CJ Abrams homers, drives in three vs. D-backs

The plan is for Nasim Nunez to take over as the team’s primary shortstop. Butera noted that he already talked to Abrams about it last week and that the All-Star infielder was completely on board with the change. He’s still in there at shorstop on Friday night, so expect it to be a gradual transition. The move will add to Abrams’ already sky-high fantasy value as he’ll add second base eligibility to his repertoire at some point during this season and for the 2027 campaign as well.

Abrams hit one of three homers of Shota Imanaga for the Nationals, and this one gave Abrams his 29th homer of the season. The 25-year-old was not viewed as a significant power threat as a prospect, but obviously, the changes to his swing have paid off tremendously for the shortstop. He’s also driven in 91 runs, making it exceptionally likely he’ll reach triple digits for the first time in his five-year career.

Abrams hit a two-run single off Braves reliever Danny Young in eighth inning. The 25-year-old shortstop now leads all of baseball with 85 RBI. Abrams is hitting .290 with 28 homers, 69 runs and 19 stolen bases in what’s been a monster fantasy season.

Abrams’ growth as a hitter this season has been remarkable to watch. His home run was his 28th of the season and RBI his 83rd. Each of those are among the leaders in the National League and career-bests for him by a wide margin with two more months left to play. Yet, to watch the Braves pitchers be much more careful with him following that blast and Abrams to just sit back and take walks in his following two plate appearances was lovely. With three walks in this contest, he also set a new career-high in that stat with 51 games in front of him. He’s fully blossomed into a phenomenal offensive player.

James Wood also homered twice, giving the Nationals two of the league’s top eight homer leaders. Abrams paces the majors with 82 RBI, and he also ranks inside the top 15 in runs, steals, and batting average. It has been a monstrous breakout season for the shortstop, who finds himself in the middle of trade rumors heading into the August 3 deadline. Washington could simply hold on to him, however, which might be best for his fantasy value as part of the highest-scoring lineup in MLB. The club hasn’t had a 40-homer season since Bryce Harper in 2015, a total both Abrams and Wood could reach by the end of 2026.

Abrams had three hits, all of them homers, in the first two games of the series, and now he has some singles to balance them out. After a down June, he’s opened July with a .356 average, six homers and 16 RBI in 15 games.

Abrams got the scoring started with a two-run blast off Michael Lorenzen in the first inning. He did it again in his next at-bat, taking Lorenzen deep for his second two-run homer. Abrams later drew a walk in the seventh to reach base for a third time. The 25-year-old shortstop is up to 24 homers, 61 runs scored, 76 RBI, and 15 steals while slashing .279/.354/.538 across 418 plate appearances.

Abrams also drew a walk. The 25-year-old budding star has homered 21 times in 2026, and the double was his 19th. He’s also driven in 70 RBI over the Nationals’ first 100 games, and there’s a real shot he’ll reach triple digits for the first time in his young career. There’s been some suggestion the Nationals could move Abrams in a blockbuster package, but it seems more likely he’ll continue to contribute in all five categories as a member of the Nats for the foreseeable future.

Abrams’ 20th homer of the year ties a career high, a mark he’ll likely blow past given we haven’t even reached the All-Star break. Washington now has three hitters with 20 homers, tied with the White Sox for the most in the majors. The star shortstop also has 67 RBI this season, tying Yordan Alvarez for the third-most in MLB.

Abrams took Houston starter Mike Burrows deep in the third inning for a game-tying homer to match his home run total from last season. He’s now one big fly shy of his previous career-high mark of 20 round-trippers set back in 2024. The 25-year-old speedster also picked up his 15th stolen base of the season in this one. He’s been arguable the most impactful fantasy shortstop this season with 19 homers, 64 RBI and 15 thefts through 88 games.