Last Game out…

The Washington Nationals fell to the Houston Astros 3-0 in their first Spring Training loss of 2025 yesterday afternoon. Houston's pitching staff stifled the Nationals' offense, while DJ Herz, making his spring debut, encountered difficulties.

Herz's outing was punctuated by a two-run homer from Yainer Diaz following a critical two-out walk. Herz acknowledged the mistake, stating, "Obviously, we don’t want to do the two-out walks...A lot of weird stuff happens when that happens.” Manager Dave Martinez emphasized the importance of those moments, saying, “Yes, it really is. Only because we instill in them that when you get to two outs, get that third out. Don’t let things unravel when you get to two outs, especially like that. Now, if the guy hits the ball, he hits the ball. But to give him a free pass … and what happened after that was a home run. That’s what he’s thinking about, but it all stems to the walk. He doesn’t walk that guy, we’re out of the inning, and it’s nothing-nothing.”

Offensively, key players like Jacob Young, Robert Hassell III, and CJ Abrams struggled to get hits, with Abrams also committing a defensive error. The Nationals left nine baserunners stranded and went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

On the mound for the Washington Nationals: Jake Irvin

RHP Jake Irvin will get his second start of Spring Training. Irvin pitched one inning in his first Spring Training game on Saturday against the Houston Astros and looked impressive.

Jake Irvin established himself as a workhorse in his breakout MLB season, tying for the league lead with 33 starts. He anchored the Nationals' rotation, logging a team-high 187.2 innings and ranking fifth in the National League.

Demonstrating impressive efficiency, Irvin posted a 1.20 WHIP, placing him 10th in the NL, and tied for the team lead with 10 wins. He excelled defensively, leading all Major League pitchers with six defensive runs saved. His command was also a highlight, with 14 starts of 6.0+ innings and one or fewer walks, third-most in the NL. Irvin's arsenal features a diverse mix, led by his four-seam fastball and curveball, and he showcased his potential with an 8.0-inning, one-hit shutout performance.

Opposition Research: The Braves

The Braves' spring training schedule features visits to 12 different major league teams, including two games each on the road against the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs.

2024 Season Recap: 

The 2024 Atlanta Braves finished the season with an 89-73 record (.549), placing them six games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. They secured the second NL Wild Card spot, earning their 30th postseason appearance in the modern era (since 1900) and their seventh consecutive. The Braves clinched their playoff berth in the final possible game, a 3-0 win against the New York Mets on September 30th. However, their postseason run was short-lived, as they were swept (2-0) by the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card Series.

This seven-year playoff streak is Atlanta's longest since their 14-year run from 1991-2005 (excluding the strike-shortened 1994 season). It's the fifth-longest such streak in MLB history, trailing only Atlanta's 14-year streak (1991-93*, 1995-2005), the New York Yankees' 13-year streak (1995-2007), the Los Angeles Dodgers' current 12-year streak (2013-present), and the Houston Astros' 8-year streak (2017-present).

On the mound for the Atlanta Braves

RHP Bryce Elder will get the start for the Atlanta Braves as he faces the Washington Nationals and gets his second start of Spring Training. Elder finished the 2024 season with a 2-5 record with an ERA of 6.52, striking out 46 and finishing with a 1.63 WHIP. In his first Spring Training game against the Minnesota Twins, Elder pitched 2.0 innings, striking out two batters.