Washington Nationals Tie MLB Blown Save Record

After being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Washington Nationals are officially one step closer to standing alone to owning an embarrassing MLB record.

Sunday night marked the 37th blown save of the 2026 regular season, officially tying the league record for the most in a regular season.

Mookie Betts would be the one to deliver the blow to the Nationals after belting a three run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning that cemented the 7-5 loss in a series that featured a pair of blown saves in as many days.

It emphasizes the need for pitching for the Nationals this offseason given they rank second-to-last in bullpen ERA (5.30) to only the Athletics.

The latest blemish also cemented a four game losing streak for the second time over the last three weeks, while left hander Will Dion picked up the loss given he was on the mound for the go-ahead home run. That came one day after right hander Clayton Beeter gave up the go-ahead three run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, marking an all too familiar feeling for the Nationals.

It has felt apparent for weeks that the Nationals would set the feat with the question turning into when it officially materializes as pitching coach Simon Matthews looks to pull off a miracle over the final 17 games of the regular season.

Yet the loss did come with a positive development after CJ Abrams launched his 30th home run of the season after taking an 83 mph sweeper to center field, enough to tie the game at one. Yet the result mattered a lot less than the feat given it marked the first time in Abrams' career that he eclipsed 30 home runs in a season, marking yet another feat for the star infielder in the midst of a career season. Abrams enters Monday five RBIs shy of his first 100 RBI season, the latest testament to the offensive outbreak that he's enjoyed through 2026.

The home run also proved to be a notable one given he joined James Wood at Nationals with at least 30 home runs, becoming the second pair of teammates age 25 or younger who each have at least 30 home runs and 15 stolen bases in a season.

The Nationals will look to end the slide when they kick off the three game series against the San Diego Padres on Monday night with first pitch set for 5:10 PM ET.