The Washington Nationals host the Minnesota Twins for a three-game series starting Tuesday. Both teams are looking to rebound after recent losses, with key pitching matchups set for the games.
Key points
Nationals host Twins for a three-game series
Both teams are looking to rebound after losses
Cade Cavalli and Taj Bradley are key pitchers for Game One
Mikolas struggles for Nationals while Ober is stable for Twins
Irvin faces Woods Richardson in the final game
Washington NationalsMinnesota Twins
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 03: Nasim Nuñez #26 of the Washington Nationals drives in a run with a single in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park on May 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 03: Nasim Nuñez #26 of the Washington Nationals drives in a run with a single in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park on May 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nats are coming off a quiet offensive series against the Milwaukee Brewers, scoring just 4 runs in 3 games. After 2 straight losses, a strong pitching performance from Zack Littell held down the fort for a gritty 3-2 victory in the finale. Washington has kept themself in striking range of .500, and has another chance to even up their record against Minnesota.
The Twins find themself in the same boat regarding their most recent 3-game set, dropping the first 2 games to the Toronto Blue Jays and grinding out a 4-3 win to salvage the series. Their bullpen was taxed with short outings from their starters and an injury scare from Joe Ryan, putting some added pressure on their rotation to hold down a streaky Nationalsâ lineup.
**Game One â Tuesday 6:45 PM EST**
WSH: RHP (1-1, 3.82 ERA)
MIN: RHP (3-1, 2.85 ERA)
Amid the staff-wide pitching struggles the Nats have dealt with, Cavalli has emerged as the main story and star through 7 starts. Heâs strung together 3 consecutive solid outings, and his stuff has ticked up in a major way. The 27-year-old looks to be putting it all together after a long road to get to big league success, and has the chance to continue his push to enter the same echelon of the top starters in the National League.
Speaking of putting it all together, Bradley has been a massive win for the Minnesota pitching lab. After a shaky end to his first half-season with the Twins, heâs been nearly untouchable in 2026. With an ERA under 3.00, his fastball and splitter have given hitters plenty of issues. However, if the Natsâ hitters can continue the trend of hitting balls hard off of him, they could get things going early.
**Game Two â Wednesday 6:45 PM EST**
WSH: RHP (0-3, 8.23 ERA)
MIN: RHP (3-1, 3.55 ERA)
Why Mikolas remains in the rotation at this point in the season is anyoneâs guess. Heâs been a severe anchor on the back end of the Washington rotation, with any remnants of what once made him effective nowhere to be found. As has been the trend with many of his recent starts, the Natsâ coaching staff has to be hoping for an offensive explosion to offset his struggles.
Itâs been smooth sailing for Ober through his first month in 2026, giving up more than 3 runs in just 1 outing. He hasnât been lights-out, but heâs been a beacon of stability for Minnesota, giving them 6.0+ innings in each of his last 4 starts. He doesnât strike out many, but the soft contact he induces will be a challenge for the Nats to overcome.
**Game Three â Thursday 1:05 PM EST**
WSH: (1-4, 4.93 ERA)
MIN: (0-5, 6.49 ERA)
Irvin has had his ups and downs, but over the last 5 starts, heâs looked the part of an adequate back-of-the-rotation starter. A weaker Minnesota lineup bodes well for the veteran, who has, despite some issues, proven he can get outs by both whiffs and easy contact.
Nothing has been going well for Woods Richardson this year, averaging less than 4.5 K/9, and all of his pitches look far below average. Baseball Savant shows that positive regression isnât a likely outcome at the moment, and the Nats need to strike. Depending on how the first 2 games of the series go, this could be either a great chance to salvage the series or a prime opportunity to win it definitively.
Q&A
What time do the Nationals play the Twins on Tuesday?
The Nationals play the Twins on Tuesday at 6:45 PM EST.
Who are the starting pitchers for the Nationals vs. Twins series?
The starting pitchers include Cade Cavalli for the Nationals and Taj Bradley for the Twins on Tuesday, Miles Mikolas and Bailey Ober on Wednesday, and Jake Irvin and Simeon Woods Richardson on Thursday.
How have the Nationals and Twins performed recently?
The Nationals scored only 4 runs in their last series against the Brewers, while the Twins salvaged their series against the Blue Jays with a 4-3 win after losing the first two games.
What is the significance of the pitching matchups in the series?
Cade Cavalli has shown improvement for the Nationals, while Taj Bradley has been effective for the Twins, making their matchups crucial for both teams' chances of winning.
