Washington Nationals 2025 Season Preview

The Washington Nationals have been consistent over the past two seasons … consistently bad. They went 71-91 in 2023 and ‘24. That wasn’t as awful as 2022, when the Nationals finished 55-107. Last season they managed to get out of the NL East cellar. Don’t expect Washington to be among the MLB experts picks to challenge in this tough division..

2025 Washington Nationals Win Total Projection & World Series Odds

MLB predictions when it comes to Washington are on a number that many could have figured. After finishing with 71 wins in each of the past two seasons, the win total projection sits at 70½. That’s one tricky number given the division Washington plays in and the challenges it faces. Looking at MLB playoff predictions, specifically the World Series odds, Washington is +15000.

2025 Washington Nationals Projected Starting Lineup

Per MLB.com:

• CJ Abrams, SS
• Dylan Crews, RF
• James Wood, LF
• Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
• Josh Bell, DH
• Luis García Jr., 2B
• Keibert Ruiz, C
• Paul DeJong, 3B
• Jacob Young, CF.

Lineup Strengths and Weaknesses

Gone are the days of Juan Soto, a healthy Anthony Rendon and Trea Turner in the lineup. It was 2019 when the team with those players won the World Series. Since then, the most games Washington has won in a season are the 71 in each of the last two.

The lineup had the fewest home runs in the majors last year with 135. That’s puny in this day and age. They have tried to punch up the lineup by adding Lowe and Bell. Between the two of them, there were a total of 35 home runs. Not huge but better than what Washington was getting.

Looking at the positive, when it comes to MLB matchups, Washington had plenty of speed on the basepaths in 2024. The Nationals had eight players in double digits in the category en route to 223. The Nations tried to steal a lot of bases and were also caught a lot by other MLB teams, seeing runners gunned down 73 times.

Abrams and Wood are the future here. They enter the second season of their MLB career off impressive rookie campaigns. Abrams hit .246 with 20 home runs. Wood played about half a year and averaged .264. The Nationals need to make sure these two keep improving and they must have a plan to keep them in Washington. Young fits into this category, too.

One other factor in the Nationals’ favor. Only three batters struck out more than 100 times. In MLB this day and age, that is a good thing. Wouldn’t pop same game MLB baseball parlay picks with this team going to have players going deep on the prop market.

Washington Nationals Projected Starting Rotation

When thinking about the glory days of the Washington Nationals, names like Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin were the nucleus of the starters.

Now you get, via MLB.com:

Rotation

1. MacKenzie Gore, LHP
2. Jake Irvin, RHP
3. Michael Soroka, RHP
4. Mitchell Parker, LHP
5. Trevor Williams, RHP

One of the keys to winning more games is a solid rotation. The Nationals have all that and more. Add DJ Herz and Shinnosuke Ogasawara to the list of pitchers who can start games.

Irvin and Gore each won 10 games last year. Williams went 6-1 as an elder statesman of the group. MLB teams won’t be as excited to face the Nationals with the young hurlers getting more experience and understanding how to challenge and thrive against big league pitching.

While MLB playoff predictions won’t likely figure the Nationals in many places, one has to keep a keen eye on teams that have good young staff. They can help a team improve in a quick fashion.

Projected Bullpen

Per MLB.com:

RHP Kyle Finnegan, RHP Jorge López, LHP Jose A. Ferrer, RHP Lucas Sims, LHP Colin Poche, RHP Eduardo Salazar, RHP Orlando Ribalta, RHP Brad Lord

Derek Law pitched 90 innings last year and is down to begin this season with arm soreness, those MLB injuries and pitchers. Easy to see how his arm got tired from working like that out of the pen. He pitched in 75 games. Finnegan had 38 saves and also did yeoman work for Martinez.

Washington Nationals Schedule and Key Matchups

In MLB news, we should get an idea of how the Nationals are early. They open the season with the Phillies and play nine of 11 at home overall. They do catch the Dodgers at the end of the run so Martinez should have an idea of what his team is about after this stretch.

June presents another opportunity to enjoy some home cooking. Washington will play 13 of 16 at home in the month. The only road trip is to Citi Field to face one of its former stars, Juan Soto, who has now landed with the Mets via the massive contract.

August will see home-and-away sets with the division rival Phillies as well as a visit to Yankee Stadium for three games during the week. The finale is scheduled for a matinee with an off-day following and then a homestand. Good time to catch a breath after a tough set.

There are six games with the Braves in September, split between Atlanta and Washington. There’s a series with the Mets. The last series of the season should be a good chance to finish strong as the Chicago White Sox come to town for three games.