The Washington Nationals snapped a rough stretch with a 3-2 win over the Phillies, powered by the return of Dylan Crews. After nearly three months on the injured list with an oblique strain, Crews wasted no time making an impact, ripping a single in his first at-bat, stealing second base, drawing a walk, and flashing elite defense with a diving catch in right field. His energy helped spark a young lineup, while José Tena delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning. Brad Lord pitched six solid innings, and Cole Henry capped it off with his first career save, striking out Trea Turner to strand the tying run at third — a big moment after his long recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome.

Off the field, the Nationals made a bold move by designating Nathaniel Lowe for assignment. The offseason acquisition struggled to a .216 average and -0.7 WAR, making his $10.3 million salary hard to justify. The decision clears playing time for a crowded young outfield headlined by Crews and James Wood, with Robert Hassell III, Daylen Lile, and Jacob Young competing for one remaining spot. As interim manager Miguel Cairo put it, the team is leaning into its youth and leadership potential as they look to finish strong and embrace the spoiler role against contenders down the stretch.

The Washington Nationals snapped their daytime woes with a 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants, fueled by James Wood’s leadoff homer, back-to-back blasts from Paul DeJong and Josh Bell, and six solid innings from rookie Brad Lord. Despite going just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, the Nats held on as new closer José A. Ferrer earned his first save since September.

In other news, Dylan Crews is nearing his MLB return after a strong Triple-A rehab stint, and Cade Cavalli impressed in his first big-league start since 2022, striking out six in 4.1 scoreless innings. The Nationals hope these young players can anchor a brighter future as the season progresses.

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MacKenzie Gore struggled in what may have been his final start with the Washington Nationals, surrendering six runs over 5⅓ innings in a 9–1 loss to the Astros. Despite some signs of improvement, Gore’s second-half ERA ballooned to 10.66, and with trade speculation swirling, his future in D.C. remains uncertain. While Gore admitted the chatter is hard to ignore, he emphasized focusing on his performance and controlling what he can.

Meanwhile, the Nationals leaned fully into their rebuild at the trade deadline, flipping veterans Michael Soroka, Andrew Chafin, Luis García, and Amed Rosario for four minor leaguers, including lefty Jake Eder and infielder Ronny Cruz. These moves reinforce Washington’s long-term plans and reflect their belief in a young core led by CJ Abrams, James Wood, and Brady House. Though the rebuild drags on, the front office’s recent decisions aim to restock the farm and avoid a complete reset.