

Apr 2

Clayton Beeter • RP • Nationals

Clayton Beeter Tallies First Nationals' Save of 2026

Washington Nationals right-hander Clayton Beeter picked up his first save of 2026 on Sunday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning without allowing a base runner in his team's 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Beeter was used in the eighth inning of Washington's 10-4 win over Chicago on Thursday, so he may not be the team's strict closer at this point in the year. However, it's obviously worth noting that the 27-year-old was the man on the mound for the Nationals' first save opportunity of 2026. Washington acquired Beeter from the New York Yankees at the 2025 trade deadline. In his first extended run of MLB action in Washington, the hard-throwing right-hander recorded a 2.49 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and one save across 21 2/3 innings. Beeter also allowed 14 walks and posted an 18.4% walk rate across 27 2/3 minor league innings in 2025, making control a major red flag in his profile. Still, Beeter could be a cheap source of saves for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

Mar 30

Joey Wiemer • LF • Nationals

Joey Wiemer Raking to Start 2026

Washington Nationals outfielder Joey Wiemer is off to a scorching start to the 2026 season, recording two home runs and four RBI in his first eight plate appearances of the year. The 27-year-old right-handed hitter currently appears limited to a short-side platoon role, as he was out of the starting lineup for his team's matchup against Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton on Saturday. Still, Wiemer could force his way into everyday playing time in short order if he continues to rake. Wiemer logged just 61 MLB plate appearances in 2025 as a member of the Miami Marlins, hitting .236/.279/.436 with three home runs, 12 RBI, and seven runs scored. He struck out in 37.7% of his plate appearances and owns a career strikeout rate of 29.2% across 507 career trips to the plate in the big leagues. However, he's yet to strike out this season, albeit in a very small sample size. Wiemer could easily regress to career norms over a more extended run of playing time, but he could be a player for deep-league fantasy managers to monitor early in 2026.

Mar 30

CJ Abrams • SS • Nationals

CJ Abrams is Returning on Sunday

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (personal) is back in the lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Abrams was away from the team for Saturday's game due to a death in the family. Nasim Nunez filled in at shortstop for that game, but will move over to second base on Sunday. Abrams will cover shortstop and bat sixth versus lefty Shota Imanaga. The 25-year-old went 1-for-4 during Thursday's season opener with two RBI in the victory. He should be rostered and started in most fantasy formats.

Mar 29

Curtis Mead • 1B • Nationals

Curtis Mead Traded to the Nationals

Chicago White Sox infielder Curtis Mead has been traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for catcher Boston Smith. It didn't take long for the White Sox to find a trade partner after designating Mead for assignment before Opening Day. Mead doesn't offer a ton of upside with the bat, but is a decent depth option. Last season, Mead slashed .233/.299/.321 with three home runs, 19 RBI, and five steals in 90 games between the Tampa Bay Rays and White Sox. The 25-year-old is unlikely to play enough to warrant looking at in fantasy leagues. As for Smith, he was drafted by the Nationals in the sixth round of the 2025 Amateur Draft. The 23-year-old figures to begin his career in the lower levels of the minor league system.

Mar 28

CJ Abrams • SS • Nationals

CJ Abrams Away from Nationals Due to Personal Matter

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams is currently away from the team due to the passing of a family member, per Mark Zuckerman of Nats Journal. Nationals infielder Nasim Nunez will fill in for Abrams at shortstop for the team's game on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, with infielder Jorbit Vivas taking Nunez's regular spot at second base. Abrams went one-for-four with two RBI in Washington's Opening Day win on Thursday against the Cubs. It's not entirely clear how long Abrams will be away from the team, but it's unlikely to be an extended absence. The Nationals wrap up their series in Chicago on Sunday before traveling to Philadelphia for a three-game series that begins on Monday night.

Mar 28

Cade Cavalli • SP • Nationals

Cade Cavalli Could be Worth Stashing

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli got the Opening Day nod versus the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The right-hander didn't work deep into the game as he only threw 3.2 innings before getting pulled at 75 pitches. He allowed three runs (two earned), on three hits, with three walks, and five strikeouts in the no-decision. The former first-round pick registered a 4.25 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and a 40:15 K/BB ratio across 10 starts last season. Cavalli showed some promising signs here, but he will have a tough challenge against the Philadelphia Phillies during his next time out. Fantasy managers should keep their eye on Cavalli right now.

Mar 27

Harry Ford • C • Nationals

Harry Ford Emerging as a Top Catcher to Stash

Washington Nationals catching prospect Harry Ford was optioned to Triple-A Rochester earlier this month after an underwhelming spring, but that doesn't mean he won't be back in the big leagues soon. The Nats' third-ranked prospect is a former 12th-overall draft pick and had a strong 2025 at Triple-A, hitting .283 with 16 home runs while walking (74) nearly as many times as he struck out (88), which earned him a late-season promotion with the Mariners. The former first-rounder has a solid contact/power blend with his bat, and with his ability to draw walks, there is a solid OBP floor. The catcher's position is one of wear and tear, so there could be an opening for him on the major league roster sooner rather than later, and the 23-year-old should be considered one of the top stash candidates in deep two-catcher leagues.

Mar 26

Nasim Nuñez • SS • Nationals

Nasim Nunez Locked in as Nationals Second Baseman

With Luis Garcia Jr. moving to first base full-time in 2026, Washington Nationals infielder Nasim Nunez is locked in as the team's starting second baseman to begin the year, according to MLB.com's Jessica Camerato and Paige Leckie. Nunez is a former Rule 5 draft pick who has never seen consistent playing time. The 25-year-old former second-round pick by the Miami Marlins in 2019 is a switch-hitter who has played in 90 games the last two years in D.C., slashing .238/.329/.343 with a .672 OPS, four home runs, 14 RBI, 27 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases in 170 total plate appearances. In 89 innings played at the keystone in 2025, Nunez didn't commit a single error, and he even made seven starts at second and six at shortstop during spring training. He may not be an upgrade over Garcia offensively at second base, but he certainly will be with his glove. If anything, Nunez could be an asset in NL-only fantasy leagues as a depth middle infielder for his speed.

Mar 24

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