Washington Nationals News

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Abimelec Ortiz • 1B • Nationals

Has Abimelec Ortiz Fallen Off the Stash Radar?

Washington Nationals first baseman prospect Abimelec Ortiz is just 2-for-21 (.095) in July, but both of his hits have been home runs, giving him 16 on the season at Triple-A Rochester. The Nats' 25th-ranked prospect was batting .277 through June 4, but has seen his average drop all the way to .239 since then. While his strikeout rate for the season stands at 19.7 percent, concerningly, that number has spiked to 40.6 percent over his last eight games. While a 10.4 percent walk rate in 2026 has helped maintain a decent on-base percentage, any chance for an MLB debut in the short term has likely been eliminated, but should he catch fire again like he did in late May to early June, a promotion to the big leagues could happen later in the second half. However, although there is some pop in his bat, he is a literal zero in the stolen base department and could be a batting average liability in the majors, so he'll likely only be relevant in very deep or NL-only leagues whenever he debuts.

8 hours ago

Yohandy Morales • 3B • Nationals

Yohandy Morales Belts Two More Home Runs, a Top Stash for Power?

Washington Nationals corner infield prospect Yohandy Morales blasted a pair of home runs on Wednesday in a continuation of his breakout 2026 campaign. The Nats' 28th-ranked prospect spent 95 games at Triple-A last year, slashing .249/.330/.401 with 11 home runs and a 30.3 percent strikeout rate, but in 79 games in 2026, he's slashing .304/.373/.551 with 20 home runs, and the strikeout rate is a more tolerable 25.4 percent. The 6-foot-3 slugger ranks 90th percentile or better at Triple-A in average exit velocity (92.7 mph), max exit velocity (113.1), barrel rate (13.3 percent), and hard-hit rate (55.5 percent), and with the likelihood of a call-up in the coming weeks, fantasy managers in deeper 12-team leagues searching for power production should consider stashing the 24-year-old in an NA spot ahead of his eventual debut.

8 hours ago

Seaver King • SS • Nationals

Seaver King Competing at Triple-A, Now on Stash Radar?

Washington Nationals infield prospect Seaver King has held his own since earning a promotion to Triple-A in mid-May, slashing .275/.338/.443 with five home runs and four steals through 33 games for the Red Wings. The former first-round draft pick has seen his strikeout rate increase modestly and walk rate decline considerably at the minors' highest level, so it is something to keep an eye on as his chase rate stands at 38.9 percent (seventh percentile). That would likely need to improve if he is going to get his shot in the big leagues this season, but sitting at the doorstep to the majors, he's also just one injury away from a call-up. With a skillset that gives him the potential to be a multi-category contributor on the league's highest scoring offense (5.4 runs/game), managers in deeper 12+ team leagues could begin to consider stashing the 23-year-old, though he is not in must-stash territory yet.

2 days ago

Nasim Nuñez • 2B • Nationals

Nasim Nunez a Must-Add Speed Source for Steals?

Washington Nationals second baseman/shortstop Nasim Nunez is not a balanced fantasy pickup, but he is becoming hard to ignore for managers chasing steals. The 25-year-old is hitting .243 with one homer, 28 RBI, 37 runs, 33 stolen bases, and a .623 OPS across 255 at-bats. The season-long line is light, but the recent bat has helped. Over his last 30 games, Nunez is hitting .349 with a .417 OBP, 16 runs, 12 RBI, and 11 steals. That does not make him a five-category target. Nunez has very little impact contact, and the power is almost nonexistent. But stolen bases are the reason to act. With his Yahoo roster rate still at 27%, Nunez fits as a priority add for managers who need speed, especially in 15-team leagues or deeper middle-infield formats.

2 days ago

Clayton Beeter • RP • Nationals

Clayton Beeter Earns Save No. 7, Emerging as Must-Add Target?

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Clayton Beeter closed out a wild win over the Astros on Monday night, entering the game with a 12-11 lead and getting four outs for his seventh save of the year. After Cole Henry allowed four runs in the eighth inning, Beeter came into the game and retired Jose Altuve to end the inning. He worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning, striking out Yordan Alvarez along the way to his fourth straight scoreless outing. Beeter leads the team with his seven saves and only needed 12 pitches to get his four outs on Monday. While the Nats' bullpen is still a wild place in general, Beeter does seem to be the top closer option for now. If you need saves, he's a great pickup off the waiver wire, although getting to him with a lead has been a challenge for the Nationals lately, which does limit his opportunities.

2 days ago

Cade Cavalli • SP • Nationals

Cade Cavalli's Suspension Reduced to Five Games

Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli's seven-game suspension from Major League Baseball has been reduced to five games, and it will begin on Monday night, according to Spencer Nusbaum. The suspension stems from a benches-clearing incident last week against the Boston Red Sox. The 27-year-old had his most recent start moved up to Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he struggled with the heat and saw a dip in velocity, ultimately allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out three in just 2 1/3 innings in a no-decision. He admitted after the game that he was feeling light-headed on a humid, 92-degree afternoon. It was a major disappointment for fantasy managers who started Cavalli after he allowed just an unearned run with no walks and a season-high 13 strikeouts in seven innings in a win over Boston in his previous outing. His fastball velocity dropped from 97.6 mph in the first inning to 96.1 mph in the second to 94.2 mph in the third inning. It doesn't appear that he's dealing with a physical injury, so he should be ready to make his final start of the first half against the New York Yankees this Sunday. That's a matchup that fantasy managers will probably want to shy away from.

3 days ago

Curtis Mead • 3B • Nationals

Curtis Mead a Must-Add for Power Help?

Washington Nationals third baseman Curtis Mead is not going to help every roster the same way, but the power is getting harder to ignore. Mead is batting just .232 through 237 at-bats, so there is some batting-average risk here. He has still supplied 14 home runs, 39 RBI, 38 runs, and five steals, which is a useful return for a player available in most leagues. The appeal gets better because Mead qualifies at first base, second base, and third base in RotoBaller's rankings. His 10.9% barrel rate and 41.9% hard-hit rate also suggest the power is not just empty box-score noise. Fantasy managers should not treat him like a safe average play, and the profile can be streaky. Still, Mead is only 18% rostered on Yahoo, and RotoBaller recommends him in 12-team leagues. That makes him a reasonable power add for corner or middle-infield spots.

3 days ago

Dylan Crews • RF • Nationals

Dylan Crews Showing Signs of a Post-Hype Breakout?

Washington Nationals right fielder Dylan Crews still has not fully broken through, but the fantasy case is getting easier to see. He is batting .232 with six home runs, 18 RBI, 23 runs, and five steals through 155 at-bats. That line is still uneven, but Crews has gone 18-for-58 with two homers, 12 runs, four RBI, three steals, and six walks over his last 15 games. This is more upside bet than finished product. Crews is hitting the ball hard, with a 90.9 mph average exit velocity, 44.2% hard-hit rate, and 9.2% barrel rate, and his speed gives him another path to fantasy value. The .232 average and low walk rate are real concerns, so this should not be framed as a safe five-category breakout yet. Crews is rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues and belongs in 12-team formats.

3 days ago

Eddy Yean • RP • Nationals

Nationals Call Up Pitching Prospect Eddy Yean, Worth a Look in Deep Leagues?

Washington Nationals right-handed pitching prospect Eddy Yean is being called up to the major leagues from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. In a corresponding move, the Nationals designated outfielder Robert Hassell III for assignment to clear space on the team's 40-man roster. Yean, a 25-year-old Dominican hurler, will make his big-league debut after going 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 19 walks in 40 innings over 39 relief appearances this year at Rochester. Yean is not listed among MLB Pipeline's top-30 Nationals prospects in 2026 and will most likely have a lower-leverage role in the Nats' bullpen for his first stint in the majors just before the All-Star break from July 13-16. Fantasy managers in all formats can probably hold off on Yean for now, as he could be sent right back to Rochester sooner rather than later.

4 days ago

Cade Cavalli • SP • Nationals

Cade Cavalli's Next Start Moved Up to Sunday

Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli's next start will be moved up to the series finale on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates after originally being slated to make his next start on Monday in the series finale against the Houston Astros. It means that Cavalli won't be in line for a two-start week next week just before the All-Star break. Right-hander Miles Mikolas will now likely be pushed back to Monday's game against the Astros. Cavalli is coming off the best start of his season last Sunday against the Boston Red Sox, when he threw seven innings with a season-high 13 strikeouts and an unearned run allowed, but MLB handed him a seven-game suspension for his part in a benches-clearing incident. The Nationals will move him up so he can get another start in before potentially serving his suspension next week. The 27-year-old has a solid 3.69 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 102 K's in 90 1/3 innings in a career-high 18 starts in 2026 and will be on the streaming radar on Sunday against a Pirates team that ranks first in baseball in strikeouts, but they're also second in OPS.

5 days ago

Daylen Lile • LF • Nationals

Daylen Lile Ends Power Drought With Multi-Homer Performance

Washington Nationals outfielder Daylen Lile got in on the action in Friday night's 9-5 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in a game in which the Nationals went deep five times. Lile went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and four RBI to snap a 23-game streak without clearing the fences. He also boosted his season average to .256 and his OPS to .730. Not only did Lile snap a power drought, but he's recorded four extra-base hits in his first two games in July after going 12-for-55 (.218) with two homers, four doubles, six RBI, six runs, no walks, and eight strikeouts in his last 15 games. Overall, in his second year in the big leagues with the Nationals, the former second-rounder in 2021 is batting .256/.309/.421 with a .730 OPS, 10 home runs, 43 RBI, 48 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 87 games after he had a .299/.347/.498 slash line with nine homers, 41 RBI, 51 runs, and eight steals in 91 games in his rookie campaign in 2025. Lile is a sneaky source of power and speed in deeper fantasy leagues, and he's rostered in 63% of Yahoo leagues.

5 days ago

Luis García Jr. • 1B • Nationals

Luis Garcia Jr. Now has Nine Homers in his Last 15 Games

Washington Nationals infielder Luis Garcia Jr. has been tearing the cover off the baseball lately. That trend continued in Friday night's 9-5 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park, with Garcia going 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a walk to raise his season batting average to .283 and his OPS to .874. There aren't many hitters hotter than Garcia right now. The 26-year-old left-handed-hitting infielder wasn't the only one that was feeling it on Friday night, as the Nationals slugged a total of five home runs to put the Pirates away without much of a fight. Garcia now has a whopping nine home runs in his last 13 games and is up to a .396/.453/.1.021 slash line with 17 RBI in his last 15 games played. The recent hot stretch has definitely attracted the interest of fantasy managers, and Garcia is now rostered in 75% of Yahoo leagues. Through May, Garcia was hitting .268 (48-for-179) with only five homers, 30 RBI, 21 runs, and two stolen bases in 54 games.

6 days ago

Seaver King • SS • Nationals

Seaver King has Talent to Become Stash-Worthy Ahead of Week 15

Washington Nationals shortstop prospect Seaver King has had a productive year in the minor leagues in 2026, hitting .306 between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester with 10 home runs and 51 RBI, along with nine stolen bases. The former No. 10 overall pick out of Wake Forest is pushing hard for a look at a promotion to Washington but has seen his numbers dip slightly with his promotion to Triple-A. With stud shortstop CJ Abrams manning the position in Washington along with Nasim Nunez providing depth, it might be hard for King to break through for a spot with the Nationals in the short term. King's five-tool profile, however, makes him a good candidate to add in mid-to-deep-sized leagues. He should help contribute at the middle infield positions and would be a must-start should Abrams or Nunez suffer an unfortunate injury.

6 days ago

Cade Cavalli • SP • Nationals

Cade Cavalli Appealing his Seven-Game Suspension

The Athletic's Evan Drellich reports that Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli is appealing the seven-game suspension that Major League Baseball handed down on Thursday for his role in a benches-clearing incident last Sunday versus the Boston Red Sox, according to a source. It means that Cavalli could be allowed to make his next scheduled start on Monday against the Houston Astros if the league hasn't made a decision on his appeal by then. The 27-year-old is having a fine first full season in the big leagues in 2026 with the Nats and should become more popular off the waiver wire after his last strong outing on Sunday against the BoSox, when he allowed an unearned run on just one hit while walking none and striking out a season-high 13 batters to pick up his fifth win of the year. Cavalli has allowed more than three earned runs in 13 of his last 14 starts and is now sporting a 5-4 record with a 3.69 ERA (3.22 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP with 102 strikeouts and 29 walks in 90 1/3 innings across 18 starts. He's rostered in only 28% of Yahoo leagues currently.

6 days ago

Harry Ford • C • Nationals

Harry Ford Entering Stash Territory Amid Triple-A Improvements?

Washington Nationals top catching prospect Harry Ford is entering stash territory amid solid performances at the Triple-A level. Ford joined the Nationals in a trade in the offseason (from the Seattle Mariners), but has spent the entire first half in the minor leagues. Over his first 30 games of the Rochester campaign, Ford held a .191/.318/.255 line with four doubles, one home run, and a 36:19 K:BB. However, over his last 22 contests, the young backstop has begun to make significant strides. During this noted stretch, the No. 7-ranked prospect in the system has held a .263/.417/.421 line with a .838 OPS. Even though the team's current No. 1 backstop, Keibert Ruiz, has held a .285 AVG with a .791 OPS, Ford's progress could push him back to the major leagues in the coming weeks. For now, managers in deeper two-catcher leagues should continue to closely monitor Ford's progression at Triple-A.

6 days ago

Cade Cavalli • SP • Nationals

MLB Hits Cade Cavalli With Seven-Game Suspension

Major League Baseball announced on Thursday that it suspended Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli for seven games for his actions initiating and during the benches-clearing incident in Sunday's series finale against the Boston Red Sox, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI. Cavalli struck out Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras, which sparked tensions between both teams. It's unclear if Cavalli will appeal his suspension, but if he doesn't, he won't be eligible to return until right before the All-Star break on July 11, which means he would miss his next scheduled start this weekend against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his start against Boston on Sunday, Cavalli had his best game of the year, allowing an unearned run on just one hit while walking none and striking out a season-high 13 batters in seven innings for his fifth win of the 2026 season. It's obviously a bad time for Cavalli to be hit with a suspension coming off his best game of the year. The former 22nd overall pick in 2020 out of the University of Oklahoma has gone 5-4 this year with a 3.69 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 102 strikeouts in 90 1/3 innings across a career-high 18 starts in his first full season in the majors.

7 days ago

Dylan Crews • RF • Nationals

Dylan Crews Ready for Post-Hype Prospect Breakout?

Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews came with tons of expectations after the Nats selected him second overall (behind college teammate Paul Skenes) in the 2023 MLB draft out of Louisiana State University, and so far in his first 153 games in the big leagues, he's been a bust. In 604 plate appearances with Washington since debuting in 2024, Crews has slashed just .215/.278/.356 with a .634 OPS, 18 home runs, 52 RBI, 33 stolen bases, and 75 runs scored. In 37 games so far in 2026, the 24-year-old has a weak .225/.267/.366 slash line with a .633 OPS, five homers, 17 RBI, four steals, a 20.7% strikeout rate, and a 2.7% walk rate. However, Crews showed some signs of life to close out the month of June, going 14-for-45 (.311) at the plate with a homer, three doubles, three RBI, nine runs scored, and two stolen bases in 11 games across 48 plate appearances. He's going to need to improve his plate discipline to sustain the hot streak, but fantasy managers looking for upside in the outfield should look Crews' way. He's rostered in only 35% of Yahoo leagues and is widely available.

Jul 1

Cade Cavalli • SP • Nationals

Cade Cavalli Dominates BoSox With Career-High 13 Strikeouts

Washington Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli had his swing-and-miss stuff working in Tuesday night's 8-1 win over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Cavalli allowed just an unearned run on one hit while walking none and striking out a career-high 13 batters in seven innings to pick up his fifth win of the year and lower his ERA to 3.69. He's now sporting a 3.22 FIP and 1.33 WIHP with 102 strikeouts and 29 walks in 90 1/3 innings across his career-high 18 starts in just his third big-league season. Cavalli also leads the majors with 12 hit-by-pitches. The 27-year-old former first-round pick in 2020 out of the University of Oklahoma retired the last 19 batters he faced and generated 25 whiffs on his 100 pitches. It was the first time this season that Cavalli didn't allow an earned run, and he's held the opponent to three runs or fewer in all but two of his 18 starts in 2026. Cavalli had a 3.82 ERA (3.56 FIP) with 34 strikeouts and eight walks in 30 2/3 innings in his six starts in June, and he should be trusted in fantasy lineups for his next scheduled outing against the Houston Astros.

Jul 1

Clayton Beeter • RP • Nationals

Clayton Beeter a Priority Saves Target on the Waiver Wire?

Across 25 1/3 innings (25 games) in 2026, Washington Nationals right-hander Clayton Beeter has recorded a 3-1 record with a 3.20 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 28 strikeouts, and six saves. The 27-year-old's control of the strike zone remains a major concern, as he's posted a 16.5% walk rate this season and owns a 16.2% walk rate for his big-league career. Still, Beeter is averaging 95.6 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out 25.7% of the batters he's faced this season. Washington has opted for a committee approach to the ninth inning so far this season, so fantasy managers should not expect Beeter to see every save opportunity for the Nationals. Still, Beeter missed nearly a month of action earlier this season with a forearm injury and is still first in saves among relievers currently on Washington's active roster. Fantasy managers in need of saves should target Beeter on the waiver wire in leagues where he remains available.

Jun 30

Nasim Nuñez • 2B • Nationals

Nasim Nunez Emerging as an Elite Speed Source on the Waiver Wire

Washington Nationals infielder Nasim Nunez has struggled at the plate so far this season, hitting .232/.319/.274 with zero home runs, 27 RBI, and 33 runs scored across 279 plate appearances. However, the 25-year-old has been a major fantasy asset on the basepaths, logging an MLB-high 32 stolen bases in 35 attempts. Nunez also profiles as a high-end defender at second base, which has helped keep him in the Nationals lineup on a near-everyday basis despite his limited output at the plate. With a 0.0% barrel rate and a 19.9% hard-hit rate, fantasy managers should not expect Nunez to provide any real value outside of stolen bases. Still, for deeper league managers who have power to spare but might be in desperate need of speed, Nunez could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.

Jun 30

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