Where a batter looks after a ball leaves his bat is frequently a signal of how well he hit it. When he looks at his dugout, he usually has no doubt where it’s headed. On James Wood, his grand slam and dugout stare in the Nats’ 12-11 victory on Monday:

FINAL: Nationals 12, Astros 11. The Nationals were down 6-1. They led 12-6. Then, they nearly let the lead slip away. James Wood's grand slam proved to be the difference.

The Astros have cut this deficit from 12-7 to 12-11 thanks to a four-run eighth from Cole Henry. The Astros have scored 10 of their 11 runs tonight with two outs.

So, Nasim Nuñez beat out an infield single to second base to extend the inning. That allowed James Wood to hit. And then Wood hit the second grand slam of his career, stared at the Nats dugout and then took his time rounding the bases. Washington has scored 11 unanswered.

Going to bump this story on Curtis Mead, who just hit a fifth-inning solo homer that gave the Nationals a 7-6 lead:

We are only in the third inning and these two teams have combined to score 12 runs. The Nationals first five baserunners reached in the bottom of the third. CJ Abrams was the last, hitting a three-run, game-tying homer. This offense just keeps scoring runs.

Some more two-out mistakes from Miles Mikolas. A two-out walk to Cam Smith followed by a two-out homer to Yanier Diaz. It's 6-1.

Three straight two-out hits from the Astros, the last was a three-run homer from Jose Altuve on a Miles Mikolas slider. The Nationals trail 4-1. The Astros haven't had a ton of extremely hard-hit balls so far, but they're making Mikolas pay anyway.

A RBI double from Curtis Mead in the bottom of the first ties this one up. Here's a great story from @K_Williamsmedia on Mead from earlier today: 1-1, bottom 1.

I can't tell if Christian Walker's deep line drive would've left the park, but Jacob Young nearly brought it back. Instead, the ball fell out of Young's glove and Walker will settle for an RBI double. 1-0 Astros, bottom 1.

From MLB: Cade Cavalli will serve a five-game suspension beginning tonight for his actions in the Nationals-Red Sox game on June 30th.

Nice piece of two-out hitting from Blaze Alexander to extend the Orioles lead to 5-1.

The Orioles have their first hit of the game and it's an emphatic one: a 430-foot solo homer by Tyler O'Neill. This game is tied 1-1. O'Neill's first homer since May 16th.

A great diving catch by Tyler O'Neill to save two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Dean Kremer has looked good in this one. After the leadoff homer, Kremer retired 11 in a row before allowing a two-out double that inning.

The good news about the Orioles' offense so far: they have walked three times. The bad news: they are 0-8 in the other at-bats with three strikeouts, four groundouts and a flyout.

On the second pitch of the game, Sam Antonacci hits a homer off Dean Kremer, who was recalled ahead of today's game. Would've been a homer in 27 parks. The Orioles trail 1-0.

In late April, a Baltimore City high school baseball team worried their season was crumbling. They asked for help from an unlikely source. But by month’s end, the team’s season was canceled anyway. On a team’s heroic efforts and the barriers they face:

Played pickup basketball just now at a court near my apartment. Starting hearing “good rebound, unc” and “who’s guarding unc?” Kept looking around the court for unc and realized they were talking about me. Tough day.

COLUMN: The Nats just suffered 3 straight excruciating ninth-inning losses against one of the best teams in baseball. Yet this team has shown an ability to bounce back all season. Why should we suddenly stop giving them the benefit of the doubt now?

A big thank you to @theyarejett.bsky.social and their friends for speaking to me about pride night at Nationals Park and what the event meant to them: app.thebaltimorebanner.com/VG6JLGQ37ZDC...

It’s Nats Night Out with @andrewgolden.bsky.social and @theyarejett.bsky.social

On Dylan Crews’ performance on Sunday afternoon and the Nationals’ 4-3 loss to the Rays:

Final: Rays 4, Nationals 3. Orlando Ribalta allowed a two-run homer to Jonny DeLuca. The Nationals did a lot well today but failed to earn a series win.

And in the ensuing at-bat, Jonny DeLuca hit a two-run homer to give the Rays a 4-3 lead.

Orlando Ribalta entered to pitch the seventh inning. Yandy Díaz, his brother-in-law, was due up second in the inning. Díaz singled, so he'll earn family bragging rights.

The Rays scored a run on a Ryan Vilade homer. After the inning, Blake Butera and a trainer went out to check on Drew Millas. Couldn't quite tell what the injury was.

Three games in Tampa, three home runs for CJ Abrams. The play was under review for fan interference but it went over the fence. Abrams has 17 homers, putting him on pace for 35. His career-high is 20.

Andrew Alvarez has a career-high six strikeouts this afternoon. He just stranded two runners in scoring position by getting Chandler Simpson to ground out. He's getting whiffs with his fastballs. He's also landed his curve for a pair of called third strikes.

Dylan Crews smoked a RBI double into the gap to give the Nationals a 2-1 lead. Looked very similar to his home run swing yesterday. That was 107.6 off the bat.

Andrew Alvarez retired the first eight hitters he faced. Then, he fell behind in the count against Taylor Walls and Yandy Díaz and allowed back-to-back doubles. It's 1-1.

I thought James Wood had his 21st homer of the year. Instead, he'll have to settle for a sacrifice fly that puts the Nationals ahead 1-0 in the third. The ball had a .850 xBA. Would've been a homer in 24 parks.

James Wood worked a leadoff walk. The Rays challenged it, though the Nationals dugout chirped that it was a late challenge. Didn't matter, was a ball anyway. We're underway.

Blake Butera said DJ Herz had a setback after his Tuesday rehab start and experienced forearm tightness. Butera said there’s a good chance Herz will be down “for the next couple weeks.”

Wrote about the Nationals bullpen and specifically Brad Lord, who shined again in the Nationals 4-3 win on Saturday. On Lord, his steady presence and his growth in 2026:

Blake Butera said Jacob Young is day-to-day with a side injury. Said he had some “strong soreness and tightness” in his side. His ribs should be okay.

FINAL: Nationals 4, Rays 3. Blake Butera needed the bullpen to cover 6 1/3 innings. They allowed one run. Heck of an effort from Mitchell Parker, Brad Lord and Clayton Beeter.

Taylor Walls walked, stole second and third, and then scored on an infield single by Yandy Diaz. We have a game. 4-3 in the ninth.

Dylan Crews just hit a solo homer to give the Nationals come cushion. It's 4-2. Crews, who grew up in Altamonte Springs, FL, got loud cheers when the ball left his bat. He's got a big family section behind home.

Jacob Young just made a leaping catch and slammed into the wall in center field. He tossed the ball to Daylen Lile in left and rolled over in pain. He's on one knee now. Looks like he's holding his ribs but it's hard to tell.

Well this was a weird moment. With the Rays down one, Junior Caminero singled and advanced to second on an overthrow from the Nationals. The only problem was he thought the ball went out of play, so he started jogging to second base. It didn't, and the Nats got him out to end the threat.

Wow. Junior Caminero hit a grounder up the middle that Nasim Nuñez threw away. Andrés Chaparro made a heads up play to grab the ball and throw to second base. Caminero was jogging to second and was tagged out. Rays would've had two RISP. Instead, Nats lead 3-2.

These two teams are a combined 3 for 18 with runners in scoring position. Andrés Chaparro drive in a run on a groundout hit two feet in front of home. The Nationals lead 3-2. However you get the job done.

Cavalli's outing is done after 2 2/3 innings. Blake Butera is going to Mitchell Parker with runners on the corners and two outs in the third. Of Cavalli's 6 hits allowed, four came in counts where he was ahead 0-2 or 1-2 at one point. Here's his pitch chart:

Cade Cavalli is laboring. He loaded the bases again in the second. But Keibert Ruiz made a timely ABS challenge that changed the count from 3-1 to 2-2. Cavalli got out of the frame with a groundout two pitches later. Mitchell Parker is warming with Cavalli at 45 pitches.

The Nationals tack on another run in the top of the second thanks to an RBI from Nasim Nuñez, who has now hit safely in six straight games and reached base in career-high 12 straight. 2-1 Nationals.

CJ Abrams has homered in back-to-back games and this game is tied. That marks the 3rd time this season Abrams has hit a HR in back-to-back games. The others: April 1-3 (3 straight games) April 13-14

Cavalli gets out of the jam allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly. He also got a ground ball double play to end the frame. A really good outcome all things considered.

Cade Cavalli has gotten ahead of hitters but hasn't put them away. Two hard-hit singles (109.3 and 105 mph) and a bunt single (30.7) have loaded the bases with no one out.

Blake Butera’s pregame routine on Friday was full of hugs, handshakes and laughs with players and staff in Rays gear. On his return to Tampa and the Nationals 5-2 loss to the Rays at the Trop:

FINAL: Rays 5, Nationals 2. The Nationals jumped out to an early lead, as they have so many times this season. Then their offense fell flat in the later innings. Miles Mikolas allowed five runs.