2026 Washington Nationals season

2026  Washington Nationals
League	National League
Division	East
Ballpark	Nationals Park
City	Washington, D.C.
Owners	Lerner Enterprises
President of baseball operations	Paul Toboni
Manager	Blake Butera
Television	MASN
Radio	106.7 The Fan Washington Nationals Radio Network
←  2025 Seasons

The 2026 Washington Nationals season will be the Nationals' 22nd season as the Major League Baseball franchise in the District of Columbia, the 19th season at Nationals Park, and the 58th since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

This will be the first season under new President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni and new manager Blake Butera.

Offseason

The Nationals entered the offseason under interim general manager Mike DeBartolo, with a coaching staff all on expiring contracts, after dismissing president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez midway through the 2025 season. ^[1]

Within days of their season ending with a 66–96 record, good for last place in the National League East Division, the Nationals announced the hiring of 35-year-old Boston Red Sox assistant general manager Paul Toboni as their new president of baseball operations, ^[2] with DeBartolo remaining with the organization in an undisclosed role. Several other members of the front office, including longtime assistant general managers Eddie Longosz and Mark Scialabba, were not retained. ^[3]

While Washington was linked in media reports to 2025 interim manager Miguel Cairo, former Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, former Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, Portland Sea Dogs manager Chad Epperson, Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz, and Los Angeles Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann, ^[4] Toboni's choice for the new manager of the Nationals was a surprise: 33-year-old Blake Butera, the Tampa Bay Rays senior director of player development and two-time Carolina League Manager of the Year. ^[5] Upon their hiring, both Butera and Toboni were the youngest people in Major League Baseball to hold their positions, respectively as team manager and top executive. ^[6]

The Nationals removed several players from the roster before the end of the 2025 World Series: relievers Shinnosuke Ogasawara, Eduardo Salazar, and Mason Thompson and catchers Jorge Alfaro and C. J. Stubbs. ^[7] Reliever Derek Law, first baseman Josh Bell, and third baseman Paul DeJong became free agents as their contracts expired. ^[8] Relievers Zach Brzykcy and Ryan Loutos and infielder Trey Lipscomb were also trimmed from the roster days later. ^[9] Starting pitchers Cade Cavalli, MacKenzie Gore, Josiah Gray, and Jake Irvin, catcher Riley Adams, and infielders CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr. are eligible for arbitration. ^[8]

Offseason transactions

• October 1, 2025: The Nationals hired Paul Toboni as president of baseball operations. ^[2]
• October 29, 2025: The Nationals outrighted right-handed pitchers Eduardo Salazar and Mason Thompson, left-handed pitcher Shinnosuke Ogasawara, and catcher C. J. Stubbs to the minor leagues; Salazar, Thompson, ^[10] and Stubbs elected free agency. ^[11]
• October 31, 2025: The Nationals hired Blake Butera as manager ^[5] and outrighted catcher Jorge Alfaro to the minor leagues; Alfaro elected free agency. ^[7]
• November 6, 2025: The Nationals outrighted infielder Trey Lipscomb to the minor leagues ^[12] and lost right-handed pitchers Zach Brzykcy to the Miami Marlins ^[13] and Ryan Loutos to the Seattle Mariners ^[14] on waiver claims.

Game log

Legend
	Nationals win
	Nationals loss
	Postponement
Bold	Nationals team member

2026 Game Log: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
March/April: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 1 March 26 @ Cubs — (—) (—) — — 2 March 28 @ Cubs — (—) (—) — — 3 March 29 @ Cubs — (—) (—) — — 4 March 30 @ Phillies — (—) (—) — — 5 March 31 @ Phillies — (—) (—) — — 6 April 1 @ Phillies — (—) (—) — — 7 April 3 Dodgers — (—) (—) — — 8 April 4 Dodgers — (—) (—) — — 9 April 5 Dodgers — (—) (—) — — 10 April 6 Cardinals — (—) (—) — — 11 April 7 Cardinals — (—) (—) — — 12 April 8 Cardinals — (—) (—) — — 13 April 10 @ Brewers — (—) (—) — — 14 April 11 @ Brewers — (—) (—) — — 15 April 12 @ Brewers — (—) (—) — — 16 April 13 @ Pirates — (—) (—) — — 17 April 14 @ Pirates — (—) (—) — — 18 April 15 @ Pirates — (—) (—) — — 19 April 16 @ Pirates — (—) (—) — — 20 April 17 Giants — (—) (—) — — 21 April 18 Giants — (—) (—) — — 22 April 19 Giants — (—) (—) — — 23 April 20 Braves — (—) (—) — — 24 April 21 Braves — (—) (—) — — 25 April 22 Braves — (—) (—) — — 26 April 23 Braves — (—) (—) — — 27 April 24 @ White Sox — (—) (—) — — 28 April 25 @ White Sox — (—) (—) — — 29 April 26 @ White Sox — (—) (—) — — 30 April 28 @ Mets — (—) (—) — — 31 April 29 @ Mets — (—) (—) — — 32 April 30 @ Mets — (—) (—) — —
May: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 33 May 1 Brewers — (—) (—) — — 34 May 2 Brewers — (—) (—) — — 35 May 3 Brewers — (—) (—) — — 36 May 5 Twins — (—) (—) — — 37 May 6 Twins — (—) (—) — — 38 May 7 Twins — (—) (—) — — 39 May 8 @ Marlins — (—) (—) — — 40 May 9 @ Marlins — (—) (—) — — 41 May 10 @ Marlins — (—) (—) — — 42 May 12 @ Reds — (—) (—) — — 43 May 13 @ Reds — (—) (—) — — 44 May 14 @ Reds — (—) (—) — — 45 May 15 Orioles — (—) (—) — — 46 May 16 Orioles — (—) (—) — — 47 May 17 Orioles — (—) (—) — — 48 May 18 Mets — (—) (—) — — 49 May 19 Mets — (—) (—) — — 50 May 20 Mets — (—) (—) — — 51 May 21 Mets — (—) (—) — — 52 May 22 @ Braves — (—) (—) — — 53 May 23 @ Braves — (—) (—) — — 54 May 24 @ Braves — (—) (—) — — 55 May 25 @ Guardians — (—) (—) — — 56 May 26 @ Guardians — (—) (—) — — 57 May 27 @ Guardians — (—) (—) — — 58 May 29 Padres — (—) (—) — — 59 May 30 Padres — (—) (—) — — 60 May 31 Padres — (—) (—) — —
June: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 61 June 1 Marlins — (—) (—) — — 62 June 2 Marlins — (—) (—) — — 63 June 3 Marlins — (—) (—) — — 64 June 5 @ Diamondbacks — (—) (—) — — 65 June 6 @ Diamondbacks — (—) (—) — — 66 June 7 @ Diamondbacks — (—) (—) — — 67 June 8 @ Giants — (—) (—) — — 68 June 9 @ Giants — (—) (—) — — 69 June 10 @ Giants — (—) (—) — — 70 June 12 Mariners — (—) (—) — — 71 June 13 Mariners — (—) (—) — — 72 June 14 Mariners — (—) (—) — — 73 June 15 Royals — (—) (—) — — 74 June 16 Royals — (—) (—) — — 75 June 17 Royals — (—) (—) — — 76 June 19 @ Rays — (—) (—) — — 77 June 20 @ Rays — (—) (—) — — 78 June 21 @ Rays — (—) (—) — — 79 June 22 Phillies — (—) (—) — — 80 June 23 Phillies — (—) (—) — — 81 June 24 Phillies — (—) (—) — — 82 June 25 Phillies — (—) (—) — — 83 June 26 @ Orioles — (—) (—) — — 84 June 27 @ Orioles — (—) (—) — — 85 June 28 @ Orioles — (—) (—) — — 86 June 29 @ Red Sox — (—) (—) — — 87 June 30 @ Red Sox — (—) (—) — —
July: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 88 July 1 @ Red Sox — (—) (—) — — 89 July 3 Pirates — (—) (—) — — 90 July 4 Pirates — (—) (—) — — 91 July 5 Pirates — (—) (—) — — 92 July 6 Astros — (—) (—) — — 93 July 7 Astros — (—) (—) — — 94 July 8 Astros — (—) (—) — — 95 July 10 Yankees — (—) (—) — — 96 July 11 Yankees — (—) (—) — — 97 July 12 Yankees — (—) (—) — — All–Star Break (July 13–16) 98 July 17 @ Athletics — (—) (—) — — 99 July 18 @ Athletics — (—) (—) — — 100 July 19 @ Athletics — (—) (—) — — 101 July 20 @ Rockies — (—) (—) — — 102 July 21 @ Rockies — (—) (—) — — 103 July 22 @ Rockies — (—) (—) — — 104 July 24 Diamondbacks — (—) (—) — — 105 July 25 Diamondbacks — (—) (—) — — 106 July 26 Diamondbacks — (—) (—) — — 107 July 27 Blue Jays — (—) (—) — — 108 July 28 Blue Jays — (—) (—) — — 109 July 29 Blue Jays — (—) (—) — — 110 July 30 @ Braves — (—) (—) — — 111 July 31 @ Braves — (—) (—) — —
August: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 112 August 1 @ Braves — (—) (—) — — 113 August 2 @ Braves — (—) (—) — — 114 August 3 @ Phillies — (—) (—) — — 115 August 4 @ Phillies — (—) (—) — — 116 August 5 @ Phillies — (—) (—) — — 117 August 6 @ Phillies — (—) (—) — — 118 August 7 Reds — (—) (—) — — 119 August 8 Reds — (—) (—) — — 120 August 9 Reds — (—) (—) — — 121 August 11 Cubs — (—) (—) — — 122 August 12 Cubs — (—) (—) — — 123 August 13 Cubs — (—) (—) — — 124 August 14 @ Mets — (—) (—) — — 125 August 15 @ Mets — (—) (—) — — 126 August 16 @ Mets — (—) (—) — — 127 August 18 @ Rangers — (—) (—) — — 128 August 19 @ Rangers — (—) (—) — — 129 August 20 @ Rangers — (—) (—) — — 130 August 21 @ Marlins — (—) (—) — — 131 August 22 @ Marlins — (—) (—) — — 132 August 23 @ Marlins — (—) (—) — — 133 August 24 Rockies — (—) (—) — — 134 August 25 Rockies — (—) (—) — — 135 August 26 Rockies — (—) (—) — — 136 August 27 Rockies — (—) (—) — — 137 August 28 Marlins — (—) (—) — — 138 August 29 Marlins — (—) (—) — — 139 August 30 Marlins — (—) (—) — — 140 August 31 Marlins — (—) (—) — —
September: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak 141 September 1 Braves — (—) (—) — — 142 September 2 Braves — (—) (—) — — 143 September 4 @ Dodgers — (—) (—) — — 144 September 5 @ Dodgers — (—) (—) — — 145 September 6 @ Dodgers — (—) (—) — — 146 September 7 @ Padres — (—) (—) — — 147 September 8 @ Padres — (—) (—) — — 148 September 9 @ Padres — (—) (—) — — 149 September 11 Angels — (—) (—) — — 150 September 12 Angels — (—) (—) — — 151 September 13 Angels — (—) (—) — — 152 September 15 Phillies — (—) (—) — — 153 September 16 Phillies — (—) (—) — — 154 September 18 @ Cardinals — (—) (—) — — 155 September 19 @ Cardinals — (—) (—) — — 156 September 20 @ Cardinals — (—) (—) — — 157 September 21 @ Tigers — (—) (—) — — 158 September 22 @ Tigers — (—) (—) — — 159 September 23 @ Tigers — (—) (—) — — 160 September 25 Mets — (—) (—) — — 161 September 26 Mets — (—) (—) — — 162 September 27 Mets — (—) (—) — —

Current roster

Washington Nationals 2026 spring training roster

• v
• t
• e

40-man roster	Non-roster invitees	Coaches / other
Pitchers 54 Andrew Alvarez 39 Clayton Beeter 24 Cade Cavalli -- Jake Eder 65 Julián Fernández 47 José A. Ferrer  1 MacKenzie Gore 40 Josiah Gray 99 Cole Henry 77 DJ Herz 27 Jake Irvin 73 Sauryn Lao 72 Andry Lara 61 Brad Lord 70 Mitchell Parker 45 Konnor Pilkington 50 PJ Poulin 64 Orlando Ribalta 79 Jackson Rutledge 32 Trevor Williams Catchers 15 Riley Adams 81 Drew Millas 20 Keibert Ruiz Infielders  5 CJ Abrams 87 Andrés Chaparro  2 Luis García Jr. 55 Brady House 26 Nasim Nuñez  8 José Tena Outfielders  3 Dylan Crews 57 Robert Hassell III 51 Daylen Lile 29 James Wood 30 Jacob Young		Manager -- Blake Butera Coaches 34 active, 0 inactive, 0 non-roster invitees 7-, 10-, or 15-day injured list * Not on active roster † Suspended list Roster, coaches, and NRIs updated November 6, 2025 Transactions • Depth chart → All MLB rosters

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
Triple-A	Rochester Red Wings	International League
Double-A	Harrisburg Senators	Eastern League
High-A	Wilmington Blue Rocks	South Atlantic League
Low-A	Fredericksburg Nationals	Carolina League
Rookie	FCL Nationals	Florida Complex League
Rookie	DSL Nationals	Dominican Summer League

References

1. Mears, Steve (October 9, 2025). "What is the status with Miguel Cairo and the coaching staff?". TalkNats. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
2. Camerato, Jessica (October 1, 2025). "Toboni ready to 'embrace the challenge' in new role with Nats". MLB.com. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
3. Polishuk, Mark (October 8, 2025). "Nationals Retain Mike DeBartolo; Part Ways With Assistant GMs Eddie Longosz, Mark Scialabba". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
4. Newman, Stephen (November 1, 2025). "Who else was in the running for the Nationals' manager job?". District on Deck. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
5. Camerato, Jessica (October 31, 2025). "Nationals make Blake Butera MLB's youngest manager since '72". MLB.com. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
6. Blanco, Bobby (October 31, 2025). "What we know about Nats' new skipper Butera (official)". Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
7. Wakai, Brad (October 31, 2025). "Nationals' Late-Season Addition Elects to Become Free Agent". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
8. Camerato, Jessica (October 30, 2025). "Your go-to primer for the Nationals ahead of this year's Hot Stove". MLB.com. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
9. Zuckerman, Mark (November 6, 2025). "Nats lose Brzykcy, Loutos on waivers, outright Lipscomb to Triple-A". Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
10. McDonald, Darragh (October 29, 2025). "Nationals Outright Four Players". MLB Trade Rumors.
11. Nusbaum, Spencer (November 7, 2025). "Rochester Red Wings who elected free agency". x.com. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
12. Adams, Steve (November 6, 2025). "Nationals Outright Trey Lipscomb". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
13. Adams, Steve (November 6, 2025). "Marlins Claim Zach Brzykcy". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
14. Franco, Anthony (November 6, 2025). "Mariners Claim Ryan Loutos From Nationals". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 7, 2025.

External links

• 2026 Washington Nationals season at Baseball Reference