Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Juan Soto will look to lead the Nationals back from a dismal 2021 campaign.
The Washington Nationals will be looking to return to relevancy in the National League East in 2022 following a last-place finish in the division last season.
In 2022, most Nationals games will be locally televised on MASN, while others may be nationally televised on MLB Network (those ones will also be on MASN), ESPN, ESPN2, Fox or Fox Sports 1.
If you don’t have cable, here are some different ways you can watch every Nationals game live online in 2022, including options for both in-market and out-of-market viewers:
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If You’re in the Nationals Market
DirecTV Stream
This is the only streaming service that has MASN
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” ESPN, ESPN2, Fox and FS1 are included in every one, while MASN and MLB Network are in “Choice” and up, but you can pick any package and any add-ons you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch Nationals games live on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
If you can’t watch live, DirecTV Stream comes with unlimited cloud DVR recordings.
If You’re Out of the Nationals Market
Amazon Prime’s MLB.TV Channel
Amazon Prime subscribers (Prime comes with a 30-day free trial) can watch every out-of-market, non-nationally televised MLB game via Prime Channels.
The MLB.TV channel costs either $24.99 per month to watch every out-of-market game (“All Team Pass”) or $109.99 for the year to just watch out-of-market Nationals games (“Single Team Pass”), but either option comes with a free seven-day trial:
MLB.TV Amazon Prime Free Trial
Once you’re signed up for the Prime MLB.TV Channel, out-of-market viewers can watch Nationals games live on the Prime Video app on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, various smart TV’s, Xiaomi, Echo Show or Echo Spot, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. You can also watch on your computer via the Amazon website.
If you can’t watch live, all games are available on-demand by the next day.
MLB.TV
This is ultimately the same as the Amazon Prime option above, only you’ll watch games on MLB’s digital platforms instead of Amazon’s.
You can watch all out-of-market, non-nationally televised MLB games via MLB.TV. It costs $24.99 per month or $129.99 for the year to watch every out-of-market game, or $109.99 for the year to just watch out-of-market Reds games. The monthly and yearly all-team options include a free seven-day trial (the single-team option does not):
Once signed up for MLB.TV, out-of-market viewers can watch Nationals games live on the MLB TV app on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, various Smart TV’s, Samsung Smart TV, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. You can also watch on your computer via the MLB.TV website.
If you can’t watch live, all games are available on-demand by the next day.
ESPN+
This isn’t going to be an option to watch many Nationals games, but if you’re looking for a cheap way to watch a random MLB game daily, ESPN+ includes at least one out-of-market game every day during the regular season:
In addition to one live MLB game every day, ESPN+ also has dozens of other live sports, every 30-for-30 documentary and additional original content (both video and written) all for $6.99 per month.
Or, if you also want Disney+ and Hulu, you can get all three for $13.99 per month. Separately, the three streaming services would cost a total $20.97 per month, so you’re saving about 33 percent:
Get the ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu Bundle
Once signed up for ESPN+, out-of-market viewers can watch select MLB games live on the ESPN app on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 or 5, Xbox One or Series X/S, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Samsung Smart TV, Oculus Go, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch on your computer via ESPN.com.
Nationals Season Preview 2022
Just three years removed from winning the World Series, the Washington Nationals will be looking to rebound from a 97-loss, last-place finish they had last season in the National League East when they take the field in 2022.
The Nationals’ front office parted ways with two of the franchise’s cornerstones last summer when they traded Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers in a blockbuster trade deadline deal. They would go on to also let go of a slew of veteran players, including Kyle Schwarber, Jon Lester, Yan Gomes, Josh Harrison, Brad Hand, and Daniel Hudson.
The centerpiece of what remains is one of the game’s budding stars – right fielder Juan Soto. The 23-year-old was a first-time All-Star last season and finished the year with 29 home runs, 95 RBIs, 157 hits, and 145 walks.
“For me, one, he’s a student of the game, he understands the game, as we all know, especially the hitting portion,” Nationals manager Davey Martinez said about his superstar outfielder. “He’s still learning, and he wants to get better at certain aspects of the game, what he’s really good at it is taking everything, and when he’s a leader, he leads on the field by example.”
The Nationals added a few bats in the offseason, which should support Soto in the lineup, including seven-time All-Star Nelson Cruz, and infielders César Hernández and Maikel Franco.
Two-time All-Star Patrick Corbin will start the season as the team’s ace and will look to have a bounce-back season after getting roughed up last year to the tune of a 9-16 record with a 5.82 ERA. Stephen Strasburg and Joe Ross will join Corbin in the rotation when they return from injury.
Here’s a look at what the Nationals will bring to the table this season, as they attempt to make their way back up the ladder in the NL East:
2021 Recap
- Finished 65-97, Last place in NL East (23.5 games behind the division champion Braves)
- Traded marquee players Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers at the trade deadline
Offseason Summary
- Key Additions: Nelson Cruz (DH), César Hernández (2B), Maikel Franco (3B)
Projected Lineup
1. César Hernández – 2B
- 2021: .232 AVG, 21 HRs, 62 RBIs
- Played for the Indians and White Sox last season
- Gold Glove Award winner (2020)
2. Alcides Escobar – SS
- 2021: .288 AVG, 4 HRs, 28 RBIs, 92 hits in 75 games
- All-Star (2015)
- ALCS MVP (2015)
- Gold Glove Award winner (2015)
3. Juan Soto – RF
- 2021: .313 AVG, 29 HRs, 95 RBIs, 157 hits, 145 walks
- All-Star (2021)
- NL batting champion (2020)
4. Nelson Cruz – DH
- 2021: .265 AVG, 32 HRs, 86 RBIs, 136 hits
- Played for the Twins and Rays last season
- Seven-time All-Star (2009, 2013-15, 2017-18, 2021)
- ALCS MVP (2011)
- AL home run leader (2014)
- AL RBI leader (2017)
5. Josh Bell – 1B
- 2021: .261 AVG, 27 HRs, 88 RBIs, 130 hits
- All-Star (2019)
6. Keibert Ruiz – C
- 2021: .273 AVG, 3 HRs, 15 RBIs, 24 hits in 29 games
- Played for the Dodgers and Nationals last season
7. Lane Thomas – LF
- 2021: .235 AVG, 7 HRs, 28 RBIs, 53 hits in 77 games
- Played for the Cardinals and Nationals last season
8. Maikel Franco – 3B
- 2021: .210 AVG, 11 HRs, 47 RBIs
- Played for the Orioles last season
9. Victor Robles – CF
- 2021: .203 AVG, 2 HRs, 19 RBIs, 64 hits in 107 games
Bench: Yadiel Hernández (OF), Andrew Stevenson (OF), Riley Adams (C)
Projected Pitching Rotation
1. Patrick Corbin – SP
- 2021: 9-16, 5.82 ERA, 143 Ks
- Two-time All-Star (2013, 2018)
2. Josiah Gray – SP
- 2021: 2-2, 5.48 ERA, 76 Ks (14 games pitched, 13 games started)
- Played for the Dodgers and Nationals last season
3. Erick Fedde – SP
- 2021: 7-9, 5.47 ERA, 128 Ks
4. Aníbal Sánchez – SP
- 2021: Elected not to pitch
- Key part of the Nationals’ World Series title run in 2019
5. Josh Rogers – SP
- 2021: 2-2, 3.28 ERA, 6 games started
*SP Stephen Strasburg and SP Joe Ross – Expected to miss the start of the season while recovering from injuries
Projected Bullpen
Tanner Rainey – Closer
Kyle Finnegan – Closer
Will Harris
Sean Doolittle
Austin Voth
Andrés Machado
Sam Clay
Patrick Murphy
Projected Lineups via MLB & Athlon Sports