What happened: James Wood crushed a 428-foot home run for the Washington Nationals on Saturday, his 23rd homer of the 2026 season. It was also his seventh leadoff home run of the year, extending one of the most productive power campaigns in the National League.
Why it matters: Wood has been the engine of a Washington lineup that entered the day 46-43 and riding a three-game winning streak. The blast adds another data point to his All-Star candidacy — the same James Wood who blasted his 18th home run in a sweep of the Giants in June — with fan voting still a talking point around the league.
By the numbers: Wood's homer traveled 428 feet and was his 23rd of the season, seven of them coming from the leadoff spot. Washington entered Saturday at 46-43, winners of three straight and scoring 5.4 runs per game, including a 9-5 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday.
What to watch: Watch whether Wood's July surge moves the needle in All-Star voting and whether Washington can stretch its winning streak through the holiday series.