Nationals 6, Royals 3: Mead's Three-Run Homer Lifts Washington

The lead

June 16, 2026 - Washington - Curtis Mead hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning, Nasim Nuñez tripled twice and scored three times, and the Washington Nationals beat the Kansas City Royals 6-3, per the Associated Press recap on CBS Sports.

Washington finished with 11 team FP in AthX Engine scoring.

How the game turned

Nuñez opened the scoring with an RBI triple in the third and scored on James Wood's sacrifice fly. After Bobby Witt singled home a run for Kansas City in the fifth, Nuñez led off the bottom half with another three-base hit and Wood brought him home with a single.

Isaac Collins tied it at 3 with a two-run single in the seventh before the Nationals answered immediately. Nuñez drew a leadoff walk, hustled to beat Witt to second on Wood's grounder, and scored the go-ahead run on Mead's 11th homer of the season to left-center.

Pitching and matchup notes

Nationals starter Foster Griffin allowed a run and six hits in six innings with six strikeouts. A former Royals first-round pick, Griffin has permitted one run or fewer in four of his last five outings.

Michael Wacha allowed three runs in six innings for Kansas City's 35th quality start of the season. Gus Varland pitched the ninth for his sixth save, allowing a solo homer to Lane Thomas.

Bats that changed the board

Mead's seventh-inning homer flipped a tight game into a Nationals win. AthX Engine graded Washington at 11 team FP with Nuñez's triples and Wood's RBI production spreading value across the lineup.

AthX Engine fantasy angle

AthX Engine rewards late-inning swings that break ties in close games. Washington's 11 team FP reflected a balanced offensive night rather than a single dominant hitter, separate from dynamic pricing.

What comes next

The Nationals went for a three-game sweep Wednesday at Nationals Park, per the MLB schedule.

*Sources: MLB.com schedule, CBS Sports/AP recap, AthX Engine scoring. Information only; not financial advice.*