The Washington Nationals continue to inch closer toward setting a record that they want no part of
The Washington Nationals continue to inch closer toward setting an MLB record they want no part of, but has felt inevitable through the 2026 regular season.
With a chance to even the series and set up a rubber match against the New York Mets on Sunday, the Nationals watched Saturday afternoon materialize into the 32nd blown save of the season after dropping game two, 5-4.
A three-run sixth inning helped the Nationals grab a 4-2 lead that the Mets immediately cut into in the bottom of the inning, but the game would unsurprisingly flip in the ninth inning once again.
Despite heading into the bottom of the ninth with a 4-3 lead, manager Blake Butera turned to Yovanny Cruz to pick up the save in an outing that went sideways quickly. After allowing the first two batters faced to reach base following a walk then single, Cruz would give up an RBI double that would tie the game and put two runners in scoring position. Cruz then picked up the first out of the inning after a seven pitch at bat ended in his lone strikeout of the night, but the vibe would quickly swing back after Francisco Lindor took a 92 mph slider into right field for a single that delivered the game winning run.
It marked the latest blown save for a Nationals' squad that has watched its bullpen struggle all season with the 5.16 bullpen ERA ranked fourth-worst across all of baseball and nearly a full run more than any other NL East team so far in 2026.
Clayton Beeter and Mitchell Parker have combined to account for 11 for the team's 32 blown saves -- while combining for 13 saves so far in 2026.
With 37 games left, the Nationals will look to avoid the MLB record of 37 blown saves in a single season, a mark set by the 41-121 Chicago White Sox during the 2024 season when they set the record for the most losses in a single season since 1901. Compare that to a Nationals team that now sits five games below .500 with the two game losing streak sliding them into a two way tie with the Pittsburgh Pirates at 6.5 games back from the final Wild Card spot, it's clear to see why the current concern and future attention has remained fixed on the pitching staff. How the Nationals upgrade is the offseason question as pitching coach Simon Matthews looks to avoid the feat from materializing under his watch.
