You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and Jackson Rutledge will forever have to accept the disappointment that was his major league debut.

If he keeps doing what he’s done since that night in Pittsburgh, Rutledge will ensure fewer and fewer people remember that performance and instead focus on everything else he’s done on the mound for the Nationals.

With another impressive outing today, this time against the toughest lineup he’s faced to date, Rutledge put himself in position for his first major league win and watched his Nationals teammates finish off the Braves, 3-2, to take the opener of a day-night doubleheader.

The 6-foot-8 right-hander had no trouble with Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson and Co., tossing five innings of one-run ball on 86 pitches. He walked off the field to applause from an announced crowd of 31,989 that withstood on-and-off rain in what originally was supposed to be the Nats’ home finale but instead will be the penultimate game on South Capitol Street, with the makeup of Saturday’s rainout still to come at 6:35 p.m.

"It just tells me that I belong here," Rutledge said. "I can do it against ... one of the best lineups in baseball. I'm able to have success. That kind of gives me confidence moving forward."

Jake Irvin wanted to finish out the season. The rookie right-hander made his major league debut May 3 and (aside from having one turn skipped) remained in the rotation ever since, turning into one of the Nationals’ most unexpected positive stories of the year.

But the sore right ankle that had begun to bother him in recent starts proved significant enough to bring Irvin’s season to an abrupt end. The club placed him on the 15-day injured list Friday with ankle tendinitis, and he will not make his final start this week.

“Just one of those small, nagging things,” Irvin said. “I think it’s kind of the end of the season here, and the body is just fatiguing a little bit.”

It’s a disappointing end to what still has to be considered a positive year overall for Irvin, who wasn’t considered one of the organization’s top prospects but earned his early-season promotion after Chad Kuhl went on the IL and never gave it back.

Irvin’s overall numbers (3-7, 4.61 ERA in 24 starts) don’t jump off the page, but he enjoyed a 15-start stretch in which he had a 3.59 ERA and became the most consistently effective member of the Nats rotation.

Today is the last day to see the 2023 Nationals play at home. So why not maximize that opportunity and take in two games instead of one? Yes, thanks to Saturday’s rainout, we’ve got a Sunday day-night doubleheader against the Braves. The nightcap, which is the makeup for the rained-out game, is set for 6:35 p.m. But up first, we’ve got the originally scheduled 1:35 p.m. game.

It’ll be Jackson Rutledge making the start this afternoon, his third in the big leagues and his biggest test to date. The rookie right-hander was shaky against the Pirates but confident and effective against the White Sox. How will he fare against the best lineup in baseball?

The Braves haven’t announced who is starting which game yet, but Kyle Wright was supposed to be on the mound Saturday, with Spencer Strider pitching today. Strider leads the league in wins (18) and strikeouts (270). Wright is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA.

Whoever they face, the Nationals will need to do a better job in clutch situations. Even though they scored six runs in Friday night’s loss, they went a measly 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position, costing themselves a chance at the win.

Update: Right-hander Allan Winans starts for the Braves. He last pitched in a Sept. 10 start against the Pirates, going 6 1/3 innings while striking out eight and allowing six hits. He has not yet faced anyone on the Nats' current roster in a big league game.

It’s easy to think of Sean Doolittle and immediately focus on everything he’s said and done off the baseball field, from his work in the community to his support for marginalized groups to his fascination with topics few people within the sport would find so compelling.

Ask Doolittle a question about Star Wars or The Grateful Dead, and it might be 15 minutes before he pauses to give you a chance to ask a second question. Name another major leaguer who can do that.

Doolittle became a fan favorite in Washington – and, prior to that, in Oakland – because of his personality, his self-deprecating humor and his genuine humanity. But let’s not gloss over this other indisputable fact: He was an awfully good big league pitcher for a long time, and surely one of the very best relievers in Nationals history.

Of the 22 relievers who have thrown at least 100 innings for the Nats since 2005, Doolittle ranks fourth in ERA (2.92), first in WHIP (1.007), third in strikeouts per nine innings (10.3), first in strikeout-to-walk rate (5.12) and third in saves (75).

Without that kind of on-field performance, Doolittle believes he could not have made the impact he did off the field.

The Nationals are limping to the finish line. And they’re doing so with a pitching staff that is running on fumes and running out of available options.

Tonight’s 9-6 loss to the Braves saw another ragged start by Patrick Corbin, who served up Ronald Acuña Jr.’s historic 40th home run right off the bat. And earlier in the day, one of the few bright spots in the Nats’ rotation saw his season come to an abrupt and unfortunate end.

Jake Irvin, who was roughed up during Thursday’s loss, was placed on the 15-day injured list with right ankle tendinitis. That will end the rookie’s season, and leave Davey Martinez scrambling to figure out who will make what would’ve been his final start next week.

Before that, though, Martinez must figure out who's going to pitch Sunday's newly announced day-night doubleheader, which became necessary when Saturday's scheduled game was postponed a day early with heavy rain and wind forecast to batter the region.

If the storm clears out, the Nats and Braves will play as planned at 1:35 p.m. Sunday, then make up Saturday's rainout at 6:35 p.m. in what now becomes the season's home finale.

Lane Thomas had already been named the Nationals’ Player of the Year last season. Then the outfielder went and improved every facet of his game to earn the honor again this season.

Thomas’ selection as 2023 Player of the Year was announced today, and he joined Kyle Finnegan (Pitcher of the Year) and Josiah Gray (Good Guy Award) in accepting their awards on the field prior to tonight’s game against the Braves.

Voting for all three awards was conducted by local media members and submitted at the start of the week.

Thomas won the award last year in large part because Juan Soto and Josh Bell were traded two months earlier, leaving his .705 OPS, 17 homers and 52 RBIs as some of the best numbers among the team’s remaining players. This time, he outperformed several others who deserved consideration, ultimately winning on the strength of a dominant first half and a late resurgence of power.

Thomas enters tonight’s game with a .271 batting average, .790 OPS, 96 runs, 160 hits, 34 doubles, 26 homers and 84 RBIs, along with 19 stolen bases and 17 outfield assists (tops in the majors).

It’s overcast but dry here on South Capitol Street. It doesn’t appear that will be the case Saturday. Or possibly Sunday, either. In other words, the Nationals and Braves sure better get tonight’s game in.

Patrick Corbin will try to hold Atlanta’s potent lineup in check, no small task. The left-hander has been better of late, with back-to-back quality starts against the Pirates and Brewers that brought his ERA down to an even 5.00. This is a much stiffer challenge, though. Corbin faced the Braves once this season, way back on Opening Day. And though he was only charged with two earned runs, he allowed four runs total and needed 85 pitches to complete three innings. That won’t get it done tonight.

Charlie Morton is on the mound for the Braves, and though he’s been good overall in his age-39 season (3.66 ERA, 182 strikeouts in 162 1/3 innings), he was hit around by both the Marlins and Phillies his last two starts.

If you missed the news earlier, Sean Doolittle announced his retirement today. The popular reliever will be here at Nationals Park for a pregame press conference and will be recognized on the field before the game. If you’ve got tickets, you’ll want to be in your seats by 6:40 p.m., according to the team.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Rain approaching, 69 degrees, wind 13 mph in from center field

It’s a sad, yet happy day in Washington, D.C. One that, unfortunately, was coming sooner rather than later.

Sean Doolittle, the dominant Nationals reliever and fan favorite, announced his retirement today.

Where do you begin with a player and person who has meant so much to an organization and a city?

Let’s start on the field, since he’s retiring from the sport.

After coming over in a 2017 trade with the Athletics, the left-hander, who turns 37 next week, posted a 2.92 ERA, 1.007 WHIP and 75 saves (third-most in club history) over parts of five seasons with the Nats. He earned an All-Star selection in 2018 - the game that year took place at Nationals Park - and played an integral role on the 2019 team that won the World Series.

Sean Doolittle, who helped reshape the Nationals bullpen into a unit worthy of a World Series title and in the process became a fan favorite for his performance, big personality and community involvement, announced his retirement today.

The popular left-hander, who turns 37 next week, was hoping to make it back to pitch for the Nationals after a partially torn elbow ligament cut short his 2022 season only five games in. But his minor league rehab from the internal brace procedure he underwent last summer was disrupted by a knee injury earlier this summer, and he made the decision not to attempt another comeback in 2024.

“After 11 incredible seasons playing the sport I love, I can say with gratitude and a full heart that I am retiring from baseball,” he said in a statement announcing the decision.

Doolittle will hold a press conference at Nationals Park this afternoon and will be recognized during tonight’s game against the Braves.

Acquired via trade with fellow reliever Ryan Madson from the Athletics in July 2017 for Blake Treinen, Jesús Luzardo and Sheldon Neuse, Doolittle had an immediate impact on the team’s fortunes, teaming up with Madson and Brandon Kintzler (acquired from the Twins that same month) to turn the league’s worst bullpen into a legitimate strength.

As we get closer to the end of the season, a new season is upon us: award season.

The Nationals kicked things off yesterday by announcing their 2023 Minor League Award winners:

* Hitter of the Year – James Wood
* Pitcher of the Year – Andrew Alvarez
* Defensive Player of the Year – Trey Lipscomb
* Baserunner of the Year – Johnathon Thomas
* Nationals Way Award – Jacob Young

Wood, 21, led the Nats’ minor league system in most offensive categories by setting a lot of career highs: first in home runs (26), RBIs (91) and slugging percentage (.520); second in OPS (.873), doubles (28) and triples (eight); and third in hits (124).

The Nats’ No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline and Baseball America finished the season slashing .262/.353/.520 with 28 doubles, eight triples, 26 home runs, 91 RBIs, 65 walks, 18 stolen bases and 80 runs scored in 129 games between High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg.

Thursday night started with a lot of positive energy for the Nationals.

The team was still relishing Wednesday’s blowout win over the White Sox to clinch a series victory and put them two wins away from their first 70-win season since 2019.

It was Hispanic Heritage Night at the ballpark, so all of the Nats’ Hispanic players, coaches and staff members were recognized during a pregame ceremony.

And the Nats welcomed the Commanders for the first “Capital Crossover” night as the two organizations began to start a new relationship under the football team’s new owner, Josh Harris, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

But once the pregame pageantry was over, the daunting challenge of beating the Braves and their major league-best record became real. That task proved too difficult on this night for the Nationals as the positive vibes quickly evaporated in a 10-3 loss in front of an announced crowd of 28,100, many of whom were wearing football gear.

It was a slow afternoon in the Nationals clubhouse as they prepared to welcome the division champion Braves for a four-game series, the last home series of the season.

Per usual, manager Davey Martinez provided some injury updates to begin his pregame press conference ahead of a series opener.

Riley Adams, whose season was ended by a fractured left hamate bone, had successful surgery last week and already is on a good path toward recovery.

“Riley Adams still has his stitches in. He's getting them out,” Martinez said. “He's gonna recover fine. He's already itching (to get back). He's working his hand a little bit, so he's doing well.”

Travis Blankenhorn’s season seems to be over as well. Although he was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, retroactive back to Sept. 16, he received an injection to treat his plantar fasciitis that will keep him “out for a while,” per Martinez.

Well, this final stretch for the Nationals isn’t going to be easy as they are only two wins away from their first 70-win season since 2019. Their last nine games come against the teams with two best records in the major leagues: The Braves and the Orioles, both of whom still have a lot to play for over the season’s last week.

Entering this four-game series – the last to be played at Nationals Park this year – the Nats have fared a lot better against the Braves this year than they did in 2022. They are already 2-4 against Atlanta this year, not having faced them since early June. Last year, they went an abysmal 5-14 against the division champs.

Jake Irvin has been one of the Nats’ most consistent starters during his rookie year. He’ll make his 24th start tonight, bringing a 3-6 record and 4.34 ERA, which is the second-best in this rotation.

The Nats will face Max Fried for the first time since Opening Day in which the lefty allowed one run over 3 ⅓ innings before departing early with a hamstring injury. He has only made 12 starts since, but is 7-1 with a 2.64 ERA on the season.

The Braves have locked up their sixth straight National League East title, but their magic number to claim the No. 1 seed in the NL is at seven as the Dodgers host the Giants this weekend. Coming into the weekend with the best record in baseball, the Braves’ magic number to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs is eight against the Orioles.

After he takes the mound one more time next week, what will Josiah Gray consider when he evaluates his 2023 season?

Will the Nationals right-hander look at his breakthrough first half, the 3.41 ERA that earned him the first All-Star nod of his career? Will he look at his second half struggles, the 5.13 ERA that wiped up much of what he had accomplished earlier?

Or is there something else that rises above the rest to paint a more accurate picture of Gray’s season?

“I think the first goal is to stay healthy,” he said. “But then you want to perform. You want to go out there every outing and put the team in a position to win. The last two outings, I’ve been able to do that.”

Gray has performed much better his last two starts. He struck out 10 without issuing a walk one week ago in Pittsburgh, then he allowed one run over five innings Wednesday afternoon in a blowout victory over the White Sox.

There have been precious few of these – genuine laughers – during the course of the season, certainly over the last month-plus as the Nationals have needed to scratch and claw their way to any win they could secure.

The Nats hadn’t won a game by more than four runs since Aug. 11 against the Athletics. They hadn’t won a game by more than six runs since July 22 against the Giants. They hadn't won a game by 10 or more runs since April 29, 2022.

So consider this afternoon’s 13-3 thumping of the White Sox a much-needed, well-deserved walk in the park. A team that has looked like it’s running on fumes down the stretch of the season finally had an opportunity to enjoy a victory that was firmly in their grasp the entire way.

"It's great anytime we can score some runs early, score a lot of runs and pitch well," first baseman Dominic Smith said. "Those games are fun. Those are my favorite games."

In the process today, the Nationals secured their 18th series victory of the season, six more than they managed during their nightmare of a 55-107 campaign in 2022. With nine games left on schedule, but all coming against the teams with the two best records in baseball in the Braves and Orioles, it was imperative to lock up wins No. 67 and 68 against the White Sox now to make the path to 70 by season’s end a bit more palatable.

The Nationals will skip Trevor Williams’ next turn in the rotation, but the struggling right-hander will make another start during the season’s final week.

Manager Davey Martinez said he wanted to give Williams a breather after a string of subpar outings but did not want to shut him down entirely or move him to the bullpen.

“I spoke to him, and he wants to finish the year off,” Martinez said. “I thought the best thing was to skip him one, and then let him have one more.”

Williams lasted only two innings in his most recent outing in Milwaukee, throwing a whopping 70 pitches in the process. He hasn’t completed five innings in any of his last three outings, and his ERA now stands at 5.55, with a league-leading 34 homers surrendered.

Williams’ 29 starts are his most since 2018 with the Pirates, his 141 innings his most since 2019.

Who knows what the final week-plus of the season has in store for the Nationals, but we do know this: Today is probably their last best shot at winning a series. A victory today over the White Sox would complete their 18th winning series of the year, six more than they won last year. That would be a nice improvement.

To pull it off, they need the good version of Josiah Gray to show up this afternoon. That’s the version the Nats got last week in Pittsburgh, when Gray struck out 10, didn’t issue a walk and allowed two runs over 6 1/3 innings. He still didn’t emerge with the win, though, and he actually hasn’t won a game since July 22. It would be nice to end that streak today.

The Nationals lineup needs to show more patience today than it showed Tuesday night, when everybody seemed to be swinging at the first pitch and making outs. Well, that can’t be the case today against Michael Kopech, who leads the American League in walks. Plain and simple, the Nats have to work the count today. There’s no excuse not to.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, wind 3 mph out to center field

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
RF Lane Thomas
DH Joey Meneses
C Keibert Ruiz
1B Dominic Smith
2B Luis García
3B Ildemaro Vargas
LF Jake Alu
CF Jacob Young

It was only 25 light throws from 45 feet, the kind of mundane activity anyone who has ever picked up a baseball has engaged in countless times. For Cade Cavalli, Tuesday’s activity was anything but mundane.

For the first time since he underwent Tommy John surgery in March, the Nationals’ top pitching prospect played catch. And while this was merely the first of many thresholds still to cross before he returns to a big league mound, the significance was not lost on the right-hander.

“I have been visualizing that moment since pretty much the time I tore (my elbow ligament),” he said. “And now that it’s here, it was very surreal. It felt great. It did feel weird the first couple of throws, trying to find that slot again. But once I found it and felt comfortable in it, it was awesome. I don’t know how else to describe it but awesome. It was a great feeling.”

Cavalli has spent the majority of this season rehabbing at the Nationals’ spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla. It’s a lonely, tedious experience, especially those first several months that include zero baseball activities.

When the time finally came to let him throw for the first time, the club decided to bring Cavalli to D.C. and have him throw in the outfield prior to batting practice Tuesday afternoon, with assistant athletic trainer Jon Kotredes on the receiving end of the throws.

The most important development of tonight’s ballgame on South Capitol Street was Jackson Rutledge’s second career start, one that saw the rookie right-hander reach the seventh inning on 78 pitches and allow only two runs.

The most satisfying moment of tonight’s game, though, came on one big swing from Joey Meneses, which ensured Rutledge’s quality start wouldn’t be for naught.

Meneses’ pinch-hit, three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh provided the clutch hit the Nationals had been seeking all night and ultimately propelled them to a 4-3 victory over the White Sox.

"It was beautiful," manager Davey Martinez said. "One thing I know about Joey: You put runners on base, there's a good chance he's going to hit it hard."

Shut down throughout the evening by José Ureña, who spent the summer pitching for Triple-A Rochester before getting released and picked up by Chicago, the Nats finally did something at the plate once they had the chance to face the White Sox bullpen.

The Nationals made another change to their ever-changing outfield for the final 11 games of the season, placing Travis Blankenhorn on the 10-day injured list with plantar fasciitis and recalling Blake Rutherford from Triple-A Rochester.

Blankenhorn had not played since Thursday in Pittsburgh, when the pain in his foot became significant enough to keep him off the field. The 27-year-old had only been called up from Triple-A two weeks prior, homering in his Nats debut but doing little after that.

“About three days ago, he said it was really bothering him a lot,” manager Davey Martinez said. “So we decided just to shut him down. He was hurting pretty good.”

In 10 total games, Blankenhorn went 5-for-31 with that one homer and RBI, six walks, six strikeouts and a .555 OPS, failing to seize the left field job when given an opportunity to take it over for the season’s final month.

Rutherford had already been given a similar opportunity in August, called up from Triple-A and given a chance to play on a regular basis after posting big numbers in Rochester. But the 26-year-old started his major league career in an 0-for-16 slump before going six for his next eleven.