The Washington Nationals enter their May 25 matchup against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park with a 23–28 record and a growing sense of optimism after a solid stretch of play that’s seen them win five of their last six games. While their overall season record places them in the bottom half of the National League, the Nationals have been one of the better-performing teams against the spread recently, covering in each of their last five games and showing signs of competitiveness even against stronger opponents. Their recent surge has been fueled by a more consistent offensive attack led by shortstop CJ Abrams, who is batting .317 and emerging as the team’s most complete player. Abrams has provided a spark both at the top of the order and in the field, and his speed on the basepaths has created scoring opportunities in low-scoring games. Complementing Abrams is rookie slugger James Wood, who leads the team with 11 home runs and continues to show elite raw power that projects him as a cornerstone of Washington’s rebuild. However, the Nationals’ glaring weakness continues to be their pitching, with a team ERA of 5.37 that ranks near the bottom of MLB. On Sunday, Michael Soroka will take the mound with a 1–2 record and a 5.95 ERA, struggling to regain the form that once made him a frontline starter in Atlanta. Soroka has been inconsistent in his command and has struggled to keep hitters off balance, often working behind in counts and giving up early contact.

That’s a major concern against a disciplined Giants lineup that knows how to grind out at-bats and drive up pitch counts. Defensively, Washington has had its ups and downs, and although recent games have seen tighter execution, miscues in the field have cost them wins earlier in the season. The bullpen has improved marginally, but it still lacks the lockdown arms needed to preserve narrow leads or stop rallies in high-leverage moments. Manager Dave Martinez has been piecing together roles from a relatively young and evolving roster, and while his team is competing harder now than in April, the gap in talent remains apparent against playoff-caliber opponents like the Giants. Still, the Nationals have shown they can rise to the occasion at home, and with a crowd behind them and momentum on their side, they’ll look to continue their recent trend of upsets. To secure a win, Soroka will need to get through the Giants’ top order without falling behind early, and the offense must continue to execute with runners in scoring position—something they’ve done far better over the past week. If they can do that, the Nationals have a chance to salvage the series and carry forward the confidence of a young team that’s starting to believe it belongs in more competitive conversations.