The 2007 Washington Nationals season began with the team trying to win its first National League East title since moving to Washington. During the offseason, the team replaced manager Frank Robinson with former Montreal Expos coach Manny Acta. They lost several players through free agency and trades. The most notable of those are José Guillén, Ramón Ortiz, Alfonso Soriano, and José Vidro. The Nationals signed few major league free agents. Their most experienced free agent signing was Dmitri Young. Luis Ayala, Alex Escobar, Cristian Guzmán, Nick Johnson, Michael O'Connor and John Patterson were expected to return from season-ending injuries.

After losing four starters (Liván Hernández, Tony Armas, Ramón Ortiz and Pedro Astacio) from the prior year, the Nationals invited an extraordinary 36 pitchers to spring training. By year's end, the team would become the first team in modern baseball (except for strike-shortened seasons) with no pitcher in double figures with wins or losses.Campbell, Rich (October 1, 2007). "Down Bergmann up in team plans". The Free Lance-Star, p. B7.

The season was notable for it being the Nationals final year at RFK Stadium and for Dmitri Young winning Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award, marking the team's first annual award since moving to D.C. The Nationals finished 73–89, 16 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies and fourth in the NL East. This was their only season in Washington prior to 2011 that the Nationals did not finish last in their division.

Offseason On December 18, 2006, the Nationals traded José Vidro and cash to the Seattle Mariners for Emiliano Fruto and Chris Snelling.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Seattle Mariners

Spring training The Nationals held their 2007 spring training in Viera, Florida, with home games played at Space Coast Stadium. They invited Danny Ardoin to spring training, but he did not make the team; they traded him to the Houston Astros for minor-leaguer Wade Robinson on March 26, 2007.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Houston Astros

Regular season

April On Opening Day, the Nationals lost their starting shortstop (Cristian Guzmán, hamstring) and center fielder (Nook Logan) for five weeks. At the end of April, one of their starters, Jerome Williams hurt his ankle while batting and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

May Hitting coach Mitchell Page left his post with the team in May due to a relapse of alcoholism.

In the space of just 10 days in May, Shawn Hill, John Patterson, and Jason Bergmann went on the disabled list. Jerome Williams returned, pitched one game, and went back on the DL with a shoulder injury. The Washington Post wrote: "Almost everything that could sink a team's attitude has befallen the Nats. They started the year 1-8, then they lost eight in a row to drop to 9-25."

They pressed journeymen Mike Bacsik, Micah Bowie (a relief pitcher) and Jason Simontacchi, along with rookie reliever Levale Speigner into the starting rotation, amidst predictions that the 2007 Nationals might equal the 1962 Mets' record of futility, 120 losses in one season.

After the team lost 8 straight games to sink to 9-25, the Nats won 11 of 15, mostly with patchwork starting pitching and timely hitting. and the return of Cristian Guzmán, who was hitting .343 by the end of May.

June In June, the Nationals have been led by key hits by Dmitri Young, Cristian Guzmán and the power hitting of Ryan Zimmerman. But towards the end of the month, Guzman, hitting .329, was injured and lost for the season, and, following the injury, the Nationals lost 9 of their next 11 games.

July Dmitri Young, hitting .339 (third in the league) and slugging .512, was selected as the lone Nationals' representative in the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Despite rumors that the Nationals were seeking to trade Ronnie Belliard, Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch and Young, the Nationals did not make any major trades before the non-waiver trade deadline.

Season standings

National League East

Record vs. opponents

+Nationals vs. American LeagueTeamAL EastAL CentralBALTORCLEDETMINWashington4–22-10-32-11-2

Opening Day lineup +Opening Day StartersName Position Felipe López Second basemanCristian Guzmán ShortstopRyan Zimmerman Third basemanAustin Kearns Right fielderDmitri Young First basemanBrian Schneider CatcherRyan Church Left fielderNook Logan Center fielderJohn Patterson Starting pitcher

Notable transactions April 13, 2007: The Nationals received minor-leaguer Brent Abernathy from the Philadelphia Phillies as part of a conditional deal.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Philadelphia Phillies April 20, 207: The Nationals received Manny Alexander from the San Diego Padres as part of a conditional deal.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & San Diego Padres May 2, 2007: The Nationals traded Chris Snelling to the Oakland Athletics for Ryan Langerhans.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Oakland Athletics June 20, 2007: The Nationals sold Anastacio Martínez to the Detroit Tigers.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Detroit Tigers June 24, 2007: The Nationals traded minor-leaguer Darnell McDonald to the Minnesota Twins for Levale Speigner.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Minnesota Twins The move allowed the Nationals to keep Speigner – a Rule 5 draft pick – when they outrighted him to the Triple A Columbus Clippers. June 26, 2007: The Nationals sent minor-leaguer Jermaine Van Buren to the Oakland Athletics as part of a conditional deal. August 17, 2007: The Nationals traded a player to be named later to the Boston Red Sox for Wily Mo Peña and cash.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Boston Red Sox August 21, 2007: The Nationals traded minor-leaguer Emiliano Fruto to the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor-leaguer Chris Carter,baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Arizona Diamondbacks and sent Carter to the Boston Red Sox to complete the August 17, 2007, trade. September 4, 2007: The Nationals traded Ray King to the Milwaukee Brewers for a player to be named later. The Brewers sent minor-leaguer Andrew Lefave to the Nationals on September 14, 2007, to complete the trade.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Milwaukee Brewers

Draft The 2007 Major League Baseball draft took place on June 7 and 8. With their first pick – the sixth pick overall – the Nationals selected pitcher Ross Detwiler. Other notable players the Nationals selected were pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (second round, 67th overall), left fielder-third baseman Jake Smolinski (second round, 70th overall), third baseman Steven Souza Jr. (third round, 100th overall), catcher Derek Norris (fourth round, 130th overall), and pitcher Pat McCoy (10th round, 310th overall).baseball-reference.com 2007 Washington Nationals Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft

Roster 2007 Washington Nationals Roster Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders Manager

Coaches (bullpen) (bench) (hitting, interim) (first base) (hitting coach) (until May) (pitching) (third base)

Attendance The Nationals drew 1,943,812 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 2007, placing them 14th in attendance for the season among the 16 National League teams.baseball-reference.com 2007 Washington Nationals

Game log

|- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 1 || April 2 || Marlins || 9 – 2 || Willis (1-0) || Patterson (0-1) || || 40,389 || 0-1 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 2 || April 3 || Marlins || 9 – 3 || Olsen (1-0) || Hill (0-1) || || 20,894 || 0-2 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 3 || April 4 || Marlins || 7 – 6 || Rauch (1-0) || Julio (0-1) || || 18,835 || 1-2 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 4 || April 5 || D-backs || 4 – 3 || González (1-0) || Bergmann (0-1) || Valverde (2) || 16,017 || 1-3 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 5 || April 6 || D-backs || 7 – 1 || Owings (1-0) || Williams (0-1) || || 19,234 || 1-4 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 6 || April 7 || D-backs || 7 – 1 || Webb (1-0) || Patterson (0-2) || || 16,617 || 1-5 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 7 || April 8 || D-backs || 3 – 1 || Hernández (1-0) || Hill (0-2) || Valverde (3) || 17,244 || 1-6 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 8 || April 10 || @ Braves || 8 – 0 || Hudson (1-0) || Chico (0-1) || || 18,396 || 1-7 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 9 || April 11 || @ Braves || 8 – 3 || James (2-0) || Williams (0-2) || || 15,631 || 1-8 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 10 || April 12 || @ Braves || 2 – 0 || Colomé (1-0) || Smoltz (1-1) || Cordero (1) || 23,897 || 2-8 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 11 || April 13 || @ Mets || 3 – 2 || Heilman (1-1) || R. Wagner (0-1) || B. Wagner (3) || 47,311 || 2-9 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 12 || April 14 || @ Mets || 6 – 2 || Hill (1-2) || Hernández (1-1) || || 53,560 || 3-9 |- style="background-color:#bbbbbb" | -- || April 15 || @ Mets || colspan=5|Postponed (rain) || 3-9 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 13 || April 16 || Braves || 5 – 1 || Chico (1-1) || James (2-1) || || 16,316 || 4-9 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 14 || April 17 || Braves || 6 – 4 || Smoltz (2-1) || Williams (0-3) || Wickman (4) || 17,791 || 4-10 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 15 || April 18 || Phillies || 5 – 4 || Speigner (1-0) || Rosario (0-1) || || 18,584 || 5-10 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 16 || April 19 || Phillies || 4 – 2 || Moyer (2-1) || Patterson (0-3) || Gordon (3) || 18,671 || 5-11 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 17 || April 20 || @ Marlins || 6 – 5 || Colomé (2-0) || Gardner (0-1) || Rivera (1) || 16,469 || 6-11 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 18 || April 21 || @ Marlins || 9 – 3 || Sánchez (2-0) || Chico (1-2) || || 24,107 || 6-12 |- style="" |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 19 || April 22 || @ Marlins || 12 – 6 || Obermueller (1-0) || Williams (0-4) || Gregg (1) || 18,443 || 6-13 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 20 || April 24 || @ Phillies || 6 – 3 || Alfonseca (1-0) || Bowie (0-1) || Gordon (4) || 24,745 || 6-14 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 21 || April 25 || @ Phillies || 9 – 3 || Lieber (1-0) || Patterson (0-4) || || 23,526 || 6-15 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 22 || April 26 || @ Phillies || 4 – 2 || Hill (2-2) || Hamels (2-1) || Cordero (2) || 26,572 || 7-15 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 23 || April 27 || Mets || 4 – 3 || Chico (2-2) || Pérez (2-2) || Cordero (3) || 21,662 || 8-15 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 24 || April 28 || Mets || 6 – 2 || Sele (1-0) || Rivera (0-1) || || 29,292 || 8-16 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 25 || April 29 || Mets || 1 – 0 || Maine (4-0) || Bergmann (0-2) || B. Wagner (4) || 27,361 || 8-17 |- style="background-color:#bbffbb" | 26 || April 30 || @ Padres || 3 – 2 || Patterson (1-4) || Peavy (3-1) || Cordero (4) || 19,769 || 9-17

|- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 27 || May 1 || @ Padres || 3 – 0 || Young (3-2) || Hill (2-3) || Hoffman (6) || 19,438 || 9-18 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 28 || May 2 || @ Padres || 7 – 3 || Brocail (2-0) || Chico (2-3) || || 22,153 || 9-19 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 29 || May 4 || @ Cubs || 6 – 4 || Zambrano (3-2) || Bergmann (0-3) || Dempster (6) || 39,444 || 9-20 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 30 || May 5 || @ Cubs || 5 – 3 || R. Hill (4-1) || Patterson (1-5) || Dempster (7) || 40,267 || 9-21 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 31 || May 6 || @ Cubs || 4 – 3 || Dempster (1-1) || Wagner (0-2) || || 40,481 || 9-22 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 32 || May 7 || @ Brewers || 3 – 0 || Capuano (5-0) || Chico (2-4) || F. Cordero (13) || 17,751 || 9-23 |- style="background-color:#ffbbbb" | 33 || May 8 || @ Brewers || 6 – 4 || Bush (3-3) || Simontacchi (0-1) || F. Cordero (14) || 19,398 || 9-24