The Washington Nationals concluded their series in St. Louis with a 5-3 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday, despite a strong individual performance from CJ Abrams. The defeat marked the Nationals' 42nd blown save of the season and prevented them from sweeping the series. However, the team secured a series victory by winning the first two games on Friday and Saturday.

Abrams, who has battled minor injuries and adapted to a new position in the second half of the season, delivered one of his most notable performances in recent months. The 2026 All-Star made significant contributions offensively and defensively, including two impressive diving stops at second base. His play demonstrated the level of skill that earned him a starting spot in the All-Star Game earlier this year.

Washington manager Blake Butera expressed mixed feelings following the series. While acknowledging the positive aspect of taking two out of three games, he emphasized the team’s expectations for a clean sweep. “I thought we should have won all three games,” Butera said. “You leave winning two, and you should feel good about it, but it doesn’t feel that way.”

The Nationals now prepare to continue their season on the road in Detroit. As they enter the final stretches of 2026, maintaining consistent contributions from players like Abrams will be crucial for the team’s efforts to improve their overall performance.