Latest Washington Nationals News

    Washington Nationals Franchise Information

    Have a read on below at some quick stats and facts on the Washington Nationals to get you started: 

    Established:1969 (Originally the Montreal Expos – moved to Washington in 2005)
    Stadium:Nationals Park 
    Colours:Scarlet red, navy blue & white
    Hall of Famers:Frank Robinson, Larry Walker, Tim Raines, Andre Dawson & Gary Carter
    Hall of Fame Managers: Frank Robinson
    Rivals:New York Mets & Atlanta Braves
    Legends:Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Rusty Staub, Frank Robinson& Tim Raines
    Retired Numbers:4: 8, 10, 30, & 42 (10 is retired for two players, Andre Dawson & Rusty Staub)
    League: National League
    Division:East Division
    World Series Championships: 1: 2019

    Washington Nationals History

    While this iteration of the Washington Nationals actually trace their roots back to Montréal, the truth is that Washington, D. C. has had professional baseball going back to the 1870s.

    The first Nationals team began play in the National Association and later became part of the American Association in 1884. Two years later, a second Nationals team joined the National League and would play in the league for three seasons.

    The franchise would eventually fold, but the city would get a new team in 1891 when the Washington Senators took to the field. They started in the American Association in 1891 but joined the National League a year later. The team survived for seven seasons before folding.

    Two years later, they were back on the field again. In 1901, the Senators became one of the first members of the American League. They used the name Senators for four years before becoming the Washington Nationals in 1905. 

    The team maintained that name for 50 years but were an abysmal franchise. In the history of the franchise, they earned just one World Series victory, coming in 1924. Bucky Harris was the team’s player-manager and the club was led by 36-year-old future Hall of Famer Walter Johnson. 

    The team faced the heavily favored New York Giants in the World Series that year, but would force a game seven where they earned the victory on an RBI double in the bottom of the 12th inning. 

    The team returned to the World Series a year later but lost the Pittsburgh Pirates. Walter Johnson retired two years later and would become the manager of the club. He would remain in the job for just three seasons before getting the ax. 

    In 1933, Joe Cronin became the manager and led the team to the American League pennant, but they lost to the Giants in five games. That would be the last time the city would host a World Series game until 2019.

    Over the next 20 years, the franchise floundered. They were often near the bottom of the American League standings. The franchise became such a laughingstock that they were the butt of a joke in the long-running musical called Damn Yankees.  

    In 1955, owner Clark Griffith passed away. There was already talk that the team would be moving, and they eventually chose to do so, becoming the Minnesota Twins in 1961.

    After the team left for the Twin Cities, Washington became dormant for baseball action. Fans turned to Baltimore as their club, but there had been a strong push to get a new team in the nation’s capital. That would eventually occur in 2005 when the Montréal Expos moved from Canada to the United States and became the Nationals.

    Montréal began as an organization back in 1969. They joined as part of the 1969 expansion that included the Seattle Pilots (now the Milwaukee Brewers), San Diego Padres, and the Kansas City Royals. The Expos became the first Canadian-based team. The Toronto Blue Jays would join them eight years later.

    The team developed several recognizable stars, including Andre Dawson, Gary Carter, and Tim Raines. During the 80s this group helped lead the team to their only division championship, occurring during the strike-shortened season of 1981. Their hopes of making the World Series ended when they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, 3-2.

    Over the next two decades the team developed a number of great players who wound up flourishing in other cities. Dawson became an MVP for the Chicago Cubs. Carter ended up starting on the New York Mets 1986 championship season. 

    Outfielder Larry Walker would become an MVP in Colorado. Tim Raines helped Oakland reach the World Series. Moises Alou became a star for the Cubs. Pedro Martinez won two world championships with the Boston Red Sox.

    Unable to compete against teams in their division (which included the Mets, Braves, and Phillies), the club became the doormat of the National League East Division. They were simply unable to match their division rivals in terms of financing and with attendance declining, the club decided to move. 

    At first, Major League Baseball had considered contracting the club. In 2001 the Expos were one of three clubs that were on the chopping block, a list that included the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Minnesota Twins. MLB owners voted in November 2001 to cut two clubs, which were expected to be Montréal and Minnesota. 

    This looked even more certain when the Expos owner at the time, Jeffrey Loria, was allowed to buy the Florida Marlins. However, the Players Union balked at any talk of contraction and eventually was able to reach an agreement with the league that barred any withdrawing of franchises until 2006.

    By that point, it was decided that moving the team and seeking new ownership was the way to go. Several cities were considered, including Oklahoma City, Portland,Norfolk, Las Vegas, and Charlotte. Even international cities were considered, such as Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

    In September 2004, MLB announced that Washington, D. C. would become the new home of the Expos. Immediately, a lawsuit was filed by Loria, which initially delayed any action to move the team. However, this lawsuit was struck down by an arbiter and the team was set to move for the next season.

    Two names were considered right away for the club – Senators and Nationals. There was also a push to name the team the Washington Grays after the former Negro league club. In November 2004, the team became the Washington Nationals.

    Washington struggled for their first few years, trying to rebuild an organization that had been mismanaged prior to moving to the city. For several years they floundered, but former Atlanta Braves team president Stan Kasten had a vision in mind, and was able to build one of the best rosters of young talent in the league. 

    This included the selection of flamethrower Steven Strasburg with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft and selecting superstar Bryce Harper with the No. 1 overall pick a year later. 

    The plan worked. In 2012, the Nationals won the NL East Division. They would win the division in 2014, 2016, and 2017, but struggled to live up to expectations. Each year the team found a way to lose in the NLDS.

    In 2019, Washington earned a playoff spot by entering as one of the two NL wildcard teams. They defeated the Milwaukee Brewers then defeated the Dodgers in the NLDS, 3-2. After sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the championship series, a depleted Nationals roster was able to overcome the heavily favored Houston Astros in the World Series to win the franchise’s only title.

    The Washington Nationals struggled in the 2021 season, finishing with a record of 65-97, which saw them take last place in the NL East. They ended up finishing 23.5 games behind the Braves, who won the NL East.

    The Washington Nationals finished the 2022 Major League Baseball season with a record of 55-107, which put them in last place in the National League East Division. They did not qualify for the playoffs in 2022. The Nationals finished as one of the worst teams in all of Major League Baseball this season and they are nearly unrecognizable from the team that won the 2019 World Series.

    Expert 2023 Picks & Preview on Washington Nationals

    If you are a fan of the Washington Nationals, then you know that the only thing that matters right now is how they are expected to perform in the 2023 season. Do the Washington Nationals have the star power to make it all the way to the World Series in 2023?

    The 2023 season of MLB is here, and our experts have gone through the Washington Nationals and found some key picks to note. Have a read below as we preview the Nationals upcoming season. 

    Preview on the Washington Nationals’ Manager: Dave Martinez

    Dave Martinez will be entering his sixth season at the helm of the Washington Nationals and he has seen the highest of highs with the World Series victory and the lowest of lows with their rebuild, following the victory.

    At the conclusion of his playing career in 2001, Martinez began his coaching career with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2006. Although he interviewed for several managerial positions while working for the Rays, Martinez remained with the organization until 2014.

    Prior to joining the Nationals, Martinez was a bench coach for the Cubs when they won the 2016 World Series.

    Martinez was then signed as the manager of the Washington Nationals prior to the 2018 season. After failing to make the playoffs in his debut season in charge, Martinez led Washington to a World Series championship in 2019. It is their one trip to the postseason in Martinez’s three seasons in charge.

    Following the World Series victory, it has been all downhill from there as they have now recorded three straight, losing seasons, and his job could potentially be a danger if they encounter a fourth consecutive losing season.

    Preview on the Washington Nationals’ Key Player: Patrick Corbin

    Patrick Corbin and his performance is the main key to the Washington Nationals performance this season, as they will have to rely on their pitcher to get them throughout the season. They don’t have any big name hitters and Corbin seems to be the unanimous ace on the Washington Nationals pitching staff.

    He spent the first several years with the Arizona Diamondbacks before coming to Washington the year they lifted the commissioners trophy in 2019. It was a rough year for Corbin last year, as he will be looking to bounce back for his sake, and the Nationals sake, because if he produces the Nationals, may have a much better season than they did last season. He finished with an awful record of 6-19 with a 6.31 Earned Run Average.

    Preview on the Washington Nationals’ Next Best: Victor Robles

    Victor Robles has spent his entire six year career with the Washington Nationals. However, over the span of the previous six years, he’s only appeared in more than 100 games three times. The Washington Nationals will be hoping that Robles takes a leap and improves the season after struggling last year.

    As he only recorded 82 hits and hit on the lower side of .200 at the plate. He is still a vital piece to the success of the Washington Nationals and if they want to improve Victor Robles will have to post better numbers this season. He has more speed than he does power but he is capable of hitting the ball out of the park as well.

    Washington Nationals Betting & Odds Preview 2023

    The Washington Nationals were given +25000 odds to win the 2023 National League East division this season. Their odds to win the National League Pennant were +25000 prior to the season starting. 

    While their odds to take home the Commissioner’s Trophy and win the World Series were set at +50000. Their total over/under for victories this season is set at 59.5, With odds of (-110) for both the over and the under. Last season they managed to finish the season with a record of 55-107.

    Their odds to win their division are the lowest odds out of the five teams. While their odds to win the National League pennant are the lowest out of 15 teams. They rank last in total odds among the entire league to win the World Series this season out of thirty teams.

    Washington Nationals FAQ

    Still got some burning questions about the Washington Nationals? Well, we have answered some of the most common questions people have, hopefully, you will find the answer you are looking for below!

    What is the home of the Washington Nationals?

    The Washington Nationals play their home games at Nationals Park, which has been their home since 2008. 

    How much did the Washington Nationals’ stadium cost?

    Built in March 2008, Nationals Park cost $611 million.

    What are the dimensions of the Washington Nationals’ stadium?

    Left field is 336 feet, left-center is 377 feet, straight away center field is 402 feet, right-center is 370 feet, and right field is 335 feet. Because of the dimensions, Nationals Park is considered an asymmetrical ballpark.

    What is the playing surface at Nationals Park?

    The stadium uses natural grass. It is a blend of Kentucky Bluegrass mixed in with varieties of Princeton 105, Midnight Star, and Brilliant. 

    Who is the owner of the Washington Nationals?

    The Washington Nationals are owned by Mark Lerner, who bought the team before they moved from Montreal. 

    Have the Washington Nationals won a World Series?

    Yes, one time, in 2019. One of the prior Washington Teams also won a World Series back in 1924, but that franchise moved to Minnesota where the Twins have won two championships (1987, 1991).

    Who is the general manager of the Washington Nationals?

    Mike Rizzo is the General Manager of the Nationals.

    Do the Washington Nationals play tonight?

    If you are wondering if the Washington Nationals are on the field tonight, then you should look at SportsTips for all the latest information about the Nationals and any other team in the Majors. Plus, you can get information on other sports as well.

    What is the Washington Nationals record?

    The Washington Nationals finished the 2022 season with a record of 55-107. 

    Did the Washington Nationals win last night?

    If you want to know the results of Washington Nationals or any other games in the Major Leagues you can find out at SportsTips. We provide details of all the latest action from around the sports world. 

    How much are the Washington Nationals worth?

    According to Forbes Magazine, the Washington Nationals are worth $2 billion. 

    How can I watch the Washington Nationals?

    You can watch Washington Nationals games on channels around the DC area at MASN and MASN2 and NBC Sports Washington. If you are out of the DC area, you can watch the games as part of MLB package subscriptions or you may be able to catch them on the MLB Network, FoxSports, or on ESPN.

    Will the Washington Nationals make the playoffs this year?

    The Washington Nationals did not make the playoffs in the 2022 season, as they finished last in the NL East, with a 55-107 record.

    Where did the Washington Nationals finish the season?

    The Washington Nationals finished in last place in the NL East Division in 2022, going 55-107.