# 2009 Washington Nationals season

The Washington Nationals' 2009 season was the fifth season for the American baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia, and the 41st since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It involved the Nationals attempting to win the National League East after a disappointing 59–102 season the year before.
On July 12, manager Manny Acta was fired and replaced with bench coach Jim Riggleman, though only as an interim manager. Under Acta, the Nationals compiled an MLB worst 26–61 record in 2009 through the All-Star break and a 158–252 record in Acta's three seasons with the Nationals. Riggleman would be named full-time manager in November 2009.
The Nationals finished the year with a 59–103 record, worse than the year before by one loss. For the second straight season, they finished with the worst record in Major League Baseball.
Nationals' third baseman Ryan Zimmerman won a Gold Glove Award as the best defensive third baseman in the National League and a Silver Slugger Award as the best offensive third baseman in the league. It would be the final season the Nationals lost a hundred games for 13 years.

## Offseason

On November 3, 2008, the Nationals traded minor-leaguer Ryan Buchter to the Chicago Cubs for minor-leaguer Matt Avery. On November 10, 2008, they traded Emilio Bonifacio and minor-leaguers Jake Smolinski and P. J. Dean to the Florida Marlins for Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham.

## Changed uniforms

For the 2009 season, the Nationals altered their uniforms. The interlocking "DC" was removed from the star-spangled circle and moved to the left sleeve of both the home and away uniforms. It also has removed from the alternate red jersey and replaced with the "curly W" from the team's cap. A new navy alternate jersey with the interlocked "DC" on the left chest in a "stars and stripes" flag pattern, which has also been emulated on the alternate navy cap, which was worn several times in 2009. Finally, in a tribute to the former baseball teams in the District of Columbia, a script writing of the city name replaced the block lettering, emulating the Senators' script of the 1950s and 1960s – though as those teams used "Senators" on both their home and away uniforms, this marks the first time the "curly W" has actually appeared as part of the word "Washington" on an MLB jersey.
The uniforms gained notoriety when on April 17 in a game against the Florida Marlins, the jerseys of Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn read "Natinals" on the front of the jersey instead of "Nationals" for the first three innings of the game. The Nationals did not catch the error as they only checked the back of the shirts, not the front, but were able to assign to Dunn and Zimmerman the correct jerseys later in the game. The company who manufactured the jerseys, Majestic Athletic, apologized for the error.

## Mascot

In March 2009, the Nationals introduced a new version of Screech, their bald eagle mascot who wears the home cap and jersey of the team. The original Screech who "hatched" at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 2005 during the third home game in Nationals history and had appeared at the team's home games during its first four seasons in Washington, was chubby, but the new Screech was slim. The Nationals explained that they had redesigned Screech because he had "grown up" and become a "teenager."

## Spring training

The Nationals held their 2009 spring training in Viera, Florida, with home games played at Space Coast Stadium.

## Regular season
### Season standings

vteNL East :
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 93 | 69 | .574 | — | 45‍–‍36 | 48‍–‍33 |
| Florida Marlins | 87 | 75 | .537 | 6 | 43‍–‍38 | 44‍–‍37 |
| Atlanta Braves | 86 | 76 | .531 | 7 | 40‍–‍41 | 46‍–‍35 |
| New York Mets | 70 | 92 | .432 | 23 | 41‍–‍40 | 29‍–‍52 |
| Washington Nationals | 59 | 103 | .364 | 34 | 33‍–‍48 | 26‍–‍55 |

### Record vs. opponents

2009 National League recordvte Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2009 :
| Team | AZ | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL | FLA | HOU | LAD | MIL | NYM | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | STL | WSH | AL |
| Arizona | – | 3–4 | 4-2 | 1–5 | 7-11 | 5–3 | 5–4 | 7-11 | 2–5 | 5–2 | 1–5 | 6–1 | 11-7 | 5-13 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 5–10 |
| Atlanta | 4–3 | – | 4–2 | 3–6 | 4–4 | 8-10 | 3-3 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 13–5 | 10-8 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 10-8 | 7–8 |
| Chicago | 2-4 | 2–4 | – | 10-5 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 11–6 | 3–5 | 10-7 | 3-3 | 1–5 | 10-4 | 4–5 | 4-2 | 6-10 | 5–2 | 6–9 |
| Cincinnati | 5-1 | 6-3 | 5-10 | – | 0-7 | 3-3 | 12-4 | 1-5 | 8-7 | 2-4 | 2-5 | 13-5 | 1-6 | 3-3 | 8-8 | 3-4 | 6-9 |
| Colorado | 11-7 | 4-4 | 4-2 | 7-0 | – | 2-4 | 2-5 | 4-14 | 6-0 | 3-4 | 2-4 | 6-3 | 10-8 | 8-10 | 6-1 | 6-0 | 11-4 |
| Florida | 3-5 | 10-8 | 3-4 | 3-3 | 4-2 | – | 4–3 | 3-3 | 3-4 | 11-7 | 9-9 | 2-4 | 4-2 | 3-4 | 3-3 | 12-6 | 10-8 |
| Houston | 4–5 | 3-3 | 6-11 | 4-12 | 5-2 | 3-4 | – | 4–3 | 5-10 | 1-5 | 6-2 | 10-5 | 6-1 | 2-4 | 6-9 | 3-3 | 6-9 |
| Los Angeles | 11-7 | 3-4 | 5-3 | 5-1 | 14-4 | 3-3 | 3-4 | – | 3–3 | 5-1 | 4-3 | 4-3 | 10-8 | 11-7 | 2-5 | 3-2 | 9-9 |
| Milwaukee | 5-2 | 3-3 | 7-10 | 7-8 | 0-6 | 4-3 | 10-5 | 3-3 | – | 3-3 | 4-3 | 9-5 | 2-4 | 4-5 | 9-9 | 5-3 | 5-10 |
| New York | 2-5 | 5-13 | 3-3 | 4-2 | 4-3 | 7-11 | 5-1 | 1-5 | 3-3 | – | 6-12 | 4-3 | 2-5 | 5-3 | 4-5 | 10-8 | 5–10 |
| Philadelphia | 5-1 | 8-10 | 5-1 | 5-2 | 4-2 | 9-9 | 2-6 | 3-4 | 3-4 | 12-6 | – | 4-2 | 5-2 | 3-4 | 4-1 | 15-3 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 1-6 | 4-3 | 4-10 | 5-13 | 3-6 | 4-2 | 5-10 | 3-4 | 5-9 | 3-4 | 2-4 | – | 3-4 | 2-4 | 5-10 | 5-3 | 8–7 |
| San Diego | 7-11 | 3-3 | 5-4 | 6-1 | 8-10 | 2-4 | 1-6 | 8-10 | 4-2 | 5-2 | 2-5 | 4-3 | – | 10-8 | 1-6 | 4-2 | 5–10 |
| San Francisco | 13-5 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 10-8 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 7-11 | 5-4 | 3–5 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 8-10 | – | 4–3 | 4–2 | 9–6 |
| St. Louis | 4-2 | 2-4 | 10-6 | 8-8 | 1-6 | 3-3 | 9-6 | 5-2 | 9-9 | 5-4 | 1-4 | 10-5 | 6-1 | 3-4 | – | 6–1 | 9–6 |
| Washington | 5-1 | 8-10 | 2-5 | 4-3 | 0-6 | 6-12 | 3-3 | 2-3 | 3-5 | 8-10 | 3-15 | 3-5 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 1-6 | – | 7–11 |
Nationals vs. American League :
| Team | AL East | AL East | AL East | AL East | AL East |
| Team | BAL | BOS | NYY | TBR | TOR |
| Washington | 2-4 | 1-2 | 2-1 | 0-3 | 1–2 |

### Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters :
| Name | Position |
| Lastings Milledge | Center fielder |
| Cristian Guzmán | Shortstop |
| Ryan Zimmerman | Third baseman |
| Adam Dunn | Left fielder |
| Nick Johnson | First baseman |
| Austin Kearns | Right fielder |
| Ronnie Belliard | Second baseman |
| Jesús Flores | Catcher |
| John Lannan | Starting pitcher |

### Notable transactions

* April 29, 2009: The Nationals traded minor-leaguer Kyle Gunderson to the Florida Marlins for Aaron Thompson.
* June 17, 2009: The Nationals sent Mike O'Connor to the San Diego Padres as part of a conditional deal.
* June 28, 2009: The Nationals traded Ryan Langerhans to the Seattle Mariners for Michael Morse.
* June 30, 2009: The Nationals traded Joel Hanrahan and Lastings Milledge to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Sean Burnett and Nyjer Morgan.
* July 31, 2009: The Nationals traded Joe Beimel to the Colorado Rockies for minor-leaguers Robinson Fabian and Ryan Mattheus and traded Nick Johnson to the Florida Marlins for Logan Kensing.
* August 6, 2009: The Nationals purchased minor-leaguers Norris Hopper and Daryle Ward from the Chicago White Sox and traded Anderson Hernández to the New York Mets for minor-leaguer Greg Veloz.
* August 31, 2009: The Nationals traded Ronnie Belliard to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor-leaguer Luis Garcia and a player to be named later. The Dodgers sent minor-leaguer Víctor Gárate to the Nationals on September 2, 2009, to complete the trade.
* September 18, 2009: The Nationals purchased Jamie Burke from the Seattle Mariners.

### Draft

The 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft took place from June 9 to June 11. With their first pick – the first pick overall – the Nationals selected pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Other notable players the Nationals selected were pitcher Drew Storen (10th overall, a first-round supplemental pick they received for failing to sign Aaron Crow in 2008), second baseman Jeff Kobernus (second round, 50th overall), shortstop Michael A. Taylor (sixth round, 172nd overall), pitcher Taylor Jordan (ninth round, 262nd overall), pitcher Nate Karns (12th round, 352nd overall), and pitcher Marcus Stroman (18th round, 532nd overall). Stroman opted not to sign with the team.

### Attendance

Finishing with the worst record in Major League Baseball for the second consecutive year, the Nationals drew only 1,817,226 fans at Nationals Park in 2009, placing them 13th in attendance among the 16 National League teams for the second year in a row. It was the lowest attendance total in their short history in Washington. 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 22,716 per game, their lowest since arriving in Washington in 2005, but slightly higher than their average the following season.

### Game log

Legend :
| | Nationals win |
| | Nationals loss |
| | Postponement |
| Bold | Nationals team member |
2009 game log :
April (5–16)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
1April 6@ Marlins12 – 6Nolasco (1-0)Lannan (0-1)34,3230-1
2April 7@ Marlins8 – 3Johnson (1-0)Olsen (0-1)11,1240-2
3April 8@ Marlins6 – 4Volstad (1-0)Cabrera (0-1)Lindstrom (1)13,3080-3
4April 10@ Braves6 – 5 (10)Campillo (1-0)Beimel (0-1)48,3270-4
5April 11@ Braves5 – 3Kawakami (1-0)Lannan (0-2)González (1)34,3250-5
6April 12@ Braves8 – 5Jurrjens (2-0)Olsen (0-2)Soriano (1)19,8730-6
7April 13Phillies9 – 8Moyer (1-1)Rivera (0-1)Lidge (3)40,3860-7
–April 15PhilliesPostponed (rain) Rescheduled for May 16 as part of a doubleheader
8April 16Phillies8 – 2Martis (1-0)Blanton (0-1)20,4941-7
9April 17Marlins3 – 2 (10)Oviedo (1-0)Rivera (0-2)Lindstrom (2)19,0261-8
10April 18Marlins9 – 6 (11)Calero (1-0)Tavárez (0-1)19,8601-9
11April 19Marlins7 – 4Oviedo (2-0)Rivera (0-3)Lindstrom (3)16,9741-10
12April 20Braves3 – 2Zimmermann (1-0)Lowe (1-1)Hanrahan (1)12,4642-10
13April 21Braves4 – 3Martis (2-0)Kawakami (1-2)Hanrahan (2)15,4313-10
14April 22Braves1 – 0González (1-0)Mock (0-1)Soriano (2)15,5673-11
15April 24@ Mets4 – 3Santana (3-1)Olsen (0-3)Rodríguez (4)40,5223-12
16April 25@ Mets8 – 2Pelfrey (2-0)Cabrera (0-2)39,9603-13
17April 26@ Mets8 – 1Zimmermann (2-0)Pérez (1-2)40,0234-13
18April 27@ Phillies13 – 11Happ (1-0)Hanrahan (0-1)Madson (1)41,6204-14
19April 28@ Phillies7 – 1Durbin (1-0)Lannan (0-3)43,9304-15
20April 29@ Phillies4 – 1Olsen (1-3)Myers (1-2)Tavárez (1)36,3515-15
21April 30Cardinals9 – 4Pérez (1-1)Tavárez (0-2)18,0075-16 :
May (9–20)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
22May 1Cardinals6 – 2Wellemeyer (2-2)Zimmermann (2-1)20,7125-17
23May 2Cardinals6 – 1Martis (3-0)Piñeiro (4-1)19,9506-17
–May 3CardinalsPostponed (rain) Rescheduled for July 23
24May 4Astros9 – 4Lannan (1-3)Wright (1-1)14,1157-17
25May 5*Astros11 – 10 (11)Hanrahan (1-1)Hawkins (0-1)19,3288-17
26May 6@ Dodgers10 – 3Kershaw (1-2)Cabrera (0-3)31,3488-18
27May 7@ Dodgers11 – 9Villone (1-0)Wade (0-2)37,0749-18
28May 8@ Diamondbacks5 – 4Martis (4-0)Petit (0-3)Wells (1)28,66010-18
29May 9@ Diamondbacks2 – 1Lannan (2-3)Davis (2-5)Hanrahan (3)27,24711-18
30May 10@ Diamondbacks10 – 8Vásquez (1-1)Kensing (0-2)Qualls (8)25,07911-19
31May 11@ Giants11 – 7Johnson (3-3)Cabrera (0-4)Wilson (8)23,93411-20
32May 12@ Giants9 – 7Medders (2-1)Beimel (0-2)25,70111-21
33May 13@ Giants6 – 3Martis (5-0)Zito (1-3)Wells (2)30,12012-21
34May 15Phillies10 – 6 (12)Happ (2-0)Wells (0-1)23,43012-22
35May 16 (1)Phillies8 – 5Myers (3-2)Olsen (1-4)Lidge (6)19,91012-23
36May 16 (2)Phillies7 – 5 (6)Carpenter (1-0)Cabrera (0-5)Condrey (1)23,89612-24
37May 17Phillies8 – 6Escalona (1-0)Tavárez (0-3)Lidge (7)29,57712-25
38May 18Pirates12 – 7Ohlendorf (5-3)Mock (0-2)14,54912-26
39May 19Pirates8 – 5 (10)Gorzelanny (1-0)Beimel (0-3)18,57912-27
40May 20Pirates2 – 1Grabow (2-0)Hanrahan (1-2)Capps (8)17,85412-28
41May 21Pirates5 – 4Tavárez (1-3)Gorzelanny (1-1)Hanrahan (4)17,81613-28
42May 22Orioles4 – 2 (12)Báez (3-1)Wells (0-2)Sherrill (8)22,55613-29
43May 23Orioles2 – 1Bass (3-1)Tavárez (1-4)Sherrill (9)31,83313-30
44May 24Orioles8 – 5Villone (2-0)Ray (0-1)Hanrahan (5)30,88014-30
45May 25@ Mets5 – 2Maine (4-3)Lannan (2-4)Rodríguez (13)41,10314-31
46May 26@ Mets6 – 1Hernández (4-1)Stammen (0-1)39,37614-32
47May 27@ Mets7 – 4Santana (7-2)Zimmermann (2-2)40,17114-33
48May 29@ Phillies5 – 4Happ (3-0)Detwiler (0-1)Lidge (10)45,20214-34
49May 30@ Phillies9 – 6Hamels (3-2)Martis (5-1)Lidge (11)45,12114-35
50May 31@ Phillies4 – 2Moyer (4-5)Lannan (2-5)Lidge (12)45,23914-36
*Game suspended by rain at 10–10 in the bottom of the 11th inning, completed on July 9 at Minute Maid Park. :
June (9–17)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
51June 2Giants10 – 6Villone (3-0)Howry (0-3)17,33115-36
–June 3GiantsPostponed (rain) Rescheduled for June 4 as part of a doubleheader
52June 4 (1)Giants5 – 1Johnson (5-4)Zimmermann (2-3)Wilson (13)16,78715-37
53June 4 (2)Giants4 – 1 (6)Cain (7-1)Detwiler (0-2)15-38
54June 5Mets3 – 1 (10)Green (1-2)Hanrahan (1-3)Rodríguez (15)20,35315-39
55June 6Mets7 – 1Lannan (3-5)Maine (5-4)31,45616-39
56June 7Mets7 – 0Hernández (5-1)Stammen (0-2)31,84116-40
57June 9Reds3 – 2Cueto (6-3)Detwiler (0-3)Cordero (15)16,27416-41
58June 10Reds4 – 2 (12)Masset (4-0)Villone (3-1)Weathers (1)19,76616-42
59June 11Reds3 – 2Tavárez (2-4)Herrera (0-2)Beimel (1)19,70317-42
60June 12@ Rays4 – 3Howell (2-2)Villone (3-2)18,27317-43
61June 13@ Rays8 – 3Sonnanstine (5-6)Bergmann (0-1)30,58617-44
62June 14@ Rays5 – 4Wheeler (2-1)Villone (3-3)Howell (3)25,84117-45
63June 16@ Yankees5 – 3Sabathia (6-4)Villone (3-4)Rivera (15)44,87317-46
64June 17@ Yankees3 – 2Lannan (4-5)Wang (0-5)MacDougal (1)46,05218-46
65June 18@ Yankees3 – 0Stammen (1-2)Chamberlain (3-2)MacDougal (2)45,14319-46
66June 19Blue Jays2 – 1 (11)Colomé (1-0)Frasor (5-1)20,86020-46
67June 20Blue Jays5 – 3 (12)Tavárez (3-4)Richmond (5-4)22,14221-46
68June 21Blue Jays9 – 4Romero (4-3)Martis (5-2)26,61021-47
69June 23Red Sox11 – 3Delcarmen (2-1)Tavárez (3-5)41,51721-48
70June 24Red Sox6 – 4Lester (6-6)Stammen (1-3)Papelbon (17)41,53021-49
71June 25Red Sox9 – 3Zimmermann (3-3)Smoltz (0-1)41,98522-49
72June 26@ Orioles11 – 1Bergesen (5-2)Detwiler (0-4)45,02422-50
73June 27@ Orioles6 – 3Guthrie (6-7)Martis (5-3)Sherrill (16)39,63322-51
74June 28@ Orioles5 – 3Lannan (5-5)Hernández (1-2)MacDougal (3)25,06823-51
75June 29@ Marlins4 – 2Nolasco (5-6)Villone (3-5)Oviedo (3)10,62323-52
76June 30@ Marlins7 – 5 (7)Pinto (3-1)Beimel (0-4)11,82123-53 :
July (9–18)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
77July 1@ Marlins5 – 3Meyer (2-0)Tavárez (3-6)Oviedo (4)27,03223-54
78July 3Braves9 – 8Logan (1-0)Colomé (1-1)Soriano (8)33,98223-55
79July 4Braves5 – 3Lannan (6-5)González (3-1)MacDougal (4)23,70824-55
80July 5Braves5 – 3Olsen (2-4)Lowe (7-7)MacDougal (5)22,67725-55
81July 6@ Rockies1 – 0Marquis (11-5)Stammen (1-4)Street (20)25,20525-56
82July 7@ Rockies5 – 4Embree (2-2)Tavárez (3-7)Street (21)25,31425-57
83July 8@ Rockies10 – 4de la Rosa (6-7)Detwiler (0-5)23,09825-58
84July 9@ Astros9 – 4Arias (2-0)Lannan (6-6)25,49025-59
85July 10@ Astros6 – 5Fulchino (3-3)Beimel (0-5)33,08525-60
86July 11@ Astros13 – 2Stammen (2-4)Hampton (5-6)30,05226-60
87July 12@ Astros5 – 0Moehler (6-5)Zimmermann (3-4)Valverde (8)28,68026-61
All–Star Break (July 13–15)
88July 16Cubs6 – 2Harden (6-6)Lannan (6-7)26,98026-62
89July 17Cubs3 – 1Zambrano (6-4)Stammen (2-5)Gregg (17)27,58126-63
90July 18Cubs6 – 5Wells (5-4)Zimmermann (3-5)Gregg (18)36,01426-64
91July 19Cubs11 – 3Hart (1-1)Mock (0-3)34,57426-65
92July 20Mets6 – 2Hernández (6-5)Martin (0-1)19,16926-66
93July 21Mets4 – 0Lannan (7-7)Pérez (2-3)23,39027-66
94July 22Mets3 – 1Stammen (3-5)Pelfrey (7-6)MacDougal (6)23,58328-66
95July 23Cardinals4 – 1 (7)Wainwright (11-6)Balester (0-1)25,35928-67
96July 24Padres6 – 2Latos (1-1)Mock (0-4)23,50628-68
97July 25Padres13 – 1Clippard (1-0)Stauffer (0-2)21,83429-68
98July 26Padres3 – 2 (10)Beimel (1-5)Burke (2-3)20,74730-68
99July 27@ Brewers14 – 6Bergmann (1-1)Suppan (5-8)37,31131-68
100July 28@ Brewers8 – 3Balester (1-1)Villanueva (2-8)36,50232-68
101July 29@ Brewers7 – 5Parra (5-8)Clippard (1-1)Hoffman (23)32,99232-69
102July 30@ Brewers7 – 3Gallardo (10-7)Martin (0-2)39,89032-70
103July 31@ Pirates5 – 4Ohlendorf (9-8)Lannan (7-8)Capps (21)23,36332-71 :
August (14–15)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
104August 1@ Pirates11 – 6Vásquez (2-5)Stammen (3-6)26,85532-72
105August 2@ Pirates5 – 3Burnett (2-2)Maholm (6-6)MacDougal (7)21,89433-72
106August 3@ Pirates8 – 4Clippard (2-1)Morton (2-4)MacDougal (8)11,63034-72
107August 4Marlins6 – 4Villone (4-5)Calero (2-1)MacDougal (9)19,82835-72
108August 5Marlins5 – 4Lannan (8-8)van den Hurk (1-1)MacDougal (10)18,31236-72
109August 6Marlins12 – 8Sosa (1-0)Ayala (1-4)23,69137-72
110August 7Diamondbacks7 – 6Bergmann (2-1)Gutiérrez (3-3)MacDougal (11)22,67438-72
111August 8Diamondbacks5 – 2Mock (1-4)Haren (11-7)Sosa (1)24,55139-72
112August 9Diamondbacks9 – 2Martin (1-2)Petit (2-6)Sosa (2)19,93840-72
113August 11@ Braves8 – 1Hanson (7-2)Lannan (8-9)19,27340-73
114August 12@ Braves6 – 2Lowe (12-7)Sosa (1-1)17,88640-74
115August 13@ Reds7 – 0Arroyo (11-11)Balester (1-2)16,88940-75
116August 14@ Reds2 – 0Mock (2-4)Harang (6-14)MacDougal (12)19,60641-75
117August 15@ Reds10 – 6Martin (2-2)Cueto (8-10)30,49442-75
118August 16@ Reds5 – 4Sosa (2-1)Rhodes (0-1)MacDougal (13)18,03043-75
119August 18Rockies4 – 3Jiménez (11-9)Burnett (2-3)Street (30)18,19243-76
120August 19Rockies5 – 4Marquis (14-8)Balester (1-3)Street (31)16,18743-77
121August 20Rockies4 – 1Hammel (8-7)Mock (2-5)Street (32)18,03643-78
122August 21Brewers7 – 3Looper (11-6)Martin (2-3)26,30743-79
123August 22Brewers11 – 9Narveson (1-0)Bergmann (2-2)Hoffman (27)19,37443-80
124August 23Brewers8 – 3Stammen (4-6)Parra (8-10)21,46044-80
125August 24Brewers7 – 1Gallardo (12-10)Balester (1-4)17,80544-81
126August 25@ Cubs15 – 6Mock (3-5)Zambrano (7-5)37,29745-81
127August 26@ Cubs9 – 4Guzmán (3-3)Bergmann (2-3)36,56245-82
128August 27@ Cubs5 – 4Martin (3-3)Wells (9-7)MacDougal (14)35,17446-82
129August 28@ Cardinals3 – 2Motte (4-4)Bergmann (2-4)40,03346-83
130August 29@ Cardinals9 – 4Boggs (2-2)Stammen (4-7)44,02846-84
131August 30@ Cardinals2 – 1Wainwright (16-7)Mock (3-6)Franklin (35)41,08346-85
132August 31@ Padres3 – 1Stauffer (3-6)Hernández (7-9)Bell (32)19,86746-86 :
September (9–17)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
133September 1@ Padres4 – 1Richard (8-4)Martin (3-4)Bell (33)15,13146-87
134September 2@ Padres7 – 0Correia (10-10)Lannan (8-10)14,46846-88
135September 4Marlins9 – 6Badenhop (6-4)Mock (3-7)Oviedo (18)16,36446-89
136September 5Marlins9 – 5Johnson (14-4)Hernández (7-10)18,11146-90
137September 6Marlins5 – 4MacDougal (1-0)Oviedo (4-5)22,32547-90
138September 8Phillies5 – 3Martínez (4-0)Lannan (8-11)Madson (5)17,15347-91
139September 9Phillies6 – 5Lee (13-11)Clippard (2-2)Madson (6)16,81847-92
140September 10Phillies8 – 7Hernández (8-10)Blanton (9-7)Villone (1)18,70648-92
141September 11@ Marlins5 – 3Martin (4-4)Sanches (4-2)MacDougal (15)15,24749-92
142September 12@ Marlins11 – 3Wood (1-0)Estrada (0-1)38,21449-93
143September 13@ Marlins7 – 2Lannan (9-11)Volstad (9-12)15,06550-93
144September 15@ Phillies5 – 0Lee (14-11)Mock (3-8)44,52150-94
145September 16@ Phillies6 – 1Blanton (10-7)Hernández (8-11)44,22350-95
146September 17@ Phillies4 – 2Hamels (10-9)Detwiler (0-6)Lidge (30)45,21050-96
147September 18@ Mets6 – 5Martin (5-4)Pelfrey (10-11)MacDougal (16)38,06351-96
148September 19@ Mets3 – 2Redding (3-6)Lannan (9-12)Rodríguez (32)37,90651-97
149September 20@ Mets6 – 2Maine (6-5)Mock (3-9)Rodríguez (33)38,34751-98
150September 22Dodgers14 – 2Kuroda (8-6)Hernández (8-12)18,51851-99
151September 23Dodgers5 – 4Rivera (1-3)McDonald (5-5)18,63552-99
152September 24Dodgers7 – 6Troncoso (5-4)Villone (4-6)Broxton (36)22,43252-100
153September 25Braves4 – 1Vázquez (15-9)Lannan (9-13)28,27652-101
154September 26Braves11 – 5Hanson (11-4)Mock (3-10)29,05852-102
155September 27Braves6 – 3 (10)González (5-4)MacDougal (1-1)Soriano (27)27,84052-103
156September 28Mets2 – 1Detwiler (1-6)Figueroa (2-8)MacDougal (17)18,60053-103
157September 29Mets4 – 3Clippard (3-2)Green (1-4)MacDougal (18)19,61454-103
158September 30Mets7 – 4Villone (5-6)Rodríguez (3-6)23,94455-103 :
October (4–0)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
159October 1@ Braves2 – 1Clippard (4-2)Soriano (1-6)MacDougal (19)38,23756-103
160October 2@ Braves6 – 3Hernández (9-12)Lowe (15-10)MacDougal (20)33,12457-103
161October 3@ Braves6 – 4 (11)Segovia (1-0)Acosta (1-1)Kensing (1)28,27858-103
162October 4@ Braves2 – 1 (15)Kensing (1-2)Logan (1-1)36,30759-103 :

## Player stats
### Batting

Table is sortable.
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases
| Pos | Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | AVG | SB |
| P | Collin Balester | 7 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .125 | 0 |
| C | Josh Bard | 90 | 274 | 20 | 63 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 31 | .230 | 0 |
| P | Joe Beimel | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2B | Ronnie Belliard | 86 | 187 | 26 | 46 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 22 | .246 | 2 |
| P | Jason Bergmann | 55 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| OF | Roger Bernadina | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | 0 |
| C | Jamie Burke | 6 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .100 | 0 |
| P | Sean Burnett | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| P | Daniel Cabrera | 9 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| MI | Alex Cintrón | 21 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .077 | 0 |
| P | Tyler Clippard | 41 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| P | Jesús Colomé | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| SS | Ian Desmond | 21 | 82 | 9 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 12 | .280 | 1 |
| P | Ross Detwiler | 13 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .053 | 0 |
| RF | Elijah Dukes | 107 | 364 | 38 | 91 | 20 | 4 | 8 | 58 | .250 | 3 |
| UT | Adam Dunn | 159 | 546 | 81 | 146 | 29 | 0 | 38 | 105 | .267 | 0 |
| P | Marco Estrada | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| C | Jesús Flores | 29 | 93 | 13 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 15 | .301 | 0 |
| P | Víctor Gárate | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| MI | Alberto González | 105 | 291 | 31 | 77 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 33 | .265 | 1 |
| SS | Cristian Guzmán | 135 | 531 | 74 | 151 | 24 | 7 | 6 | 52 | .284 | 4 |
| P | Joel Hanrahan | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| CF | Willie Harris | 137 | 323 | 47 | 76 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 27 | .235 | 11 |
| 2B | Anderson Hernández | 77 | 231 | 25 | 58 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 23 | .251 | 5 |
| P | Liván Hernández | 8 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .214 | 0 |
| P | Mike Hinckley | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| 1B | Nick Johnson | 98 | 353 | 47 | 104 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 44 | .295 | 2 |
| RF | Austin Kearns | 80 | 174 | 20 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 17 | .195 | 1 |
| P | Logan Kensing | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| P | John Lannan | 31 | 58 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .155 | 0 |
| P | Wil Ledezma | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| P | Mike MacDougal | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| P | J.D. Martin | 16 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .160 | 0 |
| P | Shairon Martis | 13 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .208 | 0 |
| CF | Justin Maxwell | 40 | 89 | 13 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 9 | .247 | 6 |
| CF | Lastings Milledge | 7 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .167 | 1 |
| P | Garrett Mock | 28 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .087 | 0 |
| CF | Nyjer Morgan | 49 | 191 | 35 | 67 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 12 | .351 | 24 |
| UT | Michael Morse | 32 | 52 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | .250 | 0 |
| C | Wil Nieves | 72 | 224 | 20 | 58 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 26 | .259 | 1 |
| P | Scott Olsen | 11 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .133 | 0 |
| 2B | Pete Orr | 27 | 75 | 5 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | .253 | 2 |
| OF | Jorge Padilla | 29 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .120 | 0 |
| OF | Corey Patterson | 5 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .133 | 2 |
| P | Saúl Rivera | 30 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | 0 |
| P | Zach Segovia | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| P | Steven Shell | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| P | Jorge Sosa | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| P | Craig Stammen | 18 | 31 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .194 | 0 |
| P | Julián Tavárez | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| P | Ron Villone | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| P | Kip Wells | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| LF | Josh Willingham | 133 | 427 | 70 | 111 | 29 | 0 | 24 | 61 | .260 | 4 |
| P | Jordan Zimmermann | 15 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .148 | 0 |
| 3B | Ryan Zimmerman | 157 | 610 | 110 | 178 | 37 | 3 | 33 | 106 | .292 | 2 |
| | Team Totals | 162 | 5493 | 710 | 1416 | 271 | 38 | 156 | 685 | .258 | 73 |

### Pitching

Table is sortable.
Note: Pos = Position; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
| Pos | Player | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| | Collin Balester | 1 | 4 | 6.82 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 30.1 | 34 | 24 | 23 | 14 | 20 |
| RP | Joe Beimel | 1 | 5 | 3.40 | 45 | 0 | 1 | 39.2 | 38 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 24 |
| RP | Jason Bergmann | 2 | 4 | 4.50 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 48.0 | 50 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 40 |
| | Sean Burnett | 1 | 1 | 3.20 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 25.1 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 20 |
| | Daniel Cabrera | 0 | 5 | 5.85 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 40.0 | 48 | 39 | 26 | 35 | 16 |
| | Tyler Clippard | 4 | 2 | 2.69 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 60.1 | 36 | 20 | 18 | 32 | 67 |
| | Jesús Colomé | 1 | 1 | 8.40 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 15.0 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 12 |
| | Ross Detwiler | 1 | 6 | 5.00 | 15 | 14 | 0 | 75.2 | 87 | 43 | 42 | 33 | 43 |
| | Marco Estrada | 0 | 1 | 6.14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7.1 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| | Víctor Gárate | 0 | 0 | 22.50 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| | Joel Hanrahan | 1 | 3 | 7.71 | 34 | 0 | 5 | 32.2 | 50 | 28 | 28 | 14 | 35 |
| | Liván Hernández | 2 | 4 | 5.36 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 48.2 | 56 | 29 | 29 | 16 | 27 |
| | Mike Hinckley | 0 | 0 | 4.66 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 9.2 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 3 |
| | Logan Kensing | 1 | 1 | 8.68 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 28.0 | 40 | 27 | 27 | 12 | 12 |
| SP | John Lannan | 9 | 13 | 3.88 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 206.0 | 210 | 100 | 89 | 68 | 89 |
| | Wilfredo Ledezma | 0 | 0 | 9.53 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5.2 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
| SP | J.D. Martin | 5 | 4 | 4.44 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 77.0 | 85 | 40 | 38 | 24 | 37 |
| SP | Shairon Martis | 5 | 3 | 5.25 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 85.2 | 83 | 52 | 50 | 39 | 34 |
| CL | Mike MacDougal | 1 | 1 | 3.60 | 52 | 0 | 20 | 50.0 | 45 | 25 | 20 | 31 | 31 |
| SP | Garrett Mock | 3 | 10 | 5.62 | 28 | 15 | 0 | 91.1 | 114 | 65 | 57 | 44 | 72 |
| | Scott Olsen | 2 | 4 | 6.03 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 62.2 | 83 | 45 | 42 | 25 | 42 |
| | Saúl Rivera | 1 | 3 | 6.10 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 38.1 | 48 | 28 | 26 | 14 | 21 |
| | Zach Segovia | 1 | 0 | 7.84 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 10.1 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 4 |
| | Steven Shell | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5.0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| | Jorge Sosa | 2 | 1 | 6.45 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 22.1 | 28 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 17 |
| SP | Craig Stammen | 4 | 7 | 5.11 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 105.2 | 112 | 67 | 60 | 24 | 48 |
| RP | Julián Tavárez | 3 | 7 | 4.89 | 42 | 0 | 1 | 35.0 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 27 | 32 |
| RP | Ron Villone | 5 | 6 | 4.25 | 63 | 0 | 1 | 48.2 | 54 | 25 | 23 | 29 | 33 |
| | Kip Wells | 0 | 2 | 6.49 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 26.1 | 23 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
| SP | Jordan Zimmermann | 3 | 5 | 4.63 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 91.1 | 95 | 51 | 47 | 29 | 92 |
| | Team Totals | 59 | 103 | 5.00 | 162 | 162 | 33 | 1424.1 | 1533 | 874 | 791 | 629 | 911 |

### Team leaders

Qualifying players only.

#### Batting

| Stat | Player | Total |
| Avg. | Ryan Zimmerman | .292 |
| HR | Adam Dunn | 38 |
| RBI | Ryan Zimmerman | 106 |
| R | Ryan Zimmerman | 110 |
| H | Ryan Zimmerman | 178 |
| SB | Nyjer Morgan | 24 |

#### Pitching

| Stat | Player | Total |
| W | John Lannan | 9 |
| L | John Lannan | 13 |
| ERA | John Lannan | 3.88 |
| SO | Jordan Zimmermann | 92 |
| SV | Mike MacDougal | 20 |
| IP | John Lannan | 206.1 |

## Awards and honors
### All-Stars

* Ryan Zimmerman, 3B

### Annual awards

* Gold Glove: Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
* Silver Slugger: Ryan Zimmerman, 3B

## Minor league system

The future for the Nationals seemed to show promise in 2009 with their Gulf Coast League affiliate qualifying for the playoffs. The significance of this to the 2009 Major League team was that it demonstrated that the team was attempting to improve on its performance and had the prospects to do so.
| Class | Team | League | Manager | Record | Finish |
| AAA | Syracuse Chiefs | International League | Tim Foli | 76–68 .528 | 2nd North Division |
| AA | Harrisburg Senators | Eastern League | John Stearns | 70–72 .493 | 5th Southern Division |
| High A | Potomac Nationals | Carolina League | Trent Jewett | 79–58 .577 | 2nd Northern Division |
| Low A | Hagerstown Suns | South Atlantic League | Matthew LeCroy | 56–78 .418 | 8th Northern Division |
| Short Season A | Vermont Lake Monsters | New York–Penn League | Jeff Garber | 34–41 .453 | 3rd Stedler Division |
| Rookie | Gulf Coast League Nationals | Gulf Coast League | Bob Henley | 36–19 .655 | 2nd East Division, Won Wild Card, Lost GCL Finals 2–0 to Gulf Coast League Marlins |
| Rookie | DSL Nationals | Dominican Summer League | Juan Benhardt | 29–42 .408 | 10th Boca Chica Division |