Nats Journal

Five smaller storylines that added up to one close loss

The Nationals' 3-2 loss to the Phillies saw James Wood at his best and worst, Blake Butera's opener plan work well and some poor ABS challenges

Mark Zuckerman's avatar
Mark Zuckerman
Apr 01, 2026
∙ Paid
Photo by Billy Sabatini / ALL-PRO REELS

PHILADELPHIA – There was no one overarching storyline to tonight’s game, a 3-2 loss to the Phillies. So let’s instead zero in on five smaller storylines that all contributed to the final outcome, and in some cases have ramifications beyond this one game …

1. James Wood can look both lost and locked in within the sam…

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Mark Zuckerman.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Mark Zuckerman · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture