‘You can’t let it get to you’: Nats July in review

When the Nationals entered the month of July, their 44–43 record placed them as one of several teams on the edges of the wild card race, 2½ games behind the Cardinals and Marlins who were tied for the third wild card spot. They hoped that some victories would move them closer to the race, but it didn’t really work out that way. Their 11–13 record for July left them with a 55–56 record at the end of the month, though still only 2½ games out from the final wild card. With the August 3 trade deadline approaching, it was still unclear on July 31 whether the Nats would mostly be buyers or sellers.

July began with the Nats in Boston preparing to play the final game of a three-game series against the Red Sox. They won the game by a 10 to 2 score, winning the series two games to one.

Returning home, they faced the Pirates, one of several teams they were competing with in the wild card race. The Nats won the first game and lost the second one. The final game in the series was tied 4 to 4 after seven innings, but the Nats allowed 5 runs to score in the top of the eighth inning and two more in the top of the ninth, losing the game 11 to 5. Next came a series against the Astros. In the first game, the Nats were ahead 12 to 7 after seven innings but allowed 4 runs to score in the top of the eighth. This time, the bullpen held on in the ninth for a 12–11 win. The Nats lost the second game but won the third game and the series.

The home stand concluded with a three-game series against the Yankees, who held the first wild card position in the American League race. All three games were winnable but were lost in the late innings. In the first game, the Nats led 3 to 2 after eight innings, but the Yanks scored 3 in the top of the ninth for the win. In the second game, the Nats were ahead 2 to 0 after seven innings but gave up 4 runs in the top of the eighth for a 4–2 loss. In the third game, the Nats took a 3–2 lead in the bottom of the seventh but gave up 2 runs in the top of the eighth and one more in the top of the ninth for a 5–3 loss. The Nats had been swept, and had a 3–6 record for the home stand, sending them into the All-Star break with a losing record.

Three Nationals were chosen for the All-Star team—CJ Abrams won the vote to be the starting shortstop, and the selection of James Wood as an outfielder was announced at the same time. Foster Griffin was a late selection for the team, filling in for other pitchers who were unable or unwilling to pitch in the game. It was the first time that three or more Nats had been selected for an All-Star team since 2021, when Max Scherzer, Kyle Schwarber, Juan Soto, and Trea Turner were selected. Abrams was the first Nat to be selected as a starter since Bryce Harper in 2018.

In the All-Star Game, which was played on July 14, the National League was dominated by AL pitching in a three-hit shutout in which NL batters struck out 15 times. Abrams played the first five innings and struck out in both of his plate appearances, while Wood played the last four innings and struck out in his only plate appearance. Griffin pitched the fifth inning and retired all three batters he faced, two of them coming on strikeouts. The 27 strikeouts by the two teams combined set a record for a nine-inning All-Star game. The AL won the game 4 to 0.

After the break, the Nats headed west for a road trip. Their first series was played in West Sacramento against the Athletics. In game one, the Nats beat the A’s in a 23 to 4 blowout. The second game was also a blowout, but this time it was the A’s on top in a 15 to 1 drubbing of the Nats. (The last time an MLB team had scored 23 or more runs followed by giving up 15 or more runs to the same team in the next game was 131 years ago—May 20–21, 1895—in games between the Chicago Colts and the Phillies.) The Nats won the third game by a more normal score of 5 to 2, taking the series two games to one. They went on to Denver for a three-game set against the Rockies. They won the first game and had a chance to win the second as well—in the top of the seventh inning they tied the game at seven runs apiece but surrendered a run in the bottom of the eighth to lose it, 8 to 7. In the final game of the series, with Cade Cavalli as starting pitcher, they won 8 to 0 for their first shutout win in Colorado since 2005 (in a game started by Tony Armas Jr). They won both road series and were 4–2 on the road trip.

The next homestand started a string of 17 games played on consecutive days, with the first ten games in that string coming just before the trade deadline. The Nats opened their homestand against the Diamondbacks, who held the third wild card spot and were two games ahead of the Nats. In the first game, after six innings the teams were tied with two runs apiece, but the D-backs scored one in the top of the seventh, and the Nats lost 3 to 2. But the Nats won the next two games and temporarily moved ahead of the Marlins into third place in the NL East race. The Nats then faced the Blue Jays. They again lost the first game of the series 3 to 2 but won the second game. In the third game, the teams were tied at one run apiece after six innings, but the Nats gave up one run in the top of the seventh and three more in the top of the eighth while scoring only one run, for a 5 to 2 loss. The Nats’ record on the homestand was 3–3, and they were still one game above .500.

The month concluded with the Nats traveling to Atlanta to play the first two games of a four-game series against the division-leading Braves. The Nats lost the first game 5 to 4 and the second game 6 to 2. They dropped to one game below .500 and slipped back into fourth place in the NL East behind the Marlins.

Roster moves:

On July 5, right-handed relief pitcher Eddy Yean made his major league debut. The 25-year-old pitcher had originally been signed by the Nats at age 16 in the Dominican Republic in 2017. After pitching in the low levels of the Nats system in 2018 and 2019 seasons and missing the 2020 season due to the pandemic, the Nats traded him to the Pirates as part of the deal to acquire Josh Bell. He spent the seasons from 2021 to 2025 in the Pirates system, rising to Triple A but never making it to the majors, and then elected free agency. In November 2025 he signed a minor league deal with the Nats and finally made it to the majors on July 5. In his first game he pitched two scoreless innings, not allowing a hit and striking out three.

On July 7, left-handed relief pitcher Matt Krook debuted with the Nationals. The 31-year-old pitcher had been drafted by the Giants in the fourth round in 2016, was traded to the Rays, and then was selected by the Yankees in the rule 5 draft. He debuted with the Yankees in 2023 and subsequently pitched briefly for the Orioles and the Athletics before the Nats claimed him off waivers from the Athletics. In 13 games pitched over four seasons before joining the Nats, he recorded 13 strikeouts and 12 walks in 12 innings pitched with a 15.75 earned run average and a 2.58 WHIP. His tenure with the Nats turned out to be brief; after pitching in just six games the Nats designated him for assignment, and on July 29 he elected free agency. His record with the Nats was 4⅔ innings pitched, a 0–1 record, 4 strikeouts, 6 walks, a 7.71 earned run average, and a 2.14 WHIP.

On July 10, left-handed relief pitcher Tom Cosgrove debuted with the Nats. The 30-year-old pitcher had been drafted by the Padres in the 12th round of the 2017 draft. From 2023 to 2025 he pitched in 74 games for the Padres and Cubs, going 1–3 with 1 save, 62 strikeouts, and 26 walks in 70 innings pitched with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. On July 3 the Nats purchased his contract from the Astros for cash.

On July 12, the 24-year-old left-handed first baseman Abimelec Ortiz made his major league debut. He was the first prospect received from the Rangers in the MacKenzie Gore trade to reach the majors. The Puerto Rico native was signed by the Rangers in 2021 and was one of five prospects the Nats received for Gore in January 2026. Before being called up, his record this season with the Rochester Red Wings was .235/.332/.481 with 16 home runs and 59 RBI. After the trade of Luis García Jr on August 2, it was expected the Ortiz would take over the left-handed platoon role at first base.

On July 17, the right-handed-hitting catcher Harry Ford made his debut with the Nats. The 23-year-old player was one of two prospects received from the Mariners in December 2025 in the Jose A Ferrer trade. Ford was drafted by the Mariners in the first round (12th overall pick) in the 2021 draft and played in 8 games for them last season, going 1 for 6. He also got a hit in his one plate appearance in last year’s American League Championship Series.

On July 18, righted-handed relief pitcher Max Kranick made his debut with the Nats. The 28-year-old pitcher had been signed as a free agent on May 5 while still recovering from elbow surgery the previous summer. Kranick was drafted by the Pirates in the 11th round of the 2016 draft and made his MLB debut in 2021. Over three seasons (2021–2022 and 2025) with the Pirates and Mets, he pitched in 35 games (including 9 starts) and went 5–5 with 61 strikeouts and 27 walks in 80⅔ innings with a 4.69 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP.

Trade deadline season kicked off for the Nats on July 26 when Curtis Mead was traded to the Red Sox for left-handed starting pitcher Connelly Early. Mead had had a breakout year with Nats—in 87 games and 327 plate appearances, Mead hit .254/.352/.500 with 17 HR and 48 RBI. Sadly, in his first game with the Red Sox he was hit by a pitch that broke his wrist. At the time of the trade, Early was on the 15-day injured list, but he is expected to go on a rehab assignment sometime in early August.

The Nats bid adieu to a couple of other players. On July 11, pitcher Andre Granillo was claimed off waivers by the Tigers. In 8 games for the Nats this season, he pitched 9⅓ innings with 3 strikeouts and 8 walks while recording a 9.64 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP. On July 16, Robert Hassell III was traded to the Pirates for cash. Hassell was one of five players received in the Juan Soto trade. In 70 games and 206 plate appearances for the Nats in 2025 he hit .223/.257/.315 with 3 home runs and 18 RBI. After the trade from the Padres system, his hitting never really developed as had been expected.

On July 9 the Nats placed Brad Lord on the 15-day injured list for left side tightness. On July 15 Drew Millas was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left index finger. On July 19 PJ Poulin was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left flexor strain. On July 29 Trevor Williams was activated from the 60-day injured list and made his first appearance since July 2, 2025. He assumed a long-relief role in the bullpen. On July 30 Jake Irvin was activated from the 60-day injured list and returned to the rotation in his first appearance since May 23.

Record:

11–13 (.458)

Pythagorean Record:

13–11 (5.92 R/G – 5.33 RA/G)

July MVP:

I’m calling this one a tie between:

• CJ Abrams (.348/.408/.742, 10 HR, 17 R, 23 RBI, 6 SB, 103 PA, 203 wRC+, 1.6 fWAR). He was named National League Player of the Week for the week of July 20 to 26 after going 10 for 19 (.577) with 2 doubles, 6 home runs, 12 RBI, 1 walk, 2 stolen bases, and 8 runs scored in 6 games played. He was also named National League Player of the Month for July.
• James Wood (.293/.441/.663, 9 HR, 26 R, 20 RBI, 4 SB, 118 PA, 194 wRC+, 1.6 fWAR). He was named National League Player of the Week for the week of July 6 to 12 after going 10 for 20 (.500) with a double, 5 home runs, 8 RBI, 9 walks, and 11 runs scored in 6 games played.

I’d also like to recognize a player who put up numbers that, while not quite in the same category as Abrams and Wood, still deserve to be remembered:

• Curtis Mead (.367/.465/.650), 3 HR, 13 R, 9 RBI, 2 SB, 71 PA, 204 wRC+, 1.0 fWAR), with these statistics being for his games played with the Nationals before his trade to the Red Sox on July 26.

Rotation pitcher of the month:

• Foster Griffin (4–1, 3.48 RA/9, 5 GS, 31 IP, 5.2 K/9, 1.19 WHIP, 0.8 RA9-WAR, 0.5 fWAR). I’ll really miss him.

Relief pitcher of the month:

• Orlando Ribalta (0–1, 4.91 RA/9, 8 G, 7⅓ IP, 16.0 K/9, 1.36 WHIP, 2.18 RE24, 4 shutdowns, 2 meltdowns, 0.0 RA9-WAR, 0.3 fWAR). An impressive strikeout rate helped nudge him ahead of the competition.

Worst month:

• Carson Palmquist (0–1, 8.53 RA/9, 9 G, 12⅔ IP, 8.5 K/9, 1.82 WHIP, –5.95 RE24, 1 shutdown, 1 meltdown, –0.4 RA9-WAR, 0.1 fWAR). In the four games he started as an opener, he surrendered 11 runs in 7 innings pitched.

Best start:

• Foster Griffin (July 8, 8–2 win over the Astros at home) pitched 7 innings, giving up 1 run on 5 hits and no walks while striking out 9 for a game score of 72.

Worst start:

• Zack Littell (July 18, 15–1 loss to the Athletics in West Sacramento) gave up 8 runs on 8 hits and 4 walks in 6 innings with 4 strikeouts for a game score of 24.

Tough losses:

• None

Cheap win:

• Miles Mikolas (July 6, 12–11 win over the Astros at home) gave up 7 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings with 3 strikeouts for a game score of 27. He left the game with the Nats ahead 12–7, and they held onto the lead (barely), giving Mikolas credit for the win.

Biggest shutdown:

• Clayton Beeter (July 6, 12–11 win over the Astros at home). In the top of the eighth inning, Cole Henry had just given up four runs, with the last three coming on a home run, cutting the Nats lead from 12 to 7 down to 12 to 11. Beeter got the call to get the last four outs while holding onto the one-run lead. He quickly got a groundout from Jose Altuve to get out of the eighth inning. In the ninth, he got Yordan Alvarez to strike out looking, then got a groundout from Isaac Paredes and a lineout to center field from Christian Walker to get the save. (Win probability added/WPA +.191).

Worst meltdown:

• Matt Krook (July 10, 5–3 loss to the Yankees at home). In his second appearance for the Nats, Krook got the call to pitch the top of the ninth inning with the Nats ahead 3 to 2. He got Cody Bellinger to ground out but then gave up a single to Jasson Dominguez followed by a home run to Jazz Chisholm Jr, putting the Yankees ahead 4 to 3 (WPA –.654). Justin Lawrence then got the call to finish the inning and gave up another solo home run before getting the third out.

Walk off:

• None

Clutch hit:

• Keibert Ruiz (July 10, 5–3 loss to the Yankees at home). When Ruiz came to bat in the bottom of the seventh, there was one out, the bases were empty, and the Nats were trailing 2 to 1. He launched a missile down the left field line for a game-tying home run. (WPA +.236). Then the next batter, James Wood, hit another one to give the Nats the lead. But it wasn’t enough (see the section for “Worst meltdown” above), and the Nats lost the game.
• For a clutch hit in a game the Nationals won, we have CJ Abrams (July 26, 10–7 win over the Diamondbacks at home). In the bottom of the fifth, the game was tied 4 to 4, and there was one out and a runner on first when Abrams came to bat. Abrams hit a home run to center field (his second home run of the game) to put the Nats ahead 6 to 4. (WPA +.231)

Choke:

• Luis García Jr (July 27, 3–2 loss to the Blue Jays at home). With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and trailing the Blue Jays 3 to 2, Nasim Nuñez singled and James Wood drew a walk, putting the tying and go-ahead runs on base. García then came to the plate and struck out to end the game. (WPA –.172)

Memorable fielding plays:

• Jacob Young sprints in to make a sliding 4-star catch.
• Nasim Nuñez dives to glove a ground ball, then pops to his feet to gun down the runner.

Leaderboard watch:

The following Nationals players ended the month of July ranked among the top five players in the National League in the specified statistical categories. I also indicate when any player ranked first in MLB.

• James Wood – second in on-base percentage (.398), third in slugging percentage (.546), second in on-base plus slugging (.943), tied for first in games played (MLB) (111), first in plate appearances (MLB) (523), first in runs scored (MLB) (99), first in total bases (233), third in home runs (30), fifth in runs batted in (72), first in bases on balls (MLB) (89), second in strikeouts (150), second in adjusted OPS+ (159), first in extra base hits (MLB) (57), first in times on base (208), tied for second in intentional bases on balls (9) , third in power-speed number (21.7), fourth in AB per home run (14.2), fourth in isolated power (.276), second in weighted on-base average (.401), second in weighted runs created, wRC+ (155), second in win probability added (3.45), first in RE24 (38.46), third in fWAR for position players (4.3)
• CJ Abrams – fifth in bWAR for position players (4.4), first in slugging percentage (.563), fourth in on-base plus slugging (.929), third in total bases (225), fifth in home runs (28), second in runs batted in (83), fourth in adjusted OPS+ (154), tied for third in extra base hits (154), tied for fifth in hit by pitch (10), second in power-speed number (22.6), fifth in AB per home run (14.3), fifth in isolated power (.273), third in weighted on-base average (.394), fourth in weighted runs created, wRC+ (151), fifth in win probability added (2.77), fourth in RE24 (31.72), second in errors committed (17)
• Luis García Jr. – second in slugging percentage (.561), fourth in runs batted in (76), third in isolated power (.278), fifth in RE24 (30.34)
• Nasim Nuñez – first in stolen bases (39), tied for fourth in sacrifice hits (6), tied for second in assists (281), fifth in errors committed (13)
• Drew Millas – tied for fourth in passed balls (5)
• Keibert Ruiz – second in stolen bases allowed as catcher (51)
• Foster Griffin – tied for second in wins (12), fourth in innings pitched (129⅓), tied for fourth in games started (22), fifth in batters faced (524)
• Cade Cavalli – tied for first in games started (MLB) (23), tied for second in hit by pitch (12)
• Zack Littell – tied for second in home runs allowed (25)
• Miles Mikolas – fifth in home runs allowed (23), tied for fifth in earned runs (64)
• Clayton Beeter – tied for first in wild pitches (MLB) (8)