Paul Skenes is set up for a statement outing. The right-hander’s elite strike-throwing and swing-and-miss stuff match up well against a Nationals lineup that chases high velocity and is light on left-handed thump outside of James Wood and CJ Abrams. Expect seven sturdy innings from Skenes with double-digit strikeouts and one earned run. Cade Cavalli has opened 2026 with sharper command, but his fly-ball tendencies play poorly in the left-center power alley at PNC Park. Ryan O’Hearn and Oneil Cruz both profile to do damage on Cavalli’s four-seamer the second time through. Look for Pittsburgh to string together a run in the 2nd, a two-spot in the 5th as the lineup flips, then tack on insurance against a fatigued Cavalli and a shaky middle-relief bridge. The Pirates’ late-inning trio of Gregory Soto, Dennis Santana, and Yohan Ramírez has been lights-out; once Skenes hands them a lead, they should close the door. Washington will scrape across a run on a sixth-inning rally—Abrams’ speed pressures the defense—and another in the 8th off a sacrifice fly, but the gap remains comfortable. Recent head-to-head play has been tight, yet Pittsburgh’s current form (first place, stingy 3.86 staff ERA) combined with the home-field edge and superior bullpen depth tilts the matchup. Final score: Pirates 5, Nationals 2.

Probable Pitchers

C. Cavalli Nationals

5-4 3.69 ERA

102 K

P. Skenes Pirates

6-7 3.10 ERA

114 K

Washington Nationals — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Luis García Jr.	1B	.245	1	8	.259	.396
Curtis Mead	2B	.259	1	5	.355	.444
Daylen Lile	RF	.286	0	5	.324	.343
Jacob Young	CF	.289	2	7	.319	.511
José Tena	LF	.280	0	4	.333	.280
Jorbit Vivas	3B	.333	0	2	.441	.370
Nasim Nuñez	SS	.204	0	5	.278	.224
Keibert Ruiz	C	.194	1	8	.212	.355

Pittsburgh Pirates — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Billy Cook	CF	.250	0	0	.250	.250
Brandon Lowe	2B	.278	6	14	.400	.648
Joey Bart	DH	.105	0	2	.182	.105
Nick Gonzales	3B	.267	0	7	.327	.333
Nick Yorke	RF	.289	0	2	.404	.368
Spencer Horwitz	1B	.244	1	3	.360	.341
Konnor Griffin	SS	.152	0	5	.256	.182
Jake Mangum	LF	.212	0	1	.278	.242
Henry Davis	C	.229	0	3	.325	.314

Scoring Plays

▲ 1

CJ Abrams homers (5) on a fly ball to right field.

1-0

▼ 2

Oneil Cruz walks. Konnor Griffin scores. Jake Mangum to 3rd. Henry Davis to 2nd.

1-1

▼ 2

Brandon Lowe singles on a fly ball to left fielder Daylen Lile. Jake Mangum scores. Henry Davis scores. Oneil Cruz to 3rd.

1-3

▼ 2

Bryan Reynolds singles on a line drive to left fielder Daylen Lile. Oneil Cruz scores. Brandon Lowe to 2nd.

1-4

▼ 3

Spencer Horwitz homers (1) on a fly ball to right field.

1-5

▼ 6

Bryan Reynolds triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder James Wood. Henry Davis scores. Oneil Cruz scores. Brandon Lowe scores.

1-8

▼ 6

Ryan O'Hearn doubles (3) on a sharp fly ball to center fielder Jacob Young. Bryan Reynolds scores.

1-9

▼ 6

Konnor Griffin singles on a ground ball to right fielder James Wood. Ryan O'Hearn scores. Spencer Horwitz to 2nd.

1-10

▼ 6

Oneil Cruz singles on a sharp line drive to right fielder James Wood. Spencer Horwitz scores. Konnor Griffin scores. Jake Mangum to 3rd.

1-12

▼ 6

Brandon Lowe homers (6) on a fly ball to right field. Jake Mangum scores. Oneil Cruz scores.

1-15

▲ 7

Jacob Young homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Daylen Lile scores.

3-15

▲ 7

Nasim Nuñez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Nick Yorke. José Tena scores. Jorbit Vivas scores.

5-15

▼ 8

Joey Bart out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder José Tena. Henry Davis scores.

5-16

Washington Nationals — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Joey WiemerP	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.364	1.068
Luis García Jr.1B	5	0	0	0	0	3	0	.245	.655
Curtis Mead2B	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.259	.799
Daylen LileRF	4	1	2	0	0	1	0	.286	.667
Jacob YoungCF	4	1	1	2	0	1	1	.289	.830
José TenaLF	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	.280	.613
Jorbit Vivas3B	3	1	1	0	1	0	0	.333	.811
Nasim NuñezSS	4	0	1	2	0	0	0	.204	.502
Keibert RuizC	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.194	.567
Totals	35	5	8	5	2	9	2

BATTING

2B: Vivas (1, Urquidy).

HR: Abrams (5, 1st inning off Skenes, 0 on, 2 out); Young (2, 7th inning off Urquidy, 1 on, 1 out).

TB: Abrams 4; Lile 2; Nuñez, N; Tena; Vivas 2; Wood; Young 4.

RBI: Abrams (17); Nuñez, N 2 (5); Young 2 (7).

2-out RBI: Abrams.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Nuñez, N 2; García Jr., L.

Team RISP: 1-for-3.

Team LOB: 6.

FIELDING

E: García Jr., L (2, throw).

a-Grounded out for Abrams in the 7th.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Billy CookCF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.250	.500
Brandon Lowe2B	5	2	3	5	0	0	1	.278	1.048
Joey BartDH	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	.105	.287
Nick Gonzales3B	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.267	.660
Nick YorkeRF	6	0	0	0	0	2	0	.289	.772
Spencer Horwitz1B	4	2	2	1	1	0	1	.244	.701
Konnor GriffinSS	4	2	1	1	1	2	0	.152	.438
Jake MangumLF	4	2	1	0	1	0	0	.212	.520
Henry DavisC	4	3	2	0	1	1	0	.229	.639
Totals	40	16	16	16	7	9	2

BATTING

2B: O'Hearn (3, Rutledge).

3B: Reynolds, B (1, Rutledge).

HR: Horwitz (1, 3rd inning off Schultz, 0 on, 0 out); Lowe, B (6, 6th inning off Lord, 2 on, 2 out).

TB: Cook, B; Cruz, O 2; Davis, H 2; Griffin; Horwitz 5; Lowe, B 6; Mangum; O'Hearn 2; Reynolds, B 5.

RBI: Bart (2); Cruz, O 3 (16); Griffin (5); Horwitz (3); Lowe, B 5 (14); O'Hearn (13); Reynolds, B 4 (12).

2-out RBI: Lowe, B 3; Cruz, O 2.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: O'Hearn; Yorke 4.

SF: Bart.

Team RISP: 9-for-19.

Team LOB: 10.

BASERUNNING

SB: Cruz, O (7, 2nd base off Schultz/Ruiz, K); Davis, H (1, 2nd base off Rutledge/Ruiz, K).

FIELDING

PB: Davis, H (3).

a-Hit a sacrifice fly for Reynolds, B in the 8th.

Washington Nationals — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Cade Cavalli(L, 0-1)	1.1	3	4	4	3	2	0	48-24	4.60
Paxton Schultz	2.2	2	1	1	0	4	1	35-22	1.93
Jackson Rutledge	1.1	6	7	7	2	2	0	44-30	47.25
Brad Lord	0.2	3	3	3	1	1	1	22-12	5.68
Orlando Ribalta	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	14-9	0.00
Joey Wiemer	1.0	2	1	1	1	0	0	21-10	9.00

Pittsburgh Pirates — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Paul Skenes(W, 3-1)	6.0	1	1	1	1	6	1	88-60	4.00
José Urquidy	1.0	6	4	4	0	0	1	31-23	8.53
Evan Sisk	2.0	1	0	0	1	3	0	31-20	0.00

Game Info

Umpires: Home Plate: Sean Barber; First Base: John Libka; Second Base: James Hoye; Third Base: D.J. Reyburn

Venue: PNC Park, Pittsburgh

Weather: 79°F, Partly Cloudy

Wind: 14 mph, Out To LF

Washington Nationals — News

Nationals Sign Pilkington to Minor League Deal; Release Gott

Pilkington returns to Washington's organization at Triple-A Rochester as depth behind a rotation where Griffin (2.93 ERA) and Alvarez (3.05 ERA) anchor the healthy arms. Gott's release clears a bullpen slot as Washington sits 4th in NL East at 45-43.

Washington Nationals

MLB Issues Suspensions Related To Nationals-Red Sox Brawl

Cavalli (3.69 ERA, 5-4) misses seven games from Washington's rotation, which already ranks 4th in NL East with a +17 run differential. Contreras (0.283 AVG, 18 HR, 0.378 xwOBA) exits Boston's lineup as the team sits 5th in AL East at 37-48.

Boston Red Sox

Washington Nationals

Nationals' Cavalli Apologizes For Taunt to Red Sox's Contreras

Cavalli (3.69 ERA, 5-4) carries a 1.33 WHIP into a Nationals rotation that sits 4th in the NL East, making on-field professionalism a marginal concern relative to his 102 SO and inconsistent command (2.89 BB/9).

Cade Cavalli

Willson Contreras

Boston Red Sox

Washington Nationals

Orioles Trade Kyle Nicolas To Nationals

Nicolas (8.59 ERA, 15.95 BB/9 across 7 relief appearances) exits Baltimore's bullpen, which already features Garcia (2.52 ERA, 0.84 WHIP) and Cano (2.67 ERA) as anchors. Washington opens a 40-man spot with Parker moving to the 60-day IL ahead of Tommy John surgery.

Kyle Nicolas

Baltimore Orioles

Washington Nationals

Caminero homers in fifth straight; ties Rice for AL HR lead

Caminero (23 HR, .377 xwOBA) and Rice (22 HR, .376 xwOBA) are now separated by just one home run with 30+ games remaining, signaling a legitimate power race down the stretch. The Rays' 6-game winning streak and AL-best 49-33 record give Caminero the run support to extend his derby momentum.

Tampa Bay Rays

Boston Red Sox

Washington Nationals

Pittsburgh Pirates — News

Spencer Horwitz placed on 10-day IL with hamstring strain

Horwitz was hitting .280/.339/.455 with 10 HR across 74 games, so Pittsburgh loses its most productive hitter at first base heading into tonight's matchup against Seattle. The Pirates sit 40-40 with a +23 run differential and need offensive production they can't easily replace from the bench.

Spencer Horwitz

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates SP Jared Jones hit by line drive, exits after 3 innings

Jones' availability for upcoming starts is unclear after the right elbow injury; PIT's rotation is already thin with Keller posting a 5.25 ERA and Mlodzinski at 3.72 ERA. The Pirates are 38-39 and can't afford rotation depth losses heading into a weak NLC.

Jared Jones

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Open To Trading Prospects At Deadline

Pittsburgh sits 38-38 and 2 games out of a wild card spot, but trading youth signals a shift from full rebuild after a decade without playoffs. Keller (5-4, 5.25 ERA) remains their best rotation option as they face a Rockies team that's -89 in run differential this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Colorado Rockies

Braves Trade Hunter Stratton to Pirates for Joey Bart

Atlanta swaps a relief prospect (Stratton, xwOBA .191) for a catcher prospect (Bart, xwOBA .256) while designated Sandy León to open 40-man space. The deal provides depth at an organizational level without impacting either team's current rotation or lineup.

Joey Bart

Hunter Stratton

Sandy León

Pittsburgh Pirates

Atlanta Braves

McNeil homers in Athletics' 11-2 win over Pirates

McNeil is hitting .232/.304/.305 on the season with just 2 HR in 64 games—one multi-hit performance doesn't move the needle for an Athletics team at .500 (35-35) that has already shown inconsistency.

Jeff McNeil