But this year, Griffin proved why pitchers go to Japan: to learn and work. Which has paid off in spades this year.<\/p>\n
Griffin, a 2026 NL All-Star, went 10-2 with a 2.77 ERA and 109 strikeouts over 110 innings, morphing into the Nationals\u2019 ace of the present. For a pitcher who doesn\u2019t throw hard whatsoever, his ability to give hitters different looks has been a change of pace, compared to how others succeed in the Majors.<\/p>\n
Cade Cavalli<\/a>, a former first-round pick like Griffin, has been in a different situation. Cavalli made his MLB debut in 2022 but, thanks to injury, didn\u2019t return to stay in the Majors until this year. He\u2019s developed into the #2 starter for the Nationals, as Cavalli struck out 110 over 98.2 IP.<\/p>\n The real story, though, has been the offense.<\/p>\n James Wood<\/a>, somehow, has improved in his second full year as a Major Leaguer. Wood hit 28 home runs in the first half, part of a stretch where he slashed .279\/.410\/.575 (.985 OPS). Yes, the strikeouts are still there \u2014 and don\u2019t expect those to go away. Now, the question remains whether Wood can maintain that pace. Remember, his second half wasn\u2019t strong in 2025.<\/p>\n Wood headlines what has been one of baseball\u2019s best offenses. Part of the reason why the Nats\u2019 lineup has been so good is that there\u2019ve been some incredible stories. One is Luis Garcia Jr.<\/a>, a veteran of the team who\u2019s been one of the most improved players in the game. The infielder already has 20 home runs this season.<\/p>\n CJ Abrams<\/a>, with 20 home runs of his own, already tied a career high. Jacob Young<\/a>, at eight, tallied a career-best. And then there\u2019s Curtis Mead<\/a>, a former top prospect in the Rays system who bounced around between Tampa Bay and the White Sox before he landed in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n A more disciplined Mead has unlocked a new gear, as he\u2019s hit 17 home runs with the Nationals.<\/p>\n The Bad<\/p>\n It\u2019s almost impossible to complain about the Nationals\u2019 offense. However, the pitching staff remains a work-in-progress.<\/p>\n Washington signed veterans to fill out the rotation over the winter, as Miles Mikolas<\/a> and Zack Littell<\/a> were brought over. The problem is that the two struggled to keep the ball in the yard. Littell conceded 23 home runs, while Mikolas allowed 20 before the break.<\/p>\n Jake Irvin<\/a>, who had a problem with that last year, has been better in that regard. Unfortunately, his ERA is over 5.00 this season.<\/p>\n As for the bullpen, the Nationals don\u2019t have a true horse for the late innings. Washington has rotated between Gus Varland<\/a>, Clayton Beeter<\/a>, and others to close out games. The problems, though, have been walks and command.<\/p>\n Looking Ahead<\/p>\n The Nationals find themselves competing for a playoff spot as of mid-July, remarkable for several reasons. One, the Braves<\/a> and Phillies<\/a> still look like threats to topple the Dodgers, while the Marlins<\/a>\u2018 strong pitching staff vaulted the club to playoff contention. Second, the fact that the rebuild progressed so quickly.<\/p>\n Remember, this was the team that picked first overall last July and sold off ace MacKenzie Gore<\/a> this past winter.<\/p>\n If the Nationals wanted to add, it\u2019s something that would make sense. Washington is deep with prospects, particularly middle infielders. And if the Nats could get a piece to fit in long-term, that would be even better.<\/p>\n However, a case to hold can be easily made, too.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/OPS1STHALFUP2026.jpeg\")
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