![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260304-WA0016-1024x685.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Photo by Jake Stephens\/TalkNats<\/p>\n
The Washington Nationals have another evening game tonight. The Nats will also be submitting their final roster today for tomorrow\u2019s Spring Breakout game. <\/p>\n
In other news, Venezuela is the World Baseball Classic champs after defeating USA by a final score of 3-2. Remember when the Nats beat Venezuela two weeks ago in an exhibition game by a score of 5-1? Does that make the Nats one of the best teams in the world? <\/p>\n
Manager Blake Butera has to be thinking of Opening Day which is a week from tomorrow. Zack Littell will get his second start today as he ramps up for the regular season. It\u2019s possible that Littell can start Monday\u2019s game in the exhibition against Baltimore. <\/p>\n
This stat has shocked people when we posted that the Nats have the best ERA in all of baseball during Spring Training at 2.97. But the same can\u2019t be said for the Nats defense that has committed 10 errors in the last four games.<\/p>\n
\u275dDefense is controllable, in my mind.\u275e<\/p>\n
\u2014 Butera said<\/p>\n
Yes, defense matters and it was almost perfect yesterday to preserve a 1-0 win in the smallest of margins.<\/p>\n
At this point, we only have 23 Spring Training games in the books and the one exhibition game, and no batter has more than 37 official plate appearances<\/a> on the Washington Nationals. And for that matter, no pitcher has more than 13\u2153 innings in official games.<\/p>\n Also, 68 Nationals have had at least one plate appearance with another two entering games without plate appearances for a total of 69 position players. On top of that, 53 Nats\u2019 pitchers have appeared in games.<\/p>\n Looks like Drew Millas and Keibert Ruiz make the Opening Day roster as the 2 catchers after Harry Ford and Riley Adams are both sent Triple-A. Also, Abimelec Ortiz was sent to Triple-A.<\/p>\n