The Washington Nationals' 2010 season was the sixth season for the American baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia, and the 42nd since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It involved the Nationals attempting to win the National League East after a 59–103 season the year before – the worst record of any MLB team in 2009. Jim Riggleman was kept as full-time manager after being instituted on July 12, 2009 after Manny Acta's firing.
Highlights from the season include Stephen Strasburg's 14-strikeout Major League debut on June 8 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and a bench-clearing brawl on September 1 at the Florida Marlins.
The Nationals finished 2010 in last place in the NL East for the third year in a row with a 69–93 record, though they did have a ten-game improvement from 2009. They had a 41–40 record at home, their first winning home record since 2006.
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman won the Silver Slugger Award for the second straight year as the best offensive third baseman in the National League.
As the Texas Rangers won their first pennant that season, the Nationals became one of only two teams to have never played in the World Series, along with the Seattle Mariners
Offseason On December 7, 2009, the Nationals traded a player to be named later to the New York Yankees for Brian Bruney; they sent Jamie Hoffman to the Yankees on December 10, 2009, to complete the trade.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & New York Yankees
Spring training The Nationals held their 2010 spring training in Viera, Florida, with home games played at Space Coast Stadium.
Regular season Season standings National League East
National League Wild Card
Record vs. opponents
Opening Day lineup +Opening Day StartersName Position Nyjer Morgan Center fielderWillie Harris Right fielderRyan Zimmerman Third basemanAdam Dunn First basemanJosh Willingham Left fielderAdam Kennedy Second basemanIván Rodríguez CatcherIan Desmond ShortstopJohn Lannan Starting pitcher
Notable transactions May 24, 2010: The Nationals sent Andrew Brown to the St. Louis Cardinals as part of a conditional deal.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & St. Louis Cardinals July 29, 2010: The Nationals traded Matt Capps to the Minnesota Twins for Wilson Ramos and minor-leaguer Joe Testa.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Minnesota Twins July 30, 2010: The Nationals traded Cristian Guzmán to the Texas Rangers for Tanner Roark and minor-leaguer Ryan Tatusko.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Texas Rangers August 7, 2010: The Nationals purchased Brian Bixler from the Pittsburgh Pirates.baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Pittsburgh Pirates
Draft The 2010 Major League Baseball draft took place from June 7 to June 9. With their first pick – the first pick overall – the Nationals selected outfielder Bryce Harper. Other notable players the Nationals selected were pitcher Sammy Solis (second round, 51st overall), pitcher A. J. Cole (fourth round, 116th overall), pitcher Matt Grace (eighth round, 236th overall), pitcher Aaron Barrett (ninth round, 266th overall), and pitcher Robbie Ray (12th round, 356th overall).baseball-reference.com 2010 Washington Nationals Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft
Roster 2010 Washington Nationals Roster Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Manager
Coaches (hitting) (bullpen) (third base) (pitching) (bench) (first base)
Attendance The Nationals drew 1,828,066 fans at Nationals Park in 2010, a slight improvement over their 2009 attendance. However, it placed them 14th in attendance for the season among the 16 National League teams, down from 13th the previous year.baseball-reference.com 2010 Washington Nationals Their highest attendance at a home game was on April 5, when they drew 41,290 for a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Opening Day, while their lowest was 10,999 for a game against the Houston Astros on September 20. Their average home attendance was 22,569 per game, their lowest since arriving in Washington in 2005.baseball-almanac.com Washington Nationals Attendance Data
Game log
Legend Nationals win Nationals loss PostponementBoldNationals team member
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 5 || Phillies || 11 – 1 || Halladay (1-0) || Lannan (0-1) || || 41,290 || 0-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 7 || Phillies || 8 – 4 || Hamels (1-0) || Marquis (0-1) || Madson (1) || 27,240 || 0-2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 8 || Phillies || 6 – 5 || Clippard (1-0) || Figueroa (0-1) || Capps (1) || 20,217 || 1-2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 9 || @ Mets || 8 – 2 || Pelfrey (1-0) || Batista (0-1) || || 28,055 || 1-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || April 10 || @ Mets || 4 – 3 || Lannan (1-1) || Pérez (0-1) || Capps (2) || 33,044 || 2-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || April 11 || @ Mets || 5 – 2 || Hernández (1-0) || Santana (1-1) || Capps (3) || 33,672 || 3-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 12 || @ Phillies || 7 – 4 || Hamels (2-0) || Marquis (0-2) || Madson (2) || 44,791 || 3-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 14 || @ Phillies || 14 – 7 || Figueroa (1-1) || Bergmann (0-1) || || 45,438 || 3-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || April 15 || @ Phillies || 7 – 5 || Clippard (2-0) || Báez (0-1) || Capps (4) || 44,157 || 4-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || April 16 || Brewers || 5 – 3 || Bruney (1-0) || Hawkins (0-2) || Capps (5) || 17,234 || 5-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 11 || April 17 || Brewers || 8 – 0 || Hernández (2-0) || Wolf (1-1) || || 18,673 || 6-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 18 || Brewers || 11 – 7 || Vargas (1-0) || Marquis (0-3) || || 18,789 || 6-6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || April 19 || Rockies || 5 – 2 || Stammen (1-0) || Cook (0-2) || Capps (6) || 11,623 || 7-6 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 20 || Rockies || 10 – 4 || de la Rosa (2-1) || Olsen (0-1) || || 15,037 || 7-7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 15 || April 21 || Rockies || 6 – 4 || Clippard (3-0) || Betancourt (0-1) || Capps (7) || 11,191 || 8-7 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 22 || Rockies || 2 – 0 || Jiménez (4-0) || Hernández (2-1) || Morales (3) || 15,518 || 8-8 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || April 23 || Dodgers || 5 – 1 || Atilano (1-0) || Haeger (0-2) || || 23,859 || 9-8 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 24 || Dodgers || 4 – 3 (13) || Monasterios (1-0) || Batista (0-2) || || 18,039 || 9-9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 19 || April 25 || Dodgers || 1 – 0 || Olsen (1-1) || Billingsley (1-1) || Capps (8) || 18,395 || 10-9 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 26 || @ Cubs || 4 – 3 (10) || Mármol (1-0) || Bruney (1-1) || || 37,850 || 10-10 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 21 || April 27 || @ Cubs || 3 – 1 || Hernández (3-1) || Gorzelanny (0-3) || Capps (9) || 37,440 || 11-10 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || April 28 || @ Cubs || 3 – 2 || Atilano (2-0) || Dempster (2-1) || Capps (10) || 36,660 || 12-10 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || April 30 || @ Marlins || 7 – 1 || Olsen (2-1) || Nolasco (2-1) || || 20,856 || 13-10
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || May 1 || @ Marlins || 7 – 1 || Volstad (2-2) || Stammen (1-1) || || 34,886 || 13-11 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 2 || @ Marlins || 9 – 3 || Johnson (3-1) || Lannan (1-2) || || 13,169 || 13-12 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || May 4 || Braves || 6 – 3 || Hernández (4-1) || Kawakami (0-5) || Capps (11) || 17,098 || 14-12 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 5 || Braves || 7 – 6 (10) || Medlen (1-1) || Capps (0-1) || Wagner (3) || 15,616 || 14-13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 28 || May 6 || Braves || 3 – 2 || Clippard (4-0) || O'Flaherty (1-1) || || 17,131 || 15-13 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 7 || Marlins || 4 – 2 || Volstad (3-2) || Bruney (1-2) || Oviedo (5) || 20,161 || 15-14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 30 || May 8 || Marlins || 5 – 4 || Clippard (5-0) || Badenhop (0-4) || Capps (12) || 21,633 || 16-14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 31 || May 9 || Marlins || 3 – 2 || Clippard (6-0) || Hensley (1-1) || Capps (13) || 21,299 || 17-14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 32 || May 10 || @ Mets || 3 – 2 || Atilano (3-0) || Maine (1-2) || Batista (1) || 29,313 || 18-14 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 11 || @ Mets || 8 – 6 || Valdés (1-0) || Clippard (6-1) || Rodríguez (5) || 31,606 || 18-15 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || May 12 || @ Mets || 6 – 4 || Clippard (7-1) || Rodríguez (2-1) || Capps (14) || 33,024 || 19-15 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || May 13 || @ Rockies || 14 – 6 (8) || Slaten (1-0) || Chacín (2-1) || || 20,795 || 20-15 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || May 14 || @ Rockies || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for May 15 as part of a doubleheader |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 15 (1) || @ Rockies || 6 – 2 || Jiménez (7-1) || Hernández (4-2) || || 29,111 || 20-16 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 15 (2) || @ Rockies || 4 – 3 || Hammel (1-2) || Burnett (0-1) || Corpas (1) || 35,258 || 20-17 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 16 || @ Rockies || 2 – 1 || Bélisle (1-0) || Clippard (7-2) || Corpas (2) || 42,874 || 20-18 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 17 || @ Cardinals || 6 – 2 || Lohse (1-3) || Stammen (1-2) || || 38,005 || 20-19 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 18 || @ Cardinals || 3 – 2 || Carpenter (5-1) || Clippard (7-3) || Franklin (9) || 36,345 || 20-20 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 41 || May 19 || Mets || 5 – 3 || Storen (1-0) || Valdés (1-1) || Capps (15) || 19,384 || 21-20 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 20 || Mets || 10 – 7 || Valdés (2-1) || Atilano (3-1) || || 23,612 || 21-21 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 21 || Orioles || 5 – 3 || Hernández (1-5) || Olsen (2-2) || Simón (6) || 27,378 || 21-22 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || May 22 || Orioles || 7 – 6 || Walker (1-0) || Hendrickson (1-2) || Capps (16) || 30,290 || 22-22 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || May 23 || Orioles || 4 – 3 (10) || Slaten (2-0) || Meredith (0-2) || || 27,535 || 23-22 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 25 || @ Giants || 4 – 2 || Wellemeyer (3-4) || Hernández (4-3) || Wilson (11) || 27,981 || 23-23 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 26 || @ Giants || 7 – 3 || Atilano (4-1) || Lincecum (5-1) || || 30,230 || 24-23 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 27 || @ Giants || 5 – 4 || Casilla (1-0) || Burnett (0-2) || Wilson (12) || 28,251 || 24-24 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 49 || May 28 || @ Padres || 5 – 3 || Lannan (2-2) || Richard (4-3) || Capps (17) || 23,468 || 25-24 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 29 || @ Padres || 4 – 2 || Latos (5-3) || Martin (0-1) || Bell (14) || 25,956 || 25-25 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || May 30 || @ Padres || 3 – 2 (11) || Gregerson (1-1) || Burnett (0-3) || || 28,591 || 25-26 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 52 || May 31 || @ Astros || 14 – 4 || Atilano (5-1) || Oswalt (3-7) || || 34,704 || 26-26
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 1 || @ Astros || 8 – 7 || López (2-0) || Capps (0-2) || || 25,249 || 26-27 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 2 || @ Astros || 5 – 1 || Rodríguez (3-7) || Lannan (2-3) || || 26,736 || 26-28 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 3 || @ Astros || 6 – 4 || Lindstrom (2-1) || Capps (0-3) || || 21,814 || 26-29 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 56 || June 4 || Reds || 4 – 2 || Clippard (8-3) || del Rosario (1-1) || Capps (18) || 33,774 || 27-29 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"