As of Monday morning the Washington Nationals lead the major leagues in runs scored. That is not something anyone expected for May 18, 2026. I know I can’t write about their runs scored stats every time but I believe in credit where credit is due. 255 runs puts you at the top of the list. The Nats also took two out of three games from the Orioles in their weekend series and for 24 hours, after the Saturday game, had a .500 record at 23-23. It was the first time they reached that mark in two years.
The Nationals have had 15 opportunities in the last two years when a win would have given them a .500 record, and lost all 15 of them. That’s not easy for a team to do. You would think a team with very close to, by definition, an average record going in would win maybe seven of those 15 games. I don’t know the odds of winning none of them but that’s definitely a long shot. The Nationals finally, finally got over that hurdle Saturday.
In the Friday night game Daylen Lile hit his fourth homer in four games, Zack Littell had his best start of the season, and the Nats won 3-2. The bullpen, specifically Andrew Alvarez and Gus Varland, made Littell’s five scoreless innings count and held on for the win. Alvarez has spent most of the season at AAA Rochester but his two call-up relief appearances in Washington, April 19 and May 15, have resulted in a 2.45 ERA with ten strikeouts and one walk in ten innings. That’s a performance the pitching-poor Nats can’t ignore; this time he stayed on the big league roster. No return ticket to Rochester.
Everything went the Nationals’ way on Saturday. Cade Cavalli pitched six shutout innings. Catcher Keibert Ruiz went 3-5 with a homer and five RBIs. Jacob Young and Brady House also homered. CJ Abrams also went 3-5. That 0-15 streak ended definitively. 23-23!
On Sunday Miles Mikolas came into the game with a 7 ERA and pitched accordingly; 4 runs in 5 and two-thirds innings. The Nats have been creative with Mikolas, having a “starter” go the first inning or so and then bringing him in. Sunday the starter was Richard Lovelady but the strategy resulted in a first inning homer by O’s shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who went 4 for 5 on the day. Mikolas came in with one out in the second and immediately gave up a two-run homer to third baseman Coby Mayo. Final score: 7-3. Back below .500.
The Nats play four home games against the struggling Mets this week before leaving for a series with the first place, second-in-runs-scored Braves in Atlanta. Wednesday’s Mets game is also a pups-in-the-park game. If you like pups you’ll love the Nats’ new mascot, Natty. I confidently predict he’ll be there.
Photos courtesy John Canery, coalminephotography.com
