Washington Nationals vs. San Diego Padres
at Petco Park
Game 1: 2:10 p.m. Monday (Padres.TV)
Game 2: 6:40 p.m. Tuesday (Padres.TV)
Game 3: 1:10 p.m. Wednesday (Padres.TV)
In the standings
Washington Nationals (67-78, 4th in NL East)
The Nationals are 19 games behind the Braves in the division and 9 ½ games out of a wild-card spot. They’ve lost their last four games, including a sweep a sweep at Dodger Stadium to start their road trip. The Nationals outscored the Padres, 18-13, in taking two of three earlier this year in Washington.
San Diego Padres (75-68, 3rd in NL West)
The Padres took two of three against the Yankees to start the homestand but are 4-8 over their last 12 games to lose a grip on a playoff spot. They begin the week a half-game behind the Diamondbacks in the race for the NL’s last wild-card spot. Their playoff odds (43.6%) at FanGraphs.com trails Arizona’s (53.8%).
Trending
Washington: Former Padres SS CJ Abrams has 10 homers and an .801 OPS in the second half, while LF Daylen Lile has 10 homers and an .865 OPS. 1B Andres Chaparro has a .992 OPS and eight homes since the break. Former Padres OF prospect James Wood is 5-for-15 (.941 OPS) in four games since returning from an oblique strain.
San Diego: OF Fernando Tatis Jr. has three homers and a .986 OPS to start September and 3B Manny Machado (2 HRs, 1.256 OPS) is rebounding so far in September after a dismal August (.631 OPS). OF Jackson Merrill is 2-for-17 (.343 OPS) to start September.
Washington Nationals pitcher Jake Irvin in action during a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Pitching matchups
Monday
Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (2-8, 5.57 ERA) | The 29-year-old has allowed 15 homers in 85⅓ innings after leading the majors with 38 allowed in 180 innings last year. He has completed six innings twice in 18 starts this year, none of which were quality starts. Irvin’s only matchup with the Padres was a no-decision in 2023 (4 IP, 2 ER).
Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (1-2, 4.50 ERA) | He’s coming off the IL to make his first start since walking off the mound with flexor discomfort on April 12. Pivetta had a 3.38 ERA in eight rehab appearances spread across three games. The spot in the rotation belonged to RHP Randy Vásquez (10-6, 4.02 ERA), who will be available out of the bullpen.
Tuesday
Nationals TBA | Manager Blake Butera has not named a starter for the second game of the series.
Padres RHP Casey Mize (5-9, 3.64 ERA) | He’s 1-3 with a 6.67 ERA, 15 strikeouts and nine walks through his first six starts (27 IP) since the trade to San Diego. That includes a 7.71 ERA in three starts (11⅔ IP) since he sprained an ankle slipping down the dugout stairs at Petco Park. Mize’s only start against the Nationals was a no-decision in 2024 (6 IP, 1 ER).
Wednesday
Nationals LHP Jackson Kent (1-3, 5.55 ERA) | The 21-year-old rookie has walked (19) nearly as many has he has struck out (21) through the first five starts (24 ⅓ IP) of his career. He sits 93 mph with his four-seamer and features a mid-80s changeup and slider, an 80 mph curve and a low 90s sinker.
Padres RHP Walker Buehler (8-6, 4.56 ERA) | The Padres have won eight of his last 10 starts (3.65 ERA), which includes Buehler allowing three runs or less in his last ninth (3.04 ERA). Buehler has a 2.67 ERA in six games (five starts, 30⅓ IP) against the Nationals, including a win in his last meeting in 2025 (5 IP, 2 ER).
Qualifying leaders
OPS: Nationals—OF James Wood (.928), SS CJ Abrams (.842), OF Daylen Lile (.751); Padres—OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (.795), 3B Manny Machado (.724), OF Jackson Merrill (.701).
HRs: Nationals—Abrams (30), Wood (30), Lile (20); Padres—Machado (26), Merrill (22), 1B Ty France (20), Tatis (20).
RBIs: Nationals—Abrams (95), Lile (82), Wood (74); Padres—Machado (77), Tatis (71), Merrill (70).
Steals: Nationals—2B Nasim Nunez (45), Abrams (28), Wood (18); Padres—Tatis (31), Merrill (24), SS Xander Bogaerts (20).
Saves: Nationals—RHP Clayton Beeter (12-for-19, 4.50 ERA), RHP Gus Varland (6-for-8, 6.82 ERA); Padres—RHP Mason Miller (33-for-35, 1.19 ERA).
Holds: Nationals—RHP Orlando Ribalta (12), LHP Richard Lovelady (9, 3.86 ERA), Beeter (8); Padres—LHP Adrián Morejón (22, 2.93 ERA), RHP Jason Adam (17, 2.51 ERA), RHP Jeremiah Estrada (12, 3.48 ERA), RHP Bradgley Rodriguez (12, 1.96 ERA).
Training room
Washington: LHP Connelly Early (elbow) could begin a rehab assignment this week. C Drew Millas (finger) is also expected to return this month. The Nationals are also without RHP Josiah Gray (flexor), LHP DJ Herz (UCL), LHP Richard Lovelady (triceps), LHP PJ Poulin (flexor), LHP Mitchell Parker (elbow) and LHP Ken Waldichuk (forearm).
San Diego: RHP Joe Musgrove (elbow) is playing catch but did not as of Sunday morning have his next bullpen scheduled. RHP Jason Adam (shoulder) is throwing bullpens, while DH Miguel Andujar (wrist) is swinging a bat. The Padres are also without RHP Jeremiah Estrada (shoulder), 1B Gavin Sheets (plantar fasciitis) and INF Luis Rengifo (knee).