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June 5, 2026 / Nat Anacostia

‘Loved the way we played the game’: Nats’ May in review

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The Nationals entered the month of May with a 15–17 record, in third place in the National League East and 7 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves. With a 16–12 record in May, the Nationals had their best monthly record since August 2023. They finished the month with a 31–29 record in second place in the National League East, trailing the first-place Braves by 9 games.

They started the month at home facing the Milwaukee Brewers in a three-game series. They lost the first two games but won the final game 3 to 2 to avoid being swept. Next, they played a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins and lost the first game in an 11 to 3 blowout. The Nats countered in the second game with a 15 to 2 rout. The Nats also won the third game by a more pedestrian 7 to 5 score, winning the series 2 games to 1 and giving them a 3–3 record for the home stand.

Their next road trip began in Miami with a three-game series against the Marlins. The Nats won the first game 3 to 2 behind good pitching. In the second game, they led 4 to 3 after six innings but allowed 1 run in the seventh and 4 runs in the eighth to fall behind 8 to 4. In the top of the ninth, they rallied to score 3 runs but fell short, losing 8 to 7. In the third game, the teams were tied 2 to 2 after seven innings, but the Nats gave up 3 runs in the eighth for a 5–2 loss, losing the series two games to one.

The Nats started a run of games on 16 consecutive days when they went to Cincinnati for a three-game series against the Reds. Daylen Lile, who is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, was playing for the first time in front of his family and friends. He rewarded them by going 3 for 5 with two home runs and 4 RBI in the first game, with the Nats combining for six home runs in the 10–4 victory. Lile continued hammering the ball in the second game, going 2 for 4 with another home run—this time a game-winning bomb in the tenth inning—and 3 RBI in an 8–7 10-inning win. In the third game, however, the magic ended with the Nats losing in a 15–1 blowout. They won the series two games to one and had a 3–3 record on the road trip.

The next home stand began with three games against the Baltimore Orioles. The Nats eked out a 3 to 2 win in the first game, followed by a 13 to 3 blowout in the second game to finally bring their seasonal record to .500. They lost the third game but won the series two games to one.

A four-game series against the New York Mets followed. The first game was close and lasted for 12 innings, and in the top of the 12th the bullpen reached its breaking point, as Paxton Schultz, pitching for his third consecutive day, faced seven batters and was only able to get one out. At that point the bullpen was empty, and Blake Butera called on a position player to finish the inning. By the end of the inning, 10 runs had scored, and the Mets ultimately won it 16 to 7. The Nats won the next two games, and the Mets won the fourth game 2 to 1, splitting the series. Game 2 featured an inside-the-park grand-slam home run by James Wood. The Nats’ record for the home stand was 4–3.

The next road trip began with three games in Atlanta against the Braves, who possessed the best record in the National League. All three games were close. In the first game the Nats scored one run in the top of the eighth inning to tie the score at 2 to 2. As the game went to extra innings, they were unable to score in the top of the 10th or 11th and were ultimately walked off in the bottom of the 11th in a 3–2 loss. In the second game, three Nats pitchers combined for a one-hit shutout in a 2–0 win. The Nats also won the third game in a 2–1 nailbiter in which the Braves had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but the Nats were able to hold on for the win, winning the series two games to one.

The next series was three games in Cleveland against the Guardians, who were leading the AL Central division race. In the first game, the Nats hit six home runs in a 10–2 romp over the Guardians. They also won the second game but were unable to get a sweep, losing the third game but winning the series two games to one. The Nats record on the road trip was 4–2.

After a badly needed day off, the Nats started their final series of the month at home against the San Diego Padres, who were tied for first place in the NL wild card race. The Nats lost the first game after the Padres scored two runs in the seventh inning to take the lead. In the second game, the Nats were trailing 3 to 1 going into the bottom of the seventh inning but then scored six runs to take the lead and ultimately won the game. They also won but the final game, winning the series 2–1 and ending the month with a 31–29 record.

The Nats offense continued to excel during May. They led the majors in slugging percentage with .453, led the National League in runs scored with 149, were second in the NL in home runs with 40, second in wRC+ with 117, third in on-base percentage with .326, fourth in batting average with .250, and tied for fourth in stolen bases with 26.

The pitching and fielding weren’t nearly as good as the batting, but they were somewhat improved from April. The Nats ranked 10th among the 15 NL teams in ERA with 4.15 and 10th in FIP with 4.17. Their relief pitchers led the majors in innings pitched with 134⅓ and the starters were last in innings pitched with 119⅓, but with the Nats’ heavy use of openers it is unclear what to make of that comparison. In terms of fielding, the Nats ranked 9th among the 15 NL teams using the Fangraphs measure of fielding runs with 0.1.

Roster moves

On May 2, the Nationals announced that they were dropping Cionel Pérez from the 40-man roster and sending him outright to Rochester. Pérez declared free agency and left the Nats organization rather than accepting the demotion. In a little over 5 weeks with the Nats he appeared in 16 games and pitched 16 innings with a 2–3 record, 9 strikeouts, 11 walks, a 6.19 ERA and a 1.688 WHIP. A few days later he signed with the Mets.

On May 3, the Nats claimed 28-year-old right-handed relief pitcher Zak Kent off waivers from the Twins. Kent was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 9th round of the 2019 draft. In 2024 his contract was purchased by the Guardians, with whom he made his major league debut in 2025, pitching in 12 games for them. The next winter, after several waiver claims, he wound up with the Twins, for whom he appeared in two games before the Nats made their claim. In 14 games (21⅓ innings) with the Guardians and Twins, he had a 1–0 record, 18 strikeouts, a 4.64 ERA, and a 1.59 WHIP. He made his debut with the Nats on May 6 and pitched in four games for them during May.

The Nationals designated Jackson Rutledge for assignment, and the Phillies claimed him off waivers on May 10, concluding his nearly seven-year tenure with the Washington organization. The Nats had selected him in the first round of the 2019 draft (17th overall), and he pitched for them in parts of four seasons (2023 through 2026), starting 9 games in 2023 and 2024, and pitching in relief during 2025 and 2026. His record was 5–3 in 71 games (103 innings), with 88 strikeouts, a 6.29 ERA, and a 1.544 WHIP.

On May 19, Dylan Crews was recalled from Rochester. The same day in a somewhat surprising move, Brady House was optioned to Rochester. House had struggled both at the plate (.227/.282/.399) and in the field (8 errors, –4 DRS), and the team hoped that he would be able to make some improvements at Rochester. Curtis Mead took over as the team’s semi-regular third baseman.

On May 21, relief pitcher Clayton Beeter was activated from the 15-day disabled list, and he was followed on May 29 by Cole Henry. On May 24, Jake Irvin was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain. Andrew Alvarez, who had been pitching in long relief, took Irvin’s place in the rotation.

Record:

16–12 (.571)

Pythagorean Record:

15–17 (5.47 R/G – 5.78 RA/G)

May MVP:

  • James Wood (.311/.425/.557, 6 HR, 22 R, 15 RBI, 127 PA, 176 wRC+, 5 SB, 1.4 fWAR). Wood followed up his outstanding performance in April with an even better performance in May.
  • Two players merit recognition as runners up. Keibert Ruiz (.379/.383/.724, 4 HR, 11 R, 16 RBI, 60 PA, 205 wRC+, 1.1 fWAR) has turned his career around, both offensively and defensively, after ending last season with his future as a catcher in doubt. And CJ Abrams (.292/.377/.528, 4 HR, 20 R, 21 RBI, 122 PA, 153 wRC+, 4 SB, 1.1 fWAR) had a second consecutive outstanding month.

Starting pitcher of the month:

  • Zack Littell (5–0, 2.64 RA/9, 6 G, 3 GS, 30⅔ IP, 5.6 K/9, 1.011 WHIP, 0.8 RA9-WAR, 0.4 fWAR). My, how he’s turned his season around from the numbers he put up in April! (Note that I am counting Littell in the starting pitcher category even though he followed an opener in half the games he pitched this month.)

Relief pitcher of the month:

  • Orlando Ribalta (0–0, 2.63 RA/9, 13 G, 13⅔ IP, 7.2 K/9, 0.951 WHIP, 6.71 RE24, 7 shutdowns, 1 meltdown, 0.5 RA9-WAR, 0.4 fWAR).

Worst month:

  • Mitchell Parker (0–2, 6.62 RA/9, 6 G, 17⅔ IP, 8.2 K/9, 1.075 WHIP, –3.72 RE24, 4 shutdowns, 3 meltdowns, –0.4 RA9-WAR, –0.3 fWAR).

Best start:

  • Jake Irvin (May 23, 2–0 win over the Braves in Atlanta) pitched 5 scoreless innings, giving up 1 walk and no hits while striking out 7 for a game score of 73. Unfortunately, Irvin had to leave the game early with an injury and went on the injured list the next day with a right shoulder strain. Brad Lord and Richard Lovelady added 4 more scoreless innings to complete the shutout, with the three pitchers combining to give up only one hit to the division leaders.

Worst start:

  • Foster Griffin (May 14, 15–1 loss to the Reds in Cincinnati) gave up 9 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks in 4⅓ innings while striking out 7 for a game score of 17.

Tough losses:

  • Foster Griffin (May 2, 4–1 loss to the Brewers at home) pitched 6 innings and gave up 3 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 3 for a game score of 59. He left the game with the Nats trailing 3 to 1.
  • Cade Cavalil (May 21, 2–1 loss to the Mets at home) pitched 7 innings and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 9 for a game score of 69. He left with the Nats trailing 2 to 1.

Cheap win:

  • Foster Griffin (May 19, 9–6 win over the Mets at home) pitched 5 innings and gave up 5 runs on 8 hits and no walks while striking out 5 for a game score of 36. He left the game with the Nats ahead 9 to 5.

Biggest shutdown:

  • Orlando Ribalta (May 24, 2–1 win over the Braves in Atlanta). The Nats had gone into the bottom of the ninth holding a 2–0 lead, but the Braves had been rallying against two Nats relievers with two singles, an error, and a walk, having scored one run and loaded the bases. Ribalta got the call with the Nats hanging onto a 2–1 lead, the bases loaded, and one out. He fanned the first batter he faced, then got Ronald Acuña Jr. to hit a weak grounder to end the game, giving Ribalta his second career save. (Win probability added/WPA +.533).

Worst meltdown:

  • Mitchell Parker (May 9, 8–7 loss to the Marlins in Miami). Parker got the call in the bottom of the seventh with the Nats holding a 4 to 3 lead and needing to get at least a couple of innings from him. He got the first two batters on a flyball and a strikeout, then surrendered a game-tying home run to Xavier Edwards. That was followed by a double before he got another flyball to end the inning. Coming back in the eighth with the score still tied at 4 runs apiece, he gave up a single, a walk, a wild pitch, and a three-run home run to Jakob Marsee without recording an out. The next batter hit a double, and Blake Butera finally called on Zak Kent to finish the inning. (WPA –0.515). Kent allowed the runner to score on a sacrifice fly before getting the third out, leaving the Nats trailing 8 to 4. In the top of the ninth, the Nats rallied to score three runs, but it wasn’t enough.

Walk off:

  • None

Clutch hit:

  • CJ Abrams (May 22, 5–4 loss to the Braves in 11 innings in Atlanta). In the top of the tenth inning, Abrams came to bat with the score tied 2 to 2, one out, and runners on first and second. He hit a line drive down the right field line for a triple, driving in both runners. (WPA +.484). However, the Nats were unable to drive in Abrams, and the Braves countered with two runs in the bottom of the tenth before beating the Nats in the eleventh.
  • For a clutch hit in a game that the Nats won, we have Daylen Lile (May 13, 8–7 win over the Reds in 10 innings in Cincinnati). He came to bat in the top of the tenth with the score tied 6 to 6, one out, and the automatic runner on second. Lile blasted the ball over the right field fence as his father celebrated in the stands. (WPA +.388). This time the Nats were able to hold onto their lead and win the game.

Choke:

  • José Tena (May 21, 2–1 loss to the Mets at home). Trailing the Mets 2 to 1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Tena was called on to pinch hit with one out and Daylen Lile on third base. Mets pitcher Devin Williams got Tena to strike out (WPA –.250). The next batter, Keibert Ruiz, then grounded out to end the game.

Memorable fielding plays:

Leaderboard watch:

The following Nationals players finished the month among the top five players in the league one or more statistical category for the season:

  • James Wood – second in the National League in fWAR (2.7), first in on-base percentage (.411), fourth in slugging percentage (.548), second in OPS (.960), first in wRC+ (166), tied for first in games played (60), first in Major League Baseball in plate appearances (282), first in MLB in runs scored (52), third in NL in total bases (125), tied for fourth in doubles (15), tied for second in home runs (16), first in bases on balls (50), third in strikeouts (81), third in extra base hits (31), tied for first in MLB in times on base (116), first in NL in intentional bases on balls (7), first in win probability added (2.33), first in RE24 (25.78)
  • CJ Abrams – fourth in NL in OPS (.933), third in wRC+ (160), second in RBI (47), tied for third in hit by pitch (9), tied for second in errors committed (8), fifth in win probability added (1.93), second in RE24 (21.88), fourth in WPA/LI (1.82)
  • Nasim Nuñez – first in MLB in stolen bases (22), third in NL in sacrifice hits (5), tied for fourth in stolen base percentage (91.67%), fifth in assists (147), tied for fourth in errors committed (7)
  • Daylen Lile – tied for fourth in NL in at-bats (237), tied for fourth in doubles (15)
  • Brady House – tied for second in NL in errors committed (8)
  • Drew Millas – third in NL in passed balls (4)
  • Zack Littel – tied for third in NL in home runs allowed (15)
  • Foster Griffin – tied for first in NL in games started (12), tied for fifth in home runs allowed (13), tied for fourth in hit by pitch (6)
  • Cade Cavalli – tied for first in NL in games started (12), third in home runs per 9 IP (0.453), tied for first in MLB in hit by pitch (10)
  • Jake Irvin – tied for fourth in NL in hit by pitch (6)
  • Clayton Beeter – tied for first in MLB in wild pitches (6)

Filed under Month in review

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