The Washington Nationals will face the Houston Astros again in spring training as they look to end a two-game losing streak
Houston Astros (1-4-1) vs. Washington Nationals (4-2-1)
When: Friday, Feb. 27; 6:05 PM
TV: N/A
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
The Washington Nationals are coming off consecutive losses including a 7-3 defeat in the rematch against Philadelphia on Thursday night, now standing at 4-2-1 through the first week of spring training.
Houston, meanwhile, stands at 1-4-1 with their lone win coming against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday after home runs in the fifth then eighth innings cemented a 4-1 finish.
The two teams also met on the first day of spring training with the Nationals taking down the Astros, 2-1, in the split squad set of games for manager Blake Butera.
Friday will mark the unofficial Nationals debut for new starting pitcher Miles Mikolas, who was the team's most recent free agent signing earlier this month. It could mark an important start as manager Blake Butera continues to evaluate his pitching staff with the team's Opening Day starter slot still unresolved.
Mikolas is coming off a disappointing 2025 season with the St. Louis Cardinals after finishing with an 8-11 overall record and 4.84 ERA while allowing a career high 29 home runs against 100 strikeouts. After reaching his first career All Star game back in 2022, Mikolas also has posted fewer strikeouts than the season prior in each of the last three seasons. But he also joined the organization filling a key need in the starting rotation after the team shipped MacKenzie Gore to Texas the month prior.
The Nationals will also square off against Lance McCullers Jr., who is set to take the mound for Houston. This marks his first appearance this spring after he posted a 6.51 ERA and finished the 2025 season with a 2-5 overall record, tossing 39 walks against 61 strikeouts.
But McCullers also enters Friday's start with a chance to turn the page after battling injuries for the bulk of the last three seasons. He was shut down in spring training back in 2023 after suffering a muscle strain in his right arm, forcing him to miss the start of the season before ultimately undergoing season-ending surgery to repair the flexor tendon and remove a bone spur in his pitching arm. The Astros also announced McCullers would miss the entire 2024 season as he recovered before ultimately making his return over 900 days after suffering the injury. McCullers will look to prove himself once again at full strength as the Nationals look to catch fire offensively behind a hopeful encouraging debut from Mikolas.