Blake Butera's Nationals face Rays amid deep connections
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 19, 2026, 1:15 PM
Last updated Jun 19, 2026
The Nationals meet the Rays this weekend, featuring manager Blake Butera, who has strong ties to Tampa Bay. Butera, drafted by the Rays in 2015, is set to manage the Nationals for their playoff push. Curtis Mead, a former Rays prospect, is making a significant impact in D.C. after being acquired for Cristopher Sanchez. Mead previously developed under Butera in the Rays system and has become a key player for the Nationals, contributing with timely home runs. The teams are engaged in tight playoff races, making their matchups particularly important.
- •Nationals and Rays meet amid playoff contention this weekend.
- •Blake Butera, former Rays player and coach, is now Nationals manager.
- •Curtis Mead, traded from Rays, key to Nationals' success.
- •Butera helped develop current Rays stars during his time in Tampa.
- •The series highlights significant organizational ties between both teams.
- 1:15 PMYahoo Sports — Blake Butera and the Nationals have deep ties to the Rays organization
"Between Curtis Mead, Blake Butera and Ani Kilambi, the Nationals have a lot of connections to the Tampa Bay Rays
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