The Nationals won just 65 games in 2021 and were picked to chase 70 wins a year later. However, Washington traded superstar Juan Soto to the Padres and finished in the NL East basement with the worst baseball record.
Veteran slugger Nelson Cruz led the team with 64 RBIs, and second baseman Cesar Hernandez posted a team-high 139 hits. Right-hander Josiah Gray was the top pitcher with seven wins and 154 strikeouts over 148.2 frames.
The Nationals have started a rebuilding project and will not be a competitive squad next season.
The Washington Nationals are a National League (NL) East division based in Washington D.C The franchise was founded in 1969 as an expansion of the Montreal Expos, becoming the first team from outside the United States to join MLB. They moved to Washington D.C. in 2005 and adopted their current name prior to the start of the 2005 season.
The Nationals won their first-ever World Series championship in 2021, defeating the Houston Astros. They've won one NL pennant and five NL East Division titles (most recently in 2017). Another of their most iconic moments was clinching the first NL East Division Championship in 2012.
They play their home games at Nationals Park located near Navy Yard in South East Washington D.C., with a capacity of over 41,000 spectators.
The Washington Nationals have had rivalries with various teams throughout their history, but none more intense than their battles against division rivals, the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. Over time they have managed to have successful records against these teams, making it difficult for either team to gain much ground on them over a long period of time.
Notable players in the history of the Washington Nationals include Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, Ryan Zimmerman, Trea Turner, Juan Soto, Anthony Rendon, and Bryce Harper.
