Nationals Start Strong with Opening Day Win

0:00It's March 27, I'm Cory with the story, and this is MLB News Today Baseball News Power by AI. The Washington Nationals kicked off the 2026 MLB season with a 1-0 record after beating the Chicago Cubs on opening day. They scored 10 runs and a strong performance that marked the first win for new managers, Paul Taboni, and Blake Butterra. Coming off of tough 2025 where their bullpen had the worst ERA in the majors, this game brought some early optimism. The reliever stepped up big after starter, Cade Cavalli lasted just three and two-thirds innings. Players were fired up after the victory, hitting their manager with a classic mix of beer and shaving cream in celebration. Reliever Brad Lord highlighted the group's grit and teamwork, calling it a solid team effort. The bullpen locked things down from there, with PJ Polin, Lord Clayton Beater, and Sino Perez combining for five and one-third innings. They allowed only one earned run while protecting a big lead.

1:00Adding veteran arms and last year's big league experience should help the nationals avoid past pitfalls over this 162 game grind.