What happened: The Washington Nationals announced that Artemis II astronauts will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park on July 4. The team is pairing its Independence Day home date with a joint appearance alongside NASA. The moment is set to open the holiday matchup in the nation's capital.

Why it matters: The tie-in links a marquee national holiday to NASA's return-to-the-Moon program, giving the Nationals a high-profile ceremonial draw for a July 4 crowd. Hosting the Artemis II crew places one of the country's most watched space missions in front of a full ballpark on a symbolic date.

What to watch: Watch for the crew introductions and pregame ceremony ahead of first pitch on July 4 at Nationals Park.