Paul DeJong hit a two-run home run to lead the Washington Nationals in a 4-3 win over the Houston Astros in spring training play.

The Washington Nationals dropped the first game of their spring training schedule with a 3-0 loss to the Houston Astros.

Third baseman Cam Smith, who was acquired in the Kyle Tucker trade, is the standalone headliner for the Astros in Spring Breakout. The Chicago Cubs selected Smith with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft. Smith is Houston's top prospect and the No. 58 overall in the entire league.

Mar 2, 2025; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Paul DeJong (14) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Heading to spring training at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches for Houston Astros or Washington Nationals? Where to eat before first pitch, post game.

Michael Shapiro is a sports reporter for Chron, covering the Astros, Rockets, Texans and every team in town. Michael is a Denver native and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and a noted fan of pull-up threes, wide-receiver passes and a good hot fudge sundae.

The Nationals invited 16 of their top 30 prospects to Major League camp, and even more will be showcasing their talents next weekend in the 2025 Spring Breakout. There are not one but two Spring Breakout games this year for the Nationals.

Jose Altuve has played 15,225.1 innings in the field during his 14-year MLB career. 15,219.1 of those innings have come at second base, with the other six comin

Watching the Astros? Your Houston Astros are looking to bounce back and take the series lead against the Nationals at this hour. How do you think this game will end today? #astros #nationals

Baseball’s only team without a deal in either partnership category hopes to have both by year’s end, potentially adding more than $20 million in annual revenue.

As part of an exhibition series between the Orioles and Nationals, one game at Nationals Park this month comes with a perk for laid-off federal workers.

Breakout showcase returns with 16 games across the Cactus League and Grapefruit League from March 13-16. Among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects, 72 are on team rosters for Spring Breakout games, including 20 of the top 30.