Nationals Aim to Extend Winning Streak in Philadelphia Series
The Nationals bounced back after a rough 10-2 loss Saturday. Joey Wiemer hit a three-run homer and Washington beat the Cubs 6-3.
The win delivered the club its first opening series victory since 2018. Wiemer is tied for the major-league lead in fWAR at 0.6. He reached that mark in just two games.
Road trip to Philadelphia
Washington now travels to Philadelphia for a three-game set. The Phillies sit in last place after splitting their opening series.
Philadelphia won on Opening Day, then dropped the next two games. The series began with a strong start by MacKenzie Gore, who went 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs.
Lineup notes
Three former Nationals patrol the top of the Phillies order. Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber each hit .154 in the opening series. Bryce Harper managed a .091 average.
Schedule and pitching matchups
Game times are Monday 6:40 PM EST, Tuesday 6:40 PM EST, and Wednesday 1:05 PM EST. The pitching plans feature several notable storylines.
Game One
Griffin will make his Nationals debut and his first big-league appearance since 2022. He had two Spring Training starts and a third exhibition outing, posting a 2.53 FIP across eight innings.
On the other side, Walker makes his season debut. He rebounded in 2025 with a 4.08 ERA over 123.2 innings after an ERA above seven in 2024. Walker owns a 3.56 career ERA against Washington.
Game Two
The Nationals have not announced a Tuesday starter. Options include a Brad Lord spot start, a bullpen game, or a Triple-A callup with a roster move.
Phillies rookie Painter will pitch as the fifth starter to begin the year. He missed 2023 and 2024 after Tommy John surgery. Painter made 22 Triple-A starts in 2025 with mixed results and will make his big-league debut.
Game Three
Left-hander Cristopher Sanchez Cavalli struggled with command in his Opening Day outing. He went 3 2/3 innings and struck out five.
Last season he threw seven scoreless innings for his first big-league win. He also once tossed six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts against the Rangers on Opening Day. Washington’s lefty-heavy lineup scored 16 runs in two games against southpaws to start 2026.
What’s at stake
The Nationals aim to extend their winning streak as they begin a Philadelphia series. Taking a road series from a division rival would send a message across the NL East.
Manager Butera’s club opened the year by beating a playoff-caliber opponent on the road. A series win in Philadelphia would reinforce that Washington is no longer an easy mark.
Filmogaz.com will provide further coverage and updates throughout the series.
