Washington hosts Pittsburgh in an early rubber match at Nationals Park, with Washington reshuffling the lineup as Dylan Crews sits. Robert Hassell moves to right, Jacob Young to center, Daylen Lile in left, and James Wood shifts to DH while Riley Adams handles catching and Nasim Nunez stays at second. Cade Cavalli starts for the Nats. Pittsburgh counters with a lefty-friendly lineup featuring Oneil Cruz, Ji Hwan Bae, Spencer Horwitz, Joey Bart catching, and Mike Burrows on the mound. The Nats seek a September spark against aPirates club facing similar odds, hoping to prove they can beat teams in this tier.

The tactical shifts create fantasy intrigue: expect Hassell and Young to climb the batting order, Lile and Wood to contribute from spots that boost run potential, and Cavalli to deliver mixed results against a left-handed heavy Pirates lineup. For Pittsburgh, left-handed combinations against Cavalli will test Washington’s defense and opportunistic baserunning. This game is a chance for both teams to showcase resilience in a tight early-season schedule.

The Washington Nationals have made a roster move by recalling first baseman Andrés Chaparro from Triple-A Rochester ahead of their game against the New York Mets. Chaparro, who is making a return to the majors after debuting last August, has been performing well in the minors, hitting .304 with five home runs and 19 RBIs in just 15 games this season, earning International League player of the week honors.

His addition aims to bolster the Nationals' lineup, particularly against left-handed pitching, as manager Dave Martinez indicated that Chaparro would receive ample opportunities at the plate. In a corresponding move, middle infielder Nasim Nuñez was optioned back to Triple-A after struggling at the plate, hitting just .186 this season. Martinez expressed optimism about Nuñez's development, stating the importance of consistent at-bats for his growth.