Nats Minutecast with Dan Holmi

By MinuteCast MediaSports Baseball

Nats Minutecast with Dan Holmi episodes

October 05 James Wood’s 2026 Season: Are the Nationals’ Biggest Star’s Second-Half Struggles a Problem?
James Wood just completed another 30-home-run season for the Washington Nationals, but his 2026 campaign came with a major warning sign. Dan Holmi breaks down Wood’s elite first half, his second-half power outage, the oblique injury, his Statcast dominance and why the Nationals still need to view him as one of the foundational pieces of their rebuild.
The bigger question heading into 2027 is whether James Wood can finally put together a full season at an MVP level. With Wood, CJ Abrams and a developing young core, the Nationals have legitimate reasons for optimism, but Wood’s durability, consistency and second-half production could determine just how quickly Washington takes its next step.
#Nationals #Nats #Natitude #JamesWood #MLB #WashingtonNationals #Baseball #NatsOnTheRise

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10 min
October 02 Nationals 2026 Season Review: CJ Abrams, Pitching, Bullpen & 2027 Offseason Questions
The Washington Nationals’ 2026 season is over, and for the first time in years, the offseason is about building instead of rebuilding. Dan Holmi breaks down what the Nationals’ 11-win improvement means, why pitching and the bullpen are the biggest questions, and what comes next for CJ Abrams, James Wood and the young core.
The Nationals finished third in MLB in runs scored, CJ Abrams hit 33 home runs, James Wood hit 30, and Cade Cavalli, Connelly Early and Andrew Alvarez give the rotation a foundation. But the bullpen blew a major league-record 42 saves, Jake Irvin finished with a 5.48 ERA, and a potential MLB lockout could dramatically alter free agency and trades. Plus, the Nationals still have to determine whether CJ Abrams is their long-term shortstop or second baseman.
Dan also looks at Paul Toboni and Blake Butera’s offseason challenges, Nasim Nuñez, Seaver King, Eli Willits, Dylan Crews, Brady House and what the Nationals need to do to turn a promising 2026 season into sustained success in 2027.

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12 min
September 18 Cade Cavalli Extension Nears Deal: Nationals Finally Commit to Their Ace | Nats MinuteCast
Cade Cavalli and the Nationals are reportedly nearing a long-term contract extension, potentially marking a major turning point in the franchise’s rebuild. After battling back from Tommy John surgery, Cavalli has emerged as one of the Nationals’ most reliable starters in 2026.
The deal could signal a new approach for the Nationals: developing young talent and then actually keeping it. We break down Cavalli’s breakout season, the significance of the reported extension, and what it could mean for the Nationals’ next competitive window.

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15 min
September 11 Jarlin Susana Is Throwing 103 MPH Again: Starter or Future Nationals Bullpen Weapon? | Nats MinuteCast
Jarlin Susana is back, and the Nationals have a major decision ahead. The 22-year-old pitching prospect is once again touching 103 mph, but after a UCL sprain, lat surgery and just 14 innings in 2026, questions about his long-term role are getting louder.
In this Nats MinuteCast, Dan Holmi breaks down Susana's electric fastball and slider, his 408 strikeouts in 282 minor-league innings, the command and third-pitch concerns raised by Keith Law, and why a move to the bullpen could eventually make sense. But is Washington anywhere close to making that decision?
The argument here is simple: don't rush it. The Nationals need to find out how good Susana can be as a starter before deciding that his future belongs in relief. His 2026 return has provided flashes of dominant stuff, but the workload is still being rebuilt.
Jarlin Susana. 103 mph. The stuff is back. Now the Nationals have to figure out what comes next.
#Nats #Nationals #Natitude #MLB #JarlinSusana #WashingtonNationals #NatsProspects #Baseball

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15 min
August 31Nationals Have a Closer Crisis: 35 Blown Saves Forces Nats to Spend This Winter
The Washington Nationals have blown 35 saves in 2026, putting them just two away from the MLB record. After another disastrous ninth inning against the Miami Marlins, it’s time for the Nationals to stop hoping their bullpen problems will fix themselves.
In this episode of Nats MinuteCast, we break down why Washington needs to make an experienced back-end reliever a major priority this offseason.
The Nationals had a 2-0 lead heading into the ninth before the Marlins scored six runs to turn a potential fourth straight win into another painful loss. It was the latest example of a bullpen that has repeatedly cost Washington games this season.
But this isn't about blaming one pitcher or one bad inning.
It's about recognizing that the Nationals are reaching a different stage of their rebuild.
Washington's young offense is becoming a legitimate foundation. The farm system is improving. The roster is more talented than its record suggests. And that means the Nationals can't afford to keep wasting opportunities because they don't have someone they trust to get the final three outs.
We discuss Blake Butera's call for a pitcher who wants the ball in the ninth, the bullpen arms already developing inside the organization, the potential free-agent market, and why spending money on an experienced closer or high-leverage reliever could be one of the smartest moves Washington makes this winter.
The rebuild is changing.
Now the Nationals need to act like it.
In This Episode:
The Nationals' 35 blown saves

The disastrous ninth inning against Miami

Why Washington needs experienced bullpen help

Clayton Beeter, Orlando Ribalta and the developing relief corps

Why prospects alone can't be the 2027 bullpen plan

The case for spending this offseason

How the Nationals can protect their improving young offense

Why the ninth inning could define Washington's next step
Nats MinuteCast covers the Washington Nationals, Nationals Park, MLB news, roster moves, prospects, trades, free agency and the future of the Nats.
#Nationals #Nats #Natitude #MLB #WashingtonNationals #NationalsBaseball #NatsNews #MLBNews #NatsMinuteCast

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18 min
August 24Seaver King Call-Up? Nationals Face Big Decision as Triple-A Star Forces the Issue | Nats MinuteCast
Is it time for the Washington Nationals to call up Seaver King? The former No. 10 overall pick is putting together a breakout season at Triple-A Rochester, hitting around .325 with 18 home runs and an OPS near .970. Now the Nationals have a decision to make.
In this episode of Nats MinuteCast, we take a closer look at King's development, why his 2026 production is more important than his recent home-run streak, and the weaknesses that could explain why Washington is still hesitant.
We also examine the Nationals' evolving middle infield after CJ Abrams moved to second base and Nasim Núñez took on more work at shortstop. If King gets the call, where does he actually fit?
Plus, we look at the Nationals' front-office philosophy after trading MacKenzie Gore, Luis García Jr. and Curtis Mead, and whether that aggressive approach makes the organization's caution with King harder to understand.
The big question: What does Seaver King still need to prove before the Nationals give him a chance in Washington?
In This Episode
Seaver King's breakout 2026 season

Why his 18 home runs matter more than the eight-homer streak

King's .325 batting average and near-.970 OPS

The biggest concerns with his offensive approach

CJ Abrams moving to second base

Nasim Núñez and the shortstop situation

Where Seaver King fits in Washington

The Nationals' development philosophy

40-man roster and service-time considerations

Why September could become important for King's future
Nats MinuteCast | Washington Nationals News, Analysis & Commentary
#Nationals #Nats #Natitude #SeaverKing #MLB #WashingtonNationals #NatsNews

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17 min
August 20 Cade Cavalli Is Becoming an Ace | Nationals Crush Rangers 6-0 | Nats MinuteCast
Cade Cavalli is becoming the pitcher the Washington Nationals hoped he could be.
Cavalli dominated the Texas Rangers in a 6-0 Nationals victory, striking out 11 batters over six scoreless innings and reaching double-digit strikeouts before the fourth inning was over. After his brilliant no-hit bid against the Cubs, Cavalli followed it up with another statement performance and extended his streak to eight consecutive quality starts.
In this episode of the Nats MinuteCast, Dan Holmi breaks down why Cavalli's emergence could change the Nationals' timeline, why Washington made the controversial decision to move CJ Abrams from shortstop to second base, and what this all means for the next version of the Nationals.
The Nationals finally snapped a four-game losing streak, Andrés Chaparro delivered a huge three-run homer, and the bullpen actually finished the game without the usual drama.
But the biggest story is Cade Cavalli.
The Nationals may finally have their ace. Now they have to build around him.
Topics Covered
Cade Cavalli • Washington Nationals • Nationals vs Rangers • 11 strikeouts • CJ Abrams • Nasim Nuñez • Andrés Chaparro • Nationals pitching • Nationals rebuild • Nationals playoff race • Nats news • MLB
#Nats #Nationals #Natitude #MLB #CadeCavalli #WashingtonNationals

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17 min
August 14 Cade Cavalli Dominates Cubs as Abimelec Ortiz Explodes | Nationals Finally Find Answers?
The Washington Nationals just delivered one of their most complete wins of the season, shutting out the Chicago Cubs 7-0 behind a dominant performance from Cade Cavalli and another explosive game from Abimelec Ortiz.
Cavalli was spectacular, throwing 8 innings of one-hit, shutout baseball with 10 strikeouts and 2 walks, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning. After weeks of rotation uncertainty and the trade of Foster Griffin, could Cavalli finally be emerging as the frontline starter Washington desperately needs?
Then there's Ortiz.
The rookie went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and another home run, pushing his early MLB totals to 4 homers, a .345 average and a 1.160 OPS through 11 games. The sample size is tiny, but the Nationals now have no choice but to find out exactly what they have.
We'll break down why this 7-0 win matters beyond the standings, what Cavalli's performance means for the Nationals' pitching future, why Ortiz is becoming impossible to ignore, and whether Washington can carry this momentum into a nine-game road trip through New York, Texas and Miami.
The Nationals aren't fixed. But suddenly, there are reasons to believe the future might be arriving sooner than expected.
#Nationals #Nats #MLB #Natitude #CadeCavalli #AbimelecOrtiz
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13 min
August 10 Nationals Sweep Reds: Bullpen Finally Clicks as Nats Surge Back | Washington Nationals Podcast
The Washington Nationals swept the Cincinnati Reds with a 7-1 win on Sunday, completing their first three-game sweep since April and moving to 59-61, just two games under .500.
But the biggest story isn't the sweep. It's the bullpen.
Washington used four relievers to cover all nine innings, allowing just one run, four hits and zero walks. Brad Lord set the tone, Will Dion earned his first MLB win with three scoreless innings, Trevor Williams continued his remarkable return from elbow surgery, and Jake Bird closed out the ninth.
After a brutal seven-game losing streak, the Nationals have now won four of their last five games.
In this episode of the Nats Minutecast Podcast, we break down why this new-look bullpen suddenly looks different, why Will Dion could be much more than a left-handed matchup option, and whether Trevor Williams has become an unexpected weapon for Blake Butera.
We also look at Abimelec Ortiz, who continues to make his case at first base following the Luis García Jr. trade. Ortiz homered and singled against Cincinnati, raising his early MLB OPS to .895.
Plus, Keibert Ruiz continued his offensive resurgence, Daylen Lile delivered a key two-out RBI, and Andrés Chaparro provided the two-run double that blew the game open.
The Nationals still have plenty of problems to solve, including the open rotation spot created by Zack Littell's departure and the injury to James Wood. But after the trades, the losing streak and a brutal 17-games-in-17-days stretch, Washington finally has something it hasn't had much of lately:
Momentum.
The Cubs are next.
The question is whether this sweep was simply a great weekend in Washington, or the beginning of a legitimate second-half push.
#Nationals #Nats #MLB #Natitude #WashingtonNationals #NatsMinutecast

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15 min
August 09 Nationals Rebuild Under Pressure: DJ Herz Returns, Luis García Trade Explained & Chris Hacopian Arrives
The Washington Nationals have made their biggest statement of the 2026 season: the rebuild is moving forward, and now the future has to work.
In this episode of the Nats MinuteCast Podcast, we break down what the Nationals' latest moves mean for the franchise after a dramatic trade deadline.
DJ Herz is back on the mound after Tommy John surgery and a flexor strain, striking out three in his first rehab inning. We look at what his return could mean for a Nationals pitching staff that just traded Foster Griffin.
Then we examine the controversial Luis García Jr. trade to the New York Yankees. García was 26, under team control through 2027 and enjoying the best offensive season of his career. Why did Washington choose four pitching prospects over an established young major league hitter?
And then there's Chris Hacopian, the Nationals' first-round pick who is skipping Low-A and going directly to High-A Wilmington. Is this a sign that Paul Toboni's new regime is taking a more aggressive approach to player development?
We also discuss the decision to move on from Zack Littell, what his release means for the Nationals' pitching depth, and why the organization is now under enormous pressure to turn prospects into major league production.
The Nationals aren't simply rebuilding anymore.
They're betting on the next wave.
Now that wave has to reach Washington — and it has to win.
IN THIS EPISODE
• DJ Herz's comeback and what his rehab start means
• The Nationals' decision to trade Luis García Jr.
• Why Foster Griffin's trade was different
• Chris Hacopian's aggressive jump to High-A
• Washington's new approach to prospect development
• Zack Littell's release and the pitching implications
• James Wood, CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews and Brady House
• Paul Toboni's long-term Nationals rebuild
• Why the Nationals have to turn potential into production
Subscribe to Nats MinuteCast for Washington Nationals news, analysis, trade reactions and daily Nationals coverage.
#Nationals #Nats #Natitude #WashingtonNationals #MLB #DJHerz #LuisGarciaJr #ChrisHacopian #NationalsRebuild

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15 min

About Nats Minutecast with Dan Holmi

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Nats Minutecast podcast is a podcast that drops 3 times a week. It keeps you ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Washington Nationals and Major…