Washington Nationals Gear Up for NL East Showdown with Atlanta Braves

Q: What is the current performance of the Atlanta Braves?

The Atlanta Braves have won 8 of their last 10 games, including a recent sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Q: Who are the starting pitchers for the Nationals vs Braves series?

The starting pitchers include Jake Irvin and Zack Littell for the Nationals, and Bryce Elder, Reynaldo Lopez, and Martin Perez for the Braves.

Q: How did the Nationals perform in their last series against the Giants?

The Nationals salvaged their series against the Giants with a 3-0 win, despite losing two close games earlier in the series.

Q: What are the key matchups to watch in the Nationals vs Braves series?

Key matchups include Jake Irvin's performance against Bryce Elder, and Foster Griffin's chance to bounce back against Reynaldo Lopez.

WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - APRIL 18, 2026: Victor Estevez #7 congratulates James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals as he circles the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park on April 18, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. The Giants beat the Nationals, 7-6 in 12 innings. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images The Nats were able to salvage their weekend series against the San Francisco Giants with a 3-0 win on Sunday, and now they’re slated to play host to the red-hot Atlanta Braves. Zack Littell gave up 6 runs in the 2nd inning of Game 1 to essentially put the game out of reach, as Daylen Lile and James Wood’s homers were only able to cut the deficit to 5. Game 2 was an extra-inning heartbreaker, as the Nats wasted walk-off chances in the 10th and 11th innings after tying the game in the 9th before relinquishing the deciding run in the 12th. Bulk outings from and Andrew Alvarez blanked in the final game of the series, with a RBI double and a 2-run blast more than enough to secure the victory. Atlanta comes to the nation’s capital as winners of 8 of their last 10 games, with a sweep of the division rival extending their lead in the NL East. Getting to the Braves’ pitching staff has been far from easy for teams to do, and the Nats are next in line, looking to bring themselves closer to the division lead. **Monday – 6:45 PM EST** ATL: RHP (2-1, 0.77 ERA) WSH: RHP (1-2, 6.16 ERA) It had been a rough go for Elder the past 2 seasons after he broke onto the scene in 2022 and then posted respectable numbers as a 12-game winner in 2023. Through 4 starts in 2025, however, it’s been a completely different story. The righthander has generated timely whiffs, has kept the ball on the ground, and has given up barrels at a staggeringly low 1.7%. He’s certainly a tough matchup for the series opener, and the Nats’ lefties will look to keep him from getting into an early groove. Irvin hasn’t given Washington much length this season, as he hasn’t worked past 5.0 innings in a start so far this season, but he looked much better in his last outing against . The walks are still a concerning aspect of his game, but he limited the Pirates to just 4 hits and 2 runs last Wednesday. Atlanta clearly has the statistical pitching advantage, but a replication of Irvin’s last start could keep the Nats in the game long enough for the offense to take over. **Tuesday – 6:45 PM EST** ATL: RHP (1-0, 2.18 ERA) WSH: LHP (2-0, 3.05 ERA) Lopez is another Braves starter who has gotten off to a much better start in 2026 than his 2025 campaign did. He’s dropped his ERA by over 3 full points since last season, and his strikeout numbers have followed in his most recent outings. Lifting the ball has been the one area where opponents have found success against the 32-year-old, making the game plan for the Nats’ hitters quite clear. Tuesday night’s game will be a big test for Griffin, as he’s faced with his first opportunity to bounce back after a bad start since making his MLB return. He surrendered 8 hits and 4 runs in 5.1 innings against the Pirates, and will look to regain his form versus Atlanta. The southpaw has been one of the most effective arms on the roster, and proving he can fight through adversity would be another fantastic sign. **Wednesday – 6:45 PM EST** ATL: LHP (1-1, 2.21 ERA) WSH: RHP Zack Littell (0-2, 7.11 ERA) Atlanta entered the season with plenty of question marks surrounding their starting rotation, including Perez, but boy, have the doubters quieted. Pitching for his 5th team, he’s had his entire arsenal working through 4 starts, including a shutdown 6-inning, 0-run performance last Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Inducing soft contact is where Perez has beaten teams, with Washington slated to try to break that pattern. This will be a start to watch for Littell, as he’s coming off enduring an absolute beatdown from the San Francisco Giants. Opposing batters are hitting .325 with 7 home runs off him in just 19 total innings, making this easily the Nats’ toughest draw. With both Irvin and Miles Mikolas unable to find their rhythm to this point, Littell reverting to the steady arm he’s been for most of his career would be a much-needed change. **Thursday – 1:05 PM EST** ATL: LHP (4-1, 2.79 ERA) WSH: RHP (0-1, 4.12 ERA) Sale hasn’t missed a beat from his elite 2025 campaign, racking up 4 wins on the early season and keeping his ERA under 3 for the 3rd consecutive year. He’s given opponents everything they can handle with 29 sparkling innings, and the underlying metrics are just as good. Finding a weak spot in his game is a task few hitters have accomplished so far, and it would be quite beneficial for the Nats to push across some wins early in the series before facing him. Cavalli has looked extremely close to putting it together at times this year, but has consistently come up short trying to work his way out of innings. Defense didn’t help him in his shortened 4.0-inning outing against the Giants, with just 1 of his 3 runs earned, and he did post his first start without a walk. Adding onto what he was able to do could give the Nats a much-needed chance against Sale, especially if the series is close entering the finale. **Chance to turn the NL East tide** Sitting 5.0 games back of the Braves for 1st place in the National League East, this could be a pivotal series despite still being in April. If the Nats can come in guns blazing and force a sweep, they would find themselves within just 1 game of the division lead. Tempering expectations a bit, the goal should be to maintain within striking distance of Atlanta by the time they depart for on Thursday. Splitting or winning the series would keep Washington in the thick of things, as they’re set to face the and then the scuffling after this series.