Braves at Nationals series recap: Atlanta just keeps on cooking

Yahoo Sports3h ago10 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The Atlanta Braves won three out of four games against the Washington Nationals, showcasing strong offensive performances. Despite a loss in the second game, the Braves maintained their lead in the division.

Key points

Braves won three out of four games against Nationals
Matt Olson hit a key home run in the first game
Braves lost the second game 11-4
Michael Harris II contributed significantly
Braves' pitching performed better than Nationals' staff

Atlanta BravesWashington Nationals

Apr 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (23) celebrates with teammates celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images A four-game series within the division on the road is always interesting. It was especially interesting considering that the Washington Nationals were heading into this series having scored the third-most runs in the National League (fourth overall) with a MLB-leading 22 of those runs coming in the first inning of their games played so far. It was clear that if the Braves were going to get greedy and think about winning this series, the pitching would have to perform. Fortunately, Atlanta had a low bar to clear when it came to their pitching staff being better than Washington’s. That’s because as good as the Nationals had been at the plate, they had been just as bad on the mound. Considering how the Braves had been swinging the bat heading into this series, this did seem like a prime opportunity for Atlanta to keep on cooking at the plate and keep on putting some breathing room between themselves and the Phillies and Mets, who had both gotten off to very sluggish starts to begin this season. The onus was seemingly on Atlanta’s lineup to out-slug , and the rest of the potent Nationals lineup. Let’s take a look at how things went down over the past four games for the Braves:

Q&A

What was the outcome of the Braves vs Nationals series?

The Braves won three out of four games against the Nationals in their recent series.

Who were the standout players for the Braves in the series against the Nationals?

Michael Harris II and Matt Olson were notable contributors, with Olson hitting a crucial home run in the first game.

How did the Braves perform in the second game of the series?

In the second game, the Braves lost to the Nationals 11-4, struggling against Washington's offensive onslaught.

What impact did the Braves' pitching have on the series outcome?

The Braves' pitching was generally effective, particularly in the first and third games, allowing them to secure victories despite some struggles in the second game.