| News |
|---|
|
Patrick Corbin Patrick Corbin Struggles continue in loss
Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 8:56 AM
Corbin (10-15) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks over 4.2 innings against the Orioles while striking out two.
Analysis: Corbin was victimized by a two-run shot off the bat of Adley Rutschman in the bottom of the third, after the lefty walked Austin Hays to open the frame. The 34-year-old veteran's troubles would continue in the fifth inning, where he was once again charged with two runs, marking his second consecutive start with at least four runs allowed. Corbin has failed to make it through five innings in each of his last two outings and in three of his last five. He's also given up six home runs this month and has now lost four of his last five starts. |
|
Ildemaro Vargas Ildemaro Vargas Avoids arbitration with Nationals
Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 8:37 AM
Vargas and the Nationals avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract for 2024.
Analysis: Vargas is making $975,000 this season and should get a little salary bump for 2024. The 32-year-old utility player has a career-high 280 plate appearances with the Nats in 2023, producing a .245/.299/.354 batting line with four home runs. Vargas does not have options left, so he figures to head into next season in a reserve role for the Nationals. |
|
Josiah Gray Josiah Gray Takes tough-luck loss
Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 7:27 AM
Gray (8-13) took the loss Tuesday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings against the Orioles. He struck out seven.
Analysis: The 25-year-old's only blemish occurred on his seventh pitch when Gunnar Henderson launched a leadoff solo home run. However, Gray didn't receive any run support and was saddled with the loss in what was likely to be his final start of the 2023 campaign. Over his last three outings, the righty has impressed with a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB across 17.1 innings, but he has a 1-2 record to show for it. In fact, Tuesday marked the seventh time this year that Gray came away with a loss or no-decision despite tossing five-plus innings while surrendering less than two earned runs. He'll close out his third big-league season with an 8-13 record, 3.91 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 143:80 K:BB across 159 innings in 30 starts. |
|
Keibert Ruiz Keibert Ruiz Three hits in nightcap
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 9:22 PM
Ruiz went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and one run scored in an 8-5 loss to Atlanta in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader.
Analysis: Ruiz went 6-for-40 (.150) over his previous 10 games before Sunday. The catcher has been noticeably better in the second half of the campaign, batting .284 since the All-Star break after hitting just .226 in the first half. He's at a .251/.301/.397 slash line with 17 home runs, 62 RBI, 50 runs scored and one stolen base through 539 plate appearances overall. |
|
Luis Garcia Luis Garcia Stays warm Sunday
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 9:19 PM
Garcia went 4-for-9 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and an additional run scored over both games of Sunday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.
Analysis: The infielder has hit safely in five straight games, four of which have been multi-hit efforts. Garcia is hitting .500 (11-for-22) over that short span, which has raised his batting average from .252 to .265 for the year. He's up to nine homers, 49 RBI, 59 runs scored and nine stolen bases over 117 contests this season. His improved stretch of hitting has helped him stay in the lineup regularly in recent weeks. |
|
Lane Thomas Lane Thomas Homer, steal in loss
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 9:15 PM
Thomas went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a stolen base and an additional run scored in an 8-5 loss to Atlanta in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader.
Analysis: Thomas earned his first multi-hit effort since Sept. 3 with this performance. Over the 15 prior games, he'd gone a paltry 8-for-62 (.129), albeit with six extra-base hits. The outfielder is up to 27 homers, 85 RBI, 98 runs scored and 20 steals while slashing .270/.319/.472 through 151 contests this season. |
|
Joan Adon Joan Adon Struggles in fourth loss
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 9:12 PM
Adon (2-4) took the loss in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader versus Atlanta, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Analysis: Adon's struggles with free passes again popped up -- he's walked 15 batters over 18.2 innings across his last four appearances. Atlanta did all of its damage against Adon in the fourth inning, with a four-run rally capped by Kevin Pillar's two-run home run. Adon is now at a 6.42 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 43:22 K:BB through 47.2 innings across 11 appearances (nine starts) this season. He's tentatively lined up to make his last start of the campaign in Atlanta next weekend. |
|
Kyle Finnegan Kyle Finnegan Earns save in Game 1
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 8:55 PM
Finnegan allowed a run on one hit over one inning and earned the save in a 3-2 win over Atlanta in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.
Analysis: Finnegan added a little drama after allowing a solo home run to Sean Murphy, but he was able to preserve the Nationals' lead. This was Finnegan's second save in a row, and he's allowed 10 runs (nine earned) over 8.2 innings in a shaky September. He's at a 3.74 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 61:24 K:BB through 67.1 innings while adding 27 saves, eight holds and eight blown saves this season. |
|
Jackson Rutledge Jackson Rutledge Picks up win in matinee
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 5:30 PM
Rutledge (1-1) allowed a run on three hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings to earn the win in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.
Analysis: Rutledge turned in a second straight solid performance, keeping Atlanta's high-powered offense in check. After allowing seven runs over 3.2 innings in his debut, he's given up just three runs across his last 11.1 innings. The right-hander also sports at 8:4 K:BB at the major-league level this year. Rutledge is tentatively lined up for one more outing, which would be a rematch in Atlanta next weekend. |
|
Ildemaro Vargas Ildemaro Vargas Not starting Game 1
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 11:47 AM
Vargas is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader versus Atlanta, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: Vargas has an .821 OPS through 14 games in September and will take a seat for Sunday's matinee. Carter Kieboom is starting at the hot corner and batting seventh. |
|
Keibert Ruiz Keibert Ruiz Sitting for matinee
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 11:44 AM
Ruiz is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader versus Atlanta, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: Ruiz was never likely to start both games of Sunday's twin bill, and he'll take a seat for the matinee. Drew Millas will work behind the plate in Game 1 with Ruiz likely to start the nightcap. |
|
CJ Abrams CJ Abrams Drives in three, swipes bag
Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 10:41 PM
Abrams went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI, one run scored and one steal in Friday's 9-6 loss against Atlanta.
Analysis: Abrams led off the game with a walk and made the most of his time on base by stealing his 43rd base of the year. He also pulled the Nationals within three late with a two-run double off Pierce Johnson in the eighth inning. Abrams has enjoyed a breakout season, slashing .247/.304/.420 with 18 homers, 80 runs and 62 RBI over 581 plate appearances. |
|
Patrick Corbin Patrick Corbin Blasted in 14th loss
Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 10:19 PM
Corbin (10-14) took the loss Friday, allowing five runs on five hits and one walk over 4.1 innings against Atlanta. He struck out one.
Analysis: Corbin conceded Ronald Acuna's historic 40th home run of the year to lead off the game and never recovered. It was a miserable night for the 34-year-old starting pitcher as he also matched a season-low for strikeouts with just one. Corbin's disastrous season has resulted in a 5.13 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 122:53 K:BB over 175.1 innings. He looks to close out the year on a better note in his last start, currently slated to be against Atlanta. |
|
Joan Adon Joan Adon Saturday's outing postponed
Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 9:19 PM
Adon will not start Saturday against Atlanta after the game was postponed due to severe weather.
Analysis: Saturday's forecast in D.C. is looking ugly, so the two teams have decided to go ahead and stage a doubleheader Sunday instead. Adon should start one of the two games, with Jackson Rutledge handling the other. Neither offers fantasy streaming appeal versus the NL East champions. |
|
Joe La Sorsa Joe La Sorsa Recalled from Rochester
Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 8:31 PM
The Nationals recalled La Sorsa from Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: La Sorsa, 25, has posted a 5.02 ERA and 24:8 K:BB in his first 28.2 major-league innings this season between Tampa Bay and Washington. He'll give the Nats another left-handed relief option as they play out the string. |
|
Jake Irvin Jake Irvin Shut down with ankle injury
Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 8:27 PM
Irvin was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with right ankle tendinitis, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Irvin suffered the season-ending injury during his start Thursday against Atlanta, in which he surrendered five earned runs on seven hits and three walks over just 2.2 innings of work. He'll finish the 2023 campaign with a 3-7 record, 4.61 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 99:54 K:BB in 121 innings (24 starts) for the Nationals. |
|
Robert Hassell Robert Hassell Will get another crack at AFL
Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 11:07 AM
Hassell will play in the Arizona Fall League this October, Jonathan Mayo and Sam Dykstra of MLB.com report.
Analysis: The 22-year-old has seen his prospect status dim significantly in 2023 after he stumbled to a combined .221/.324/.321 slash line over 121 games between High-A and Double-A, and Hassell's decline began when he broken the hamate bone in his wrist in last year's AFL. He has shown sign of life at the plate late in the season for Double-A Harrisburg however, slashing .281/.349/.351 in September with a marginally improved 25.4 percent strikeout rate, and a strong showing in Arizona could get his career back on track. |
|
Alex Call Alex Call Hits homer in rare start
Thu, Sep 21, 2023, 10:32 PM
Call went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss against Atlanta.
Analysis: Call accounted for the first Washington run with his 364-foot solo shot off Max Fried in the third inning. The 28-year-old has only started five games for the Nationals in September has he splits time in left field with Jake Alu and Blake Rutherford. Call is slashing .199/.306/.307 with eight homers and nine stolen bases over 126 games. |
|
Jake Irvin Jake Irvin Crushed in seventh loss
Thu, Sep 21, 2023, 10:25 PM
Irvin (3-7) took the loss Thursday against Atlanta, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out one.
Analysis: After tossing a solid 23 innings across four August starts to the tune of a 2.35 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB, Irvin has had a rough time in September. Over four outings this month, he's produced a 6.38 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 15:13 K:BB over 18.1 innings. Irvin looks to turn things around in his next start, scheduled to be against Atlanta again but on the road. |
|
Dominic Smith Dominic Smith Not starting against lefty
Thu, Sep 21, 2023, 2:16 PM
Smith isn't in the Nationals' lineup Thursday versus Atlanta, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: With southpaw Max Fried on the mound for Atlanta, the lefty-hitting Smith will retreat to the dugout to begin Thursday's game. Joey Meneses will fill in at first base, moving Keibert Ruiz into the DH spot while Drew Millas starts behind the dish. |
Connect With Us:
