Grisham opened the day with a leadoff homer into the short porch as the Yankees overwhelmed Washington in a rout, six homers allowed and a third inning that spiraled into a nine-run nightmare with 15 Yankees reaching. Nationals pitchers totaled 77 pitches in that half-inning, the most in a half-inning since 2003, a hollow marker of the night.

Washington’s minus-171 run differential highlights how far they are from contending and fuels talk of a full rebuild: new manager, new GM, and a payroll focused on drafting and development over splashy free agents. The piece argues the path back lies in organizational change and patient, data-driven reconstruction rather than quick fixes.

In a historic milestone for Major League Baseball, four Japanese-born starting pitchers are set to take the mound on the same day—an unprecedented event. Shohei Ohtani will lead for the Los Angeles Dodgers, poised to pitch several innings despite not being fully stretched. Yusei Kikuchi takes the mound for the Los Angeles Angels, having recently earned an All-Star nod, while Yu Darvish represents the San Diego Padres. The Washington Nationals are debuting Shinnosuke Ogasawara, who has overcome early-season injuries.

This unique circumstance underscores the global expansion of baseball, highlighting how the talent from Japan has flourished in the league. Fans can look forward to witnessing a remarkable day for Japanese pitchers, marking a significant cultural milestone.