Right now, if you are frantically refreshing your phone or asking your smart speaker for the score of the nationals game, you are going to be met with a bit of a frustrating silence. It’s mid-January. January 17, 2026, to be exact.
And unless you’re looking for a box score from a dusty game in 2025, there isn’t a live score to give you.
Basically, the Washington Nationals are in the middle of that weird, quiet winter hibernation. The bats are in the rack. The dirt at Nationals Park is probably frozen or at least very chilly. Honestly, we’re in that dead zone where the only "scoring" happening is in the front office and the legal departments during salary arbitration.
When will there actually be a score?
If you're itching for live baseball, you’ve still got about a month to wait. The first time a score of the nationals game will actually show up on a 2026 scoreboard is February 21.
That’s when Spring Training officially kicks off. The Nats have a split-squad situation that day. One group is heading to Jupiter to play the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium, and the other is staying home at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches to host the Houston Astros.
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Until then? We’re just looking at old news.
Looking back: The last time the score mattered
The 2025 season didn’t exactly end on a high note. If you remember the final score of the nationals game to close out last year, it was a bit of a thumping. On September 28, 2025, the Nationals got shut out 8-0 by the Chicago White Sox.
One hit. That was it.
The Nats finished the year 66-96. It’s a record that looks ugly on paper, but it doesn't tell the whole story of the "scary" potential this lineup is starting to show. James Wood basically turned into a folk hero, leading the team with 31 home runs and 94 RBIs. When you’ve got a guy that size hitting balls into orbit, the final score feels a little less depressing.
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The "Scores" that happened this week (Off the field)
Even though there’s no grass being chewed up by cleats right now, the Nationals did just settle some major "scores" in the courtroom.
Just a few days ago, on January 8, a bunch of the core roster avoided arbitration. This is basically the business version of a walk-off win. MacKenzie Gore settled at $5.6 million. CJ Abrams, who is arguably the heartbeat of this infield, landed a $4.2 million deal.
Even Jake Irvin got his $2.8 million, despite giving up a league-high 38 homers last year. Hey, the guy is durable. He makes his starts. In today's MLB, just showing up for 33 starts is worth its weight in gold.
What the 2026 schedule looks like
When the score of the nationals game finally becomes a daily thing again, the 2026 calendar is going to be brutal early on.
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- Opening Day: March 26 at Wrigley Field against the Cubs.
- Home Opener: April 3 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Starting the season against the Cubs in March? That’s going to be cold. Then you come home to face the Dodgers? That's a "welcome to the season" punch in the mouth.
Why the 2026 scores might actually be higher
People keep sleeping on this lineup. Luis García Jr. is coming off a season where he hit .252 with 16 homers, but he’s still only 25. He just got a raise, too.
Then you’ve got the young guns. Dylan Crews and James Wood. These are the guys who are going to be making sure the score of the nationals game features more than just one or two runs this summer.
There's also some weirdness in the pitching staff. There are rumors flying that MacKenzie Gore might be trade bait. If the Nats move him, the scoreboards might look a little lopsided for a while until the young arms like Mitchell Parker or the newly claimed Paxton Schultz (off waivers from Toronto) find their footing.
Practical Next Steps for Nats Fans
Since you can't watch a game today, here is how you can get ready for when the scores actually start rolling in:
- Check your TV provider: The team announced games will be on Nationals.TV for 2026. If you’re still relying on old cable packages, you might miss the first pitch.
- Mark February 21: That is the first Spring Training game. It won’t count for the standings, but it’ll be the first time you see the curly 'W' back on a box score.
- Watch the Waiver Wire: The team just picked up Joey Wiemer and Paxton Schultz. Mike DeBartolo (the interim GM) is clearly looking for "lottery ticket" players who can provide depth.
Keep an eye on the arbitration numbers for the remaining players. While it’s not as exciting as a bases-clearing double, these financial wins determine if the team can afford to add a veteran arm before the bus leaves for Florida.