Nationals' Pitching Woes Sink Early 2026 Season

Washington's rebuild hits a speed bump as the team's thin pitching staff struggles mightily out of the gate.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:54pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fractured baseball game or pitching motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant colors like deep blues, earthy greens, and fiery oranges.The Nationals' pitching woes have fractured the team's early-season hopes, exposing the challenges of a full-scale rebuild.Washington Today

The Washington Nationals entered the 2026 season with low expectations, having traded away ace MacKenzie Gore in the offseason. But the team's pitching staff has been a disaster so far, posting a 6.06 ERA that ranks 27th in MLB. With the offense keeping the team afloat, the Nationals' biggest flop has been their inability to get consistent production from the mound, putting a damper on their long-term rebuilding plans.

Why it matters

The Nationals' pitching struggles highlight the challenges of a full-scale rebuild, as the team traded away its best arm without adequately replacing him. This has put immense pressure on the offense to carry the load, and raises questions about the team's ability to compete in the near future.

The details

Through 13 games, the Nationals' pitching staff has issued 60 walks, surrendered 24 home runs, and allowed a .275 opponent batting average. The lone bright spot has been young right-hander Cade Cavalli, but the rest of the rotation has struggled to miss bats or throw strikes consistently. The Nationals' bullpen was projected to be the worst in baseball, and that prediction has so far proven accurate.

  • The Nationals traded away ace MacKenzie Gore in January 2026.
  • The Nationals have started the 2026 season with a 5-8 record, sitting in last place in the NL East.

The players

Paul Toboni

The Nationals' first-year president of baseball operations, who made the decision to trade away MacKenzie Gore in the offseason.

Cade Cavalli

A young right-hander who has been the lone bright spot in the Nationals' rotation, leading the staff with a 2.51 ERA.

Blake Butera

The Nationals' manager, who has had to navigate a struggling pitching staff early in the 2026 season.

Gavin Fien

A 2025 first-round pick acquired by the Nationals in the trade that sent MacKenzie Gore to the Texas Rangers.

CJ Abrams

The Nationals' shortstop, who is hitting .286 with 4 home runs and 14 RBIs through 11 games, keeping the offense afloat.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Rebuilding takes time, and smart fans know that trading MacKenzie Gore was a smart move to speed up Washington's prospect pipeline. The five-piece return, which includes Fien and four other minor leaguers, is the kind of haul that adds depth to an organization and could, in theory, speed up the start of a competitive window.”

— Paul Toboni, President of Baseball Operations

What’s next

The Nationals will need to continue developing their young pitching talent, like Cade Cavalli, while potentially making moves to stabilize the rotation in the coming months. The team's long-term rebuild hinges on the success of these efforts.

The takeaway

The Nationals' early-season struggles on the mound highlight the challenges of a full-scale rebuild, as the team traded away its best pitcher without adequately replacing him. While the offense has kept the team afloat, the pitching staff's inability to consistently keep games close has put a damper on Washington's long-term plans.