Game 95: Yankees at Nats

The Nationals open a big weekend series against New York that could help define their upcoming plans after the All-Star break

It’s shaping up to be a big weekend around here, with the MLB Draft starting Saturday afternoon and the Nationals hosting the Yankees for three days to wrap up what has been a wildly entertaining first half to the 2026 season. And the results of this series against the mighty Bronx Bombers could go a long way toward shaping the big decisions the Nats have to make in the coming weeks.

The Nationals have won 10 of their last 14 series, but they’re still just two games over .500 at 48-46. And while that was good enough a few weeks ago to hold a wild-card berth, it’s not enough since the Marlins went on a ridiculous 26-8 run to get to 52-42. That leaves the Nats a full 4 games back entering the day. Suffice it to say, they’re going to have to start gaining back some ground at some point.

Are they catching the Yankees at a good team? New York has lost 11 of its last 14 and had gone 20 consecutive games without scoring more than five runs until finally breaking out for 12 during Thursday’s win over the Rays. Both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are on the IL, but first baseman Ben Rice (with 28 homers) is a force to be reckoned with himself.

Because the Yankees lineup is so left-handed-havy, the Nationals will use Carson Palmquist as an opener tonight for Zack Littell. They’ve also got three more lefties available in their bullpen in PJ Poulin, Matt Krook and Tom Cosgrove, who was acquired in a minor deal with the Astros last week and has now been called up from Triple-A Rochester, with Jake Irvin transferred to the 60-day IL to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for him. (Don’t worry, Irvin has already been out since May 24, so he’ll be eligible to return in a couple of weeks, which is the soonest he’d be ready anyway.)

New York has a left-hander on the mound tonight in Ryan Weathers, so you shouldn’t be surprised that Blake Butera’s lineup includes Andrés Chaparro. You might be surprised, however, that Chaparro is the DH, with Luis García Jr. also in the lineup at first base (though batting eighth).

NEW YORK YANKEES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV, FOX 5 (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 84 degrees, 6 mph out to center

YANKEES
3B Amed Rosario
DH Ben Rice
CF Trent Grisham
1B Paul Goldschmidt
LF Cody Bellinger
RF Jasson Dominguez
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
SS Jose Caballero
C Austin Wells

LHP Ryan Weathers

NATIONALS
RF James Wood
3B Curtis Mead
LF Dylan Crews
SS CJ Abrams
CF Jacob Young
DH Andrés Chaparro
2B Nasim Nuñez
1B Luis García Jr.
C Keibert Ruiz

LHP Carson Palmquist