The Washington Nationals are heading back to the nation's capital with momentum on their side, ready to kick off a six-game homestand against the Milwaukee Brewers. After a gritty road trip that saw them battle back to win three of four games against the New York Mets, the Nats are proving they can hang with the best.
Thursday night's comeback was a thriller. Trailing late, the Nats were staring down a series loss until CJ Abrams stepped up in the eighth inning. His go-ahead two-run homer off Luke Weaver flipped the script, giving Washington a 5-4 lead that reliever Gus Varland locked down for his third save of the season. That win capped off a 4-2 road trip, with Wednesday's explosive 14-2 victory showing just how dangerous this lineup can be when it gets rolling.
Now, the Nats welcome a Brewers team they swept just three weeks ago in Milwaukee. Don't let that sweep fool you, though—the Brewers are no pushovers. With a 16-14 record and the fourth-best run differential in baseball, they're a tough out despite sitting in fourth place in the NL Central. They'll be hungry for revenge, especially after dropping all three games in their last meeting.
Leading the charge for Milwaukee is second baseman Brice Turang, who's been a nightmare for opposing pitchers. He launched two home runs off Zack Littell during that earlier series, and he'll get another chance to face him on Sunday afternoon. The Brewers did suffer a blow, though, as right-handed starter Brandon Woodruff left his last start early with a velocity drop and could be sidelined for a while. Still, Milwaukee's rotation depth is strong, and the Nats will face their two best arms—Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison—tonight and tomorrow.
On the mound for Washington tonight is lefty Jake Irvin, who's quietly been a steady presence in the rotation. Outside of a rough outing against the powerhouse Dodgers, Irvin has gone at least five innings and allowed three or fewer runs in every start. His last time out was his best yet: 5.2 scoreless innings against the White Sox. He'll get another crack at the Brewers, a team he handled well despite some control issues, allowing just three runs over five innings while walking five batters.
Misiorowski, the 2025 All-Star, has only gotten sharper in 2026. He's cut down on walks and increased his strikeout rate, coming off a quality start of six innings and three runs allowed against the Pirates. He'll look to keep that momentum going against a scrappy Nationals lineup that thrives on late-game heroics.
With the Nats riding high and the Brewers looking for payback, this series has all the makings of a classic. Grab your gear, show your support, and get ready for a weekend of hard-fought baseball at Nationals Park.