The Washington Nationals vs Kansas City Royals timeline captures the chronological highlights and key results in the rivalry between these two Major League Baseball teams. While the Washington Nationals compete in the National League and the Kansas City Royals in the American League, regular interleague play has brought them together numerous times. This article traces that timeline from the early matchups to the most recent series, providing a clear picture of how the teams have fared against each other over the years.
Early History: 2002–2010 — First Interleague Steps
The Washington Nationals vs Kansas City Royals timeline begins in the early 2000s, soon after interleague play became a regular part of the MLB schedule.
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2002: The Montreal Expos (who later became the Nationals) dominated the first series, winning all three games against the Royals.
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2010: The Nationals scored two victories against Kansas City while losing one, showcasing early competitive balance between the teams.
These formative games set the stage for future encounters, even as both franchises evolved their rosters and strategies in the ensuing decade.
Mid‑Era Matchups: 2013 & 2016 — Competitive Interleague Battles
The Washington Nationals vs Kansas City Royals timeline featured several notable series in the 2010s, particularly in 2013 and 2016:
2013: Close Contests
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August 23, 2013: Nationals 11, Royals 10 — a high‑scoring opening of the series.
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August 24, 2013: Nationals 7, Royals 2 — Washington extended its lead.
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August 25, 2013: Royals 6, Nationals 4 — Kansas City fought back for a win.
This back‑and‑forth series showed how tightly contested these interleague games could be.
2016: Dominant Performances
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May 2, 2016: Nationals 2, Royals 0 — pitching duel opener.
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May 3, 2016: Royals 7, Nationals 6 — close game with Kansas City edging ahead.
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May 4, 2016: Nationals 13, Royals 2 — an offensive explosion by Washington.
This series illustrated how both teams could produce big hits and tight defensive contests within the same weekend.
2019 & 2023: Renewed Interleague Rivalry
2019: Competitive Series in July
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July 5, 2019: Royals 7, Nationals 4 — Kansas City took the opener.
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July 6, 2019: Nationals 6, Royals 0 — strong rebound by Washington.
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July 7, 2019: Nationals 5, Royals 2 — Nationals completed the series advantage.
Both teams showcased balanced offense and pitching depth in this three‑game set.
2023: Offense‑Driven Series
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May 26, 2023: Nationals 12, Royals 10 — slugfest opener.
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May 27, 2023: Nationals 4, Royals 2 — tighter second game.
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May 28, 2023: Royals 3, Nationals 2 — Kansas City salvaged a win.
The 2023 series stayed close throughout and highlighted big hits from both lineups.
2024: Royals Sweep in September
As the Washington Nationals vs Kansas City Royals timeline advanced into 2024, the teams met again late in the season:
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September 24, 2024: Royals 1, Nationals 0 — pitchers’ duel in opener.
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September 25, 2024: Royals 3, Nationals 0 — another shutout for Kansas City.
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September 26, 2024: Royals 7, Nationals 4 — Royals completed the sweep.
This series demonstrated the Royals’ strong pitching and ability to close out interleague series at Nationals Park.
2025: Dramatic Series in Kansas City
The most recent chapter of the Washington Nationals vs Kansas City Royals timeline came in August 2025, featuring three compelling games:
Game 1: August 11, 2025 — Royals Take Early Lead
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Royals 7, Nationals 4: A balanced scoring effort and power hitting helped Kansas City open the series with a win.
Game 2: August 12, 2025 — Pasquantino Leads Royals
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Royals 8, Nationals 5: Vinnie Pasquantino drove in five runs, including a three‑run homer, leading Kansas City to victory.
Game 3: August 13, 2025 — Nationals Rally Late
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Nationals 8, Royals 7: Washington rallied from behind and won on a ninth‑inning single by Daylen Lile, completing a dramatic comeback.
This recent series highlighted both power hitting and tense late‑inning drama, adding an exciting new chapter to the timeline.
Head‑to‑Head Record & Trends
Looking at the entire Washington Nationals vs Kansas City Royals timeline:
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All‑Time Record: The Nationals hold a slight lead at 16–11 across all regular‑season meetings.
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Recent Performance: In 2025, Kansas City led the season series early but Washington evened it with the final game.
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No Postseason Meetings: The two teams have not met in a postseason series; all games have been regular‑season interleague matchups.
This balanced history illustrates that, despite being in separate leagues, these teams have developed a genuine competitive thread over the years.
Conclusion:
The Washington Nationals vs Kansas City Royals timeline reveals an interleague journey filled with close games, high‑scoring series, pitching dominance, and memorable moments. From the early 2000s to the dramatic August 2025 series, both teams have contributed to a timeline rich with baseball action and unpredictability.
Whether it’s a pitchers’ duel, a late comeback, or a slugfest, the matchups between the Nationals and Royals continue to offer fans compelling baseball — proving that even interleague play can produce rivalries worth watching.