What Would The Perfect Opening Day Start For The Nationals Look Like?

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Daylen Lile #4 of the Washington Nationals hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a spring training game at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 11, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images It feels hard to believe after a long offseason that saw more change within the organization than perhaps any other in club history, but we are now 10 days away from the Nationals’ regular season kicking off at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.

The team is beginning final preparations as well, with starting pitchers going deeper into their outings and hitters taking 3 to 4 at-bats per game, rather than 1 to 2. We know who will be taking the mound for the Nats in 10 days against the Cubbies, that being the 27-year-old Cade Cavalli in just his 12th ever big league start, but what will the team taking the field behind him look like? While certain positions are set in stone, such as CJ Abrams at shortstop and Brady House at third base, there are still lots of questions to be answered about how Blake Butera will arrange his club, but defensively and offensively, come Opening Day.

Before we can arrange the ideal Nats Opening Day lineup, there is the question of a few positional battles. At catcher, it seems likely Keibert Ruiz will win the starting job, almost entirely because of the Nationals being financially tied to him until 2030 and wanting to see if they can unlock something in him. Starting Ruiz also allows them to keep Ford in the minors long enough to secure another year of service time, which, while frustrating for fans and Ford himself, is ultimately probably worth it in a season where wins will be hard to come by.

At first base, with the growing usage of Luis Garcia Jr. at the position this spring, it seems as if he will be the one starting there on Opening Day, opening up a spot at second base for Nasim Nunez. Abimelec Ortiz was a popular option at first among fans, but it seems as if the Nationals front office will slow-play it with him as well, a wise choice as he’s had a rough spring, posting a .