Washington Nationals Ending the 2026 Season on a High Note

It's been a tough second half of the season for the Washington Nationals.

In the first half, the team had legitimate playoff hopes. Thanks to a shockingly good offense, the team got out to a nearly .500 record before the All-Star break, and had legitimate hopes of playing postseason baseball. 

After that, though, things went off the rails. 

The team slid out of the picture over the next two months, plagued by poor pitching, injuries and, perhaps, a regression to the mean of what they were projected to be coming into the season. 

Yet, in the home stretch, the team has shown real signs of life that should give fans hope headed into 2027. 

While it won't replace playing in the playoffs, the Nationals have won eight of their last 11, securing series victories over Tigers, Cardinals and Angels and a split two-game set against the Phillies. Two of those teams, the Tigers and Phillies, are currently playoff teams. 

In those 11 games, the offense has racked up 51 runs -- not outstanding, but a solid performance. More impressively, the pitching staff has allowed just 42 runs, giving up more than 5 runs just once, against the Tigers.  

There's something to be said for a team that won't back down, even when there isn't anything tangible to play for anymore. It says something about the character of the team, and the culture the franchise is building, that things have gone well down the stretch even when there isn't a specific goal in sight. 

But more importantly, the team has gotten other good news, and signs of progress, off the field. For what feels like the first time in a long time, the Nats locked down one of their best players to a long-term extension, giving ace Cade Cavalli a four-year, $47 million deal. 

It's a case of the team rewarding a player who has given them incredibly solid play, as Cavalli has developed into a true ace for the team and a player who looks like a major piece of Washington's future. With his season over after he was shut down after his last start, Cavalli has pitched to a 3.02 ERA, good for 13th in the majors, has struck out 200, tied for ninth, and has a WHIP of 1.16, which ranks 20th. 

Plus, while it is obviously disappointing to miss the playoffs again -- the team hasn't made it to the dance since its World Series-winning appearance in 2019, the season can still be considered a success. Washington was far better than experts expected, and has plenty of young talent to build on going forward.