Nats Chat

The Nats slugged five homers on Saturday night for a 7-3 win at Dodger Stadium. Mark (From L.A.) & Al marvel at James Wood as he crushed his 21st homer of the season; which is tied for 4th most in the NL. Wood's 1st inning majestic shot went an estimated 451 feet.(06:00) All of the top four Nationals hitters cleared the fences, with Nathaniel Lowe doing it twice.  The offense totaled ten hits and eight of them were for extra bases.(12:30) Keibert Ruiz went 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles. It is the first time since April 22nd that Ruiz had multiple doubles in the same game.(15:00) Washington pitchers combined for 11Ks in the victory. Jake Irvin had seven of them while not issuing any walks in his outing.(19:30) Jose A. Ferrer retired all five batters he faced and Mark points out how inconsistent he can be on the mound.(24:10) Kade Anderson, star LSU pitcher, threw a complete game shutout on Saturday night at the College World Series. Anderson is projected by some to go to the Nats with the top overall pick at next month's Draft. 

The Nats lost on Friday night 6-5 at Dodger Stadium to open their nine game West Coast Road Trip. Mark (From LA) & Al discuss MacKenzie's Gore subpar's outing where he gave up five earned runs in over five innings of work. Gore issued four walks and only recorded four strikeouts, keeping him behind Boston Garrett Crochet for the MLB lead in strikeouts.(09:45) The offense slugged a trio of homers but was only 1 for 8 w/ RISP. Riley Adams ended an 0 for 32 slump in emphatic fashion with a solo HR in the top of the 5th to cut the deficit to 4-2.(18:00) Luis Garcia Jr. had a clutch pinch-hit 2-run double to trim the Dodger lead to 6-4 in the top of the 7th.  Amed Rosario got the nod at 2B (and homered) and Garcia replaced Andres Chapparo at DH for the pinch- hit opportunity.(21:10) Paul DeJong had four hits on Friday night in his rehab assignment with AA-Harrisburg. It is looking like DeJong will serve as an utility infielder for Washington as Brady House is now occupying 3B.(23:40) A quick look at what we know about the contractual situations for both the Manager and GM. 

The Nats finally snapped their long skid and it all came on the back of James Wood in the 4-3 win over Colorado in 11 innings. Al & Tim discuss the burgeoning superstar as the 22-year old went deep twice and knocked in all four runs.  Wood is up to 20 homers and he is tied for 5th in the NL.(14:30) Trevor Williams had a decent outing as he only allowed two runs in just over five innings of work. The bullpen stepped up by only giving up one Rockies run and Cole Henry came through with two clutch strikeouts in the top of the 6th. Jose A. Ferrer also pitched well as he had two punch outs while recording five outs.(17:15) Davey Martinez got emotional in his postgame press conference and it stemmed from a Wednesday night phone call from Keibert Ruiz.(23:20) The Nats begin their West Coast road trip at Dodger Stadium on Friday evening.  MacKenzie Gore will take the mound opposite Clayton Kershaw in the series opener.(29:00) Part 2 of Tim's conversation with Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, about the legendary "Cool Papa" Bell.  Hear the origin of the greatest nickname in Baseball history. 

The Nats dropped their 11th in a row on Wednesday night in a 3-1 loss to the visiting last place Rockies. Al & Mark make immediate note that they are just one game away from the tying 2008 franchise mark of 12 consecutive defeats.(06:00) James Wood's RBI double in the bottom of the 7th was the only extra base hit of the evening for Washington.(09:45) Mitchell Parker allowed a leadoff double, but did not give up a run in the 1st inning. Parker only gave up one run off of a solo homer in six innings of work.(15:00) Reaction to Mike Rizzo's Wednesday morning appearance on "The Sports Junkies" on 106.7 the Fan. The GM gave Davey Martinez a vote of confidence and often cited the 2019 World Series title as part of the rationale. ***Audio courtesy of 106.7 the Fan(31:10) Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, joins Tim to talk about Cool Papa Bell.  Wednesday at Nationals Park was Negro Leagues Night and Bell was inducted into the franchise's Ring of Honor in 2010.  Cool Papa Bell's career lasted from 1922- 1946 and was enshrined into Cooperstown in 1974. 

The nightmarish home stand continued on Tuesday night in the Nats 10th consecutive defeat. Mark & Al are dumbfounded after the 10-6 loss where Colorado hit five homers in a span of eight hitters in the late innings. Will a major change happen soon in the clubhouse?(16:00) Cole Henry was the main culprit for the Rockies avalanche in the top of the 7th as he allowed four runs without a recording a single out. Jackson Rutledge also struggled in that frame as he ceded back to back homers.(20:05) Michael Soroka lasted six innings, but did issue three "hit by pitch". Soroka gave up a pair of homers and has given up ten in just nine starts this season.(24:00) The offense totaled six runs, but most of that came later after already trailing 10-1. Brady House had a pair of hits and his first career RBI while Nathaniel Lowe & Luis Garcia Jr. each homered in the final frames.(28:10) When is the last time the home crowd booed the Nationals?(31:00) Josh Whetzel, Voice of the Rochester Red Wings, provides his weekly update from AAA. Hear the latest on Drew Millas, Cade Cavalli, Nasim Nuñez, and more. 

The Nats losing streak extended to nine games on Monday night as victory slipped through their fingertips in the 6-4 defeat. Mark & Al begin with Kyle Finnegan, who inherited a one run lead in the top of the 9th, but allowed a pair of Rockies homers, the only home runs he has given up this season.(09:00) Brady House went 0 for 3 with a walk in his MLB debut.  House was the #11 overall pick in the 2021 Draft and had a OPS of .872 this season thus far in AAA-Rochester. House looked comfortable defensively and Davey Martinez said pregame that House will be the everyday 3B.(14:40) Daylen Lile hit his first career MLB homer in the bottom of the 5th in his first game since returning from AAA. Lile swapped roster spots with Robert Hassell III after Sunday's defeat.(18:00) James Wood's 2-run HR in the bottom of the 5th put Washington ahead 4-3 until the fateful 9th inning. Wood is now up 18 homers on the season; which is tied for 5th most in the NL.(20:15) Riley Adams got the nod at catcher and is now 0 for his last 30 at the plate. His OPS is down to a paltry .325 and the catching situation continues to worsen for the franchise.(23:15) Jake Irvin gave up a 2-run HR in the top of the 1st and his opening frame ERA is a shocking 10.84; surprisingly more than his Mitchell Parker. Irvin ended his evening with six innings of work off of five hits.(27:15) A discussion on recent Washington Post stories covering the angst within the franchise during this brutal stretch.(36:30) A Nats Chat Flashback from July 19th, 2023 when Brady House was promoted to AA-Harrisburg after a brief stay at High-A Wilmington. 

Sunday was a low point as the Nats lost their 8th consecutive game after getting swept by the last place Marlins.  Mark & Al chime in after the 3-1 defeat that drops the team to 30-41 on the season and now only one game ahead of Miami in the NL East,(07:30) Davey Martinez was asked about his Saturday comments about the coaches & players in his pregame session with reporters prior to Sunday's game.  Mark was on-hand and relays his analysis of what Martinez had to say.(18:45) The offense only scored run, but they did uncharacteristically draw four walks. Martinez shuffled up the lineup by moving CJ Abrams to 3rd in the the order with Alex Call in the leadoff spot.  (24:10) MacKenzie Gore pitched fine, but did not have his A+ stuff.  Gore gave up a pair of runs on six innings of work while striking out five Marlins.  Gore retook the lead for MLB lead in strikeouts with 119 strikeouts, two ahead of Boston's Garrett Crochet.(29:35) Mark proposes an idea on who he would like to maybe see become the full time DH as the offense continues struggle.(32:00) Wilson Ramos signed a one day contract prior to the game in order to officially retire as a National.  Ramos is widely considered the best catcher since the team moved to Washington. Ramos also was behind the plate for all three No-hitters in Nationals history.****(36:05) After taping, reports came out that Brady House was being called up along with Daylen Lile. Tim comes on to react to the news about House and discuss why Robert Hassell III & Jose Tena are being sent down to AAA. 

The Nats had another 9th inning rally that came up short in Saturday afternoon's 4-3 loss to the Marlins.  Mark & Al have a lot to react to after the 7th consecutive defeat and give blunt assessments on the State of the Rebuild.(11:45) Davey Martinez made an empassioned plea about his coaching staff in his postgame press conference.  Martinez made news by saying "It's never on the coaches" in response to a question by the Washington Post. Did Davey throw his players "under the bus" within his postgame comments?(21:00) Mark asked veteran Josh Bell for his response to the comments by Martinez.  The hosts examine his answer that seemed to not include a direct show of support.(25:00) Washington trailed 4-1 entering the bottom of the 9th and came 90 feet shy of tying the game. Jacob Young was brought in as a pinch-runner, but questionably did not tag from 3rd on Amed Rosario's flyout to LF.  Important to keep in mind that James Wood was on-deck in the situation.(31:10) Trevor Williams had a solid outing and allowed only a pair of Miami runs. Williams has made 14 starts this season and his ERA sits at 5.71.(33:40) Luis Garcia Jr. made a crucial error in the top of the 8th when he dropped a seemingly routine fly ball. His poor defense this season is put under the microscope as he ranks among the worst 2Bs thus far.(39:30) MacKenzie Gore takes the mound on Father's Day afternoon to try and end the team's skid. Gore currently trails only Boston's Garrett Crochet for the most strikeouts in MLB. 

Friday night was a long one in Navy Yard as the Nats lost their 6th consecutive game.  Mark & Al discuss the 11-9 defeat to visiting Miami, on an evening that saw a 2+ hour rain delay and the final out made at about 12:30AM.(04:30) Mitchell Parker's rough stretch continued as he gave up six runs in just over three innings of work. Davey Martinez was critical of Parker's fastball approach afterwards as the lefty's ERA is now up to 4.84.(09:00) Jose A. Ferrer had a poor showing in the top of the 8th when giving up three Miami runs. It was particularly deflating because this came after a big Nats inning that saw them cut the deficit to just one run after scoring five runs in the bottom of the 7th.(13:45) The offense did have their best game in awhile by scoring nine runs off of 16 hits. Everyone in the lineup had at least one hit.(14:30) James Wood had three hits and crushed his 17th homer of the season that went an estimated 451 feet. CJ Abrams & Keibert Ruiz joined Wood in gathering a trio of hits on Friday night.(17:20) Nelly did indeed perform his postgame concert and it began at roughly 1:15PM.  Mark says that many in attendance waited through the long delay to see the concert.(21:25) Trevor Williams takes the mound on the quick turnaround for the 1PM game on Saturday as Washington looks to avoid their 7th straight defeat. 

The Nats lost their 5th straight on Thursday afternoon to get swept by the first place Mets.  Al & Tim gather after the Nationals scored all their runs in the top of the 9th in the 4-3 defeat, but stranded two runners after Keibert Ruiz grounded into the final out.(13:00) New York starter Kodai Senga exited early after getting injured while fielding a play at 1B.  After the game he was placed on the 15-day IL due to a hamstring issue. Senga is having an excellent season and is sporting a 1.47 ERA.(16:15) Michael Soroka gave up a 3-run HR in the bottom of the 1st to Jeff McNeil. Soroka only ceded three hits, but two of them went over the fence.(24:30) Wilson Ramos will officially retire as a National on Sunday afternoon.  Ramos played in Washington from 2010-2016 and was a big part of multiple division titles.(28:45) The Nats begin a seven game homestand on Friday night against a pair of last place teams.  This weekend they host Miami and then the Rockies come to Navy Yard on Monday for a four game series. 

The Nats lost their fourth in a row after bring shutout by Mets starter David Peterson on Wednesday night. Mark & Al focus on the scuffling offense, which has completely lost its groove since their hot trip out West.(05:45) James Wood had two of the six hits, but has only one homer in the month of June.(09:30) Riley Adams got the start behind the plate against the lefty Peterson.  It seems like his playing time has ticked up this month as Keibert Ruiz's continues to struggle.(17:40) Darnell Coles is back under the microscope during this stretch of little run support. Coles has been the team's hitting coach since the 2022 season.(24:00) Jake Irvin gave up four runs on a pair of homers in just five innings of work.  Irvin had three consecutive poor outings and his ERA has gone from 3.42 to 4.21 in the process.(30:00) Washington is now seven games under .500, but does remain in 3rd place in the NL East.(34:10) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the Rochester Red Wings, provides his weekly update on AAA.  Hear the latest on Brady House, Cade Cavalli, Daylen Lile, and more. 

The Nats suffered maybe their worst loss of the season on Tuesday night in the series opener at the Mets.  Al & Tim recap the 5-4 loss in extra innings, where the Nationals could not hold onto a two-run 8th inning lead. Jose A. Ferrar allowed a pair of runs to tie the game and ultimately Jeff McNeil ended the affair with a RBI single to leadoff the bottom of the 10th.(08:50) MacKenzie Gore struck out six Mets in as many innings of work on 89 pitches.  Gore regained the lead for the most strikeouts in all of MLB from Garrett Crochet with 114 during the outing. Gore gave up a HR to Juan Soto and there seemed to be words exchanged between the two players who were once traded for each other.(18:35) The offense showed up early to lead 3-0 entering the middle of the 2nd.  CJ Abrams had a big game by doubling twice and connecting on a solo HR to put Washington on top 4-2 in the 5th.(20:00) One of Abrams' double brought in a run, but the moment ended with Jose Tena getting thrown at home.  Tena should not have been sent by Ricky Gutierrez with James Wood was waiting on-deck with two outs.(22:45) Andres Chapparo had a pinch -hit double in his 1st Big League at-bat of the season. Tim expresses his frustration though that Chapparo took Nasim Nuñez's roster spot as opposed to Brady House. 

The Nats dropped Sunday's rubber match to the visiting Rangers by a score of 4-2.  Mark & Al begin with the scuffling offense, which only scored 10 runs in the six game homestand.(02:00) Help might be on the way as Nasim Nuñez was sent to AAA shortly after the defeat.  As of our taping time, the corresponding move is expected to be either Brady House or Andres Chaparro from Rochester.  House was the franchise 1st round draft choice from 2021 and did not play for the Red Wings on Sunday afternoon, which was quite noticeable given the circumstances.(14:10) Keibert Ruiz only played in one game this weekend, the one time they faced a RHP. Davey Martinez pregame cited a troubling stat in terms of the constant chase rate for the veteran catcher. Ruiz's WAR is a very poor 0.1 so far this season.(20:40) Trevor Williams only lasted 4.1 IP and gave up two runs off six hits.  This came the same day that Cade Cavalli tossed five shutout innings for AAA Rochester.  Is it time for Cavalli to take Williams' spot in the rotation?(30:00) The short outing for Williams led to the need for five relievers. Jose A. Ferrer nailed down five outs and wiggled out of a jam in the top of the 6th.  Cole Henry gave up a homer, his 2nd straight day of not pitching well.(33:10) The Nationals open a three game series on Tuesday at the Mets, who have the best record in the NL. 

The Nats got a taste of their own recent medicine as Texas blanked them 5-0 on Saturday afternoon on South Capitol Street.  Al & Mark run through some of the recent offensive slumps as the team has only scored nine runs in their past six games.  (05:00) Nathaniel Lowe went 1 for 3 in facing his former team. Lowe's OPS is a troubling .650, much lower than when it was .785 at the end of April. His last homer came on May 16th in Baltimore.(09:45) Jacob deGrom was dominant on Saturday in seven shutout frames and looked like the pitcher we remember from the Mets. The two-time Cy Young winner has undergone a pair of Tommy John surgeries.(15:40) Mitchell Parker continued his trend of struggling in the 1st inning, but then settled in from there.  Hear what Davey Martinez said when asked by Mark about the possibility of using an "Opener".(24:00) It was not Cole Henry's day as he issued three walks and a balk. Eduardo Salazar has the roughest afternoon as he allowed three runs in the top of the 8th to let the game get out of reach.

The Nats blanked the visiting Rangers 2-0 on Friday night in the quickest game in stadium history.  Mark & Al begin with a familiar name as Patrick Corbin returned to D.C. and only allowed a pair of runs in eight innings of work.  Corbin needed just 89 pitches and the last time he tossed eight innings was May 4th, 2022 in Colorado.(4:15) The official scorer determined the game length as 1 hour, 50 minutes and Mark feels that it should be one minute shorter.  The official start time was 6:45PM and Mark says the final out came at 8:34PM.  The official time ties the fastest game in franchise history as opposed to it being the stand-alone record.(14:35) Jacob Young singled in his return to the lineup and Daylen Lile was sent back to AAA to make roster space. Lile hit .194 in 31 at-bats in his brief stint in Washington.(18:20) Michael Soroka ended his outing well unlike previous ones as he struck out seven Rangers in six scoreless innings of work.(22:45) Brad Lord tossed another scoreless inning in a high leverage spot in the top of the 7th. Kyle Finnegan notched his 18th save of the season; which is tied for the 2nd most in all of MLB.(25:40) An update on Josiah Gray, who had surgery last summer. Gray only made two starts season and his last appearance on the mound came on April 4th, 2024.(31:00) Arizona Ace Corbin Burnes will need "Tommy John" surgery after injuring his elbow last weekend vs. the Nats. Burnes is in his first year of a six year/ $210 Million contract.

The Nats dropped Thursday's rubber match 7-1 to the visiting Cubs as Ian Happ knocked in four runs. Al & Mark sort through the sloppy affair, another example of poor defense & base running in defeat.(04:30) James Wood has a hard luck 0 for 4 evening despite every ball he hit having an exit velocity over 97 MPH.(09:20) Why is Davey Martinez not bothered by base running miscues?(12:45) Jake Irvin allowed three runs in five innings of work. Irvin immediately gave up a 2-run homer to Pete Crow-Armstrong; emblematic that he too has 1st inning struggles like some of his teammates.(17:35) Jackson Rutledge gave up a 2-run Happ HR in the top of the 6th and his season has gone sideways a bit recently.(25:00) A familiar face will take the mound on Friday night when Patrick Corbin gets the start for Texas vs. Michael Soroka.  Corbin is pitching better for the Rangers than he did last year in Washington, but the hosts explain why a regression to the mean might be around the corner for the veteran lefty. 

The Nats blanked the Cubs 2-0 on Wednesday night at Navy Yard.  Mark & Al recap MacKenzie Gore's sterling outing where he struck out seven in as many innings worked. Gore regained sole possession for the most strikeouts in MLB this season with 108.(07:25) What are the chances that Gore starts the All Star Game next month in Atlanta for the NL?  Paul Skenes is currently the likely leader in the clubhouse on that front.(14:00) Brad Lord stepped up in nursing the 1-0 lead in the top of the 8th. Lord has not allowed a run in six consecutive appearances.  Kyle Finnegan took over for him in the 9th and notched his 17th save of the year.(17:35) The offense was carried by bench guys in the victory as the RBIs belonged to Amed Rosario & Nasim Nuñez.  Rosario homered in the bottom of the 7th to put Washington on the board and Nuñez doubled in the 8th for some insurance.(24:10) An update on Mason Thompson, who is working his way back from a 2nd Tommy John surgery.(30:00) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the Rochester Red Wings, gives the latest on Brady House, Cade Cavalli, and more from AAA.

The Nats lost 8-3 to the visiting Cubs on Tuesday evening to open their six game home stand. Al & Tim start with Trevor Williams; who was taken out in the pivotal top of the 5th and was charged with five runs allowed.  Williams threw a shutout last week, but this outing was in line with his season that sports a 6.03 ERA in a dozen starts.(07:30) Five bullpen arms were needed and the first one used struggled the most.  Andrew Chafin relieved Williams in the 5th and walked two of the three hitters he faced.  Jackson Rutledge interestingly was used in the top of the 9th in mop-up duty.(11:45) The offense scored three runs right away, but did nothing in the final six frames.  Luis Garcia Jr. had a trio of hits and had a RBI single in the bottom of the 1st.(15:30) Jose Teña did not properly handle a grounder in the top of the 4th and it led to a big inning for Chicago to tie the game.(19:00) MacKenzie Gore will take the mound on Wednesday vs. the Cubs.  Gore is tied with Boston's Garrett Crochet for the most strikeouts at 101.(23:25) ESPN's Jeff Passan handicapped every team and where they fit into the eventual Trade Deadline.  Al & Tim respond to what he wrote about Kyle Finnegan and the Nats organization. 

The Nats four game win streak was snapped in Sunday afternoon's 3-1 loss in Arizona.  Mark (From Phoenix) & Al open with DBacks Ace Corbin Burnes leaving the game in the top of the 5th due to a potential elbow injury.  Burnes will have a MRI on Monday just a few minths after signing a 6-year/ $210M deal.(07:30) James Wood was hitless, but both team doubles came from the new guys in Robert Hassell III & Daylen Lile.  Nathaniel Lowe's RBI single in the 5th was the only source of offense.(09:30) Mitchell Parker struggled yet again the bottom of the 1st and all three Arizona runs came in that frame.  Should the team experiment going with an Opener in future Parker starts to try and right the ship? Parker's ERA in the 1st inning is astonishingly over 10.50 this season and roughly 3.50 in all other innings.  (19:45) The three relievers used combined for three scoreless frames. Eduardo Salazar escaped a jam in the bottom of the 6th his first appearance since he replaced Jorge Lopez on the roster.(22:00) The Cubs come to D.C. on Tuesday and are tied for the best record in the NL.  The hosts note that Chicago is far ahead of Washington despite the two franchises beginning their rebuilds at the exact same time in the summer of 2021.(25:05) If the Nats are in the Wild Card hunt ahead of the Trade Deadline, will they be buyers? The Deadline this season is on Thursday July 31st at 6PM. 

The Nats won their fourth straight on Saturday night by defeating Arizona 11-7. Mark (From Phoenix) & Al marvel over the team's 10-run opening inning that set a tone for the entire evening.  No homers were hit and the first 11 batters safely reached base.(9:40) James Wood's biggest impact came defensively as he nailed a runner out at the plate to stymie a Dbacks rally in the bottom of the 8th.(11:30) Are the Nationals a good offensive team?(15:45) Jackson Rutledge really struggled as the first pitcher to relieve Michael Soroka.  Rutledge gave up three runs in the bottom of the 6th that cut the lead to four runs.(19:00) Jorge Lopez was DFA'd prior to the game and is the third veteran reliever that was signed in the off-season to have already been let go.  Davey Martinez said before the game that Washington "was not the right fit" for Lopez.(28:05) A shoutout that leads to an extended conversation about the future contractual situations of young stars like James Wood. 

The Nats beat the Diamondbacks 9-7 on Friday for their 3rd straight victory.  Mark (From Phoenix) & Al gather early in the morning after Washington moves past Atlanta for 3rd place in the NL East.(05:30) James Wood slugged his 16th homer of the season and it is the 3rd time he has left the yard on this road trip.  The last time someone in the franchise hit 30+ homers was Juan Soto in 2019.(08:30) Josh Bell crushed a homer for the 3rd straight evening and is beginning to turn his season around. His shot went 430 feet; above the pool at Chase Field.(10:45) Robert Hassell III collected a pair of hits and made an impressive throw to the plate to nail Eugenio Suarez. "Bobby Barrels" already has three multi-hit games since making his debut on May 22nd.(18:00) There multiple instances of great defensive play, including a crucial leaping catch at the wall by Daylen Lile to keep the game tied in the bottom of the 3rd.  Luis Garcia Jr. also turned a nifty 4-3 Double Play to help Brad Lord get out of a jam.(22:10) Kyle Finnegan notched his 16th save of the season; which is 3rd most in all of MLB.(23:40) Jake Irvin really struggled and allowed four runs in the 1st inning.  His season has taken on a seesaw approach, but his ERA is still under 4.00 at 3.93.(28:30) The Nats are 14-12 in May and this is the first month that they will be over .500 since August 2023. 

The Nats took the series in Seattle by scoring seven runs in the top of the 10th for a 9-3 victory.  Mark (From T-Mobile Park) & Al discuss the Nationals eighth victory in their past eleven games. They are just a half game back of the Braves for 3rd place in the NL East.(05:20) Luis Garcia Jr. had four hits that included a 2-run extra inning double to give Washington breathing room.(07:00) Josh Bell homered for the second straight game; his 8th of the season.  Bell's 3-run shot firmly put the game out of reach and gave the Nats a seven run lead.(10:00) James Wood didn't go deep, but did begin the scoring with a 2-run double in the top of the 6th.  The Mariners brought in their lone lefty to face Wood and he still managed to come through with a big hit.(17:30) MacKenzie Gore struck out eight hitters in six innings of work on 95 pitches. Gore now has 101Ks on the season to lead Baseball; seven ahead of Zack Wheeler.(23:10) Four relievers were needed and it was a big evening for Jose A. Ferrar, who retired all five batters he faced. Kyle Finnegan pitched the bottom of the 10th, his first action in a week due to shoulder fatigue.(27:15) An extended conversation on Keibert Ruiz's defensive struggles behind the plate. 

The Nats crushed the Mariners 9-0 on Wednesday night on an evening where they hit four homers.  Mark (From Seattle) & Al note how the team continued its pattern of the early innings dictating the rest of the way as they hit Back to Back home runs in the top of the 2nd.(06:00) James Wood hit a moonshot for his 15th homer of the season. Wood's OPS is at .949 and is the 5th highest in the NL.(12:10) Robert Hassell III hit his 1st career Big League homer.  Hassell had a big evening as he collected a trio of hits in the victory.(14:45) Josh Bell also homered and had three hits in the victory.  There is added pressure on Bell as Andres Chaparro has been activated in AAA.(20:30) The embattled Trevor Williams had a great outing as he tossed six scoreless frames on just 76 pitches. It was good timing for Williams as Cade Cavalli pitched well in AAA on Wednesday afternoon.(28:00) MacKenzie Gore will take the mound on Thursday night in the rubber match.  Gore leads all of MLB with 93 strikeouts so far this season; one ahead of Detroit's Tarik Skubal. 

The Nats were routed 9-1 in Seattle on Tuesday to begin their six game road trip. Mark (From T-Mobile Park) & Al convene after the Nationals fell to 24-30; putting them on pace for just 72 wins this season. Mariners starter Logan Evans cruised through the lineup as he only needed 88 pitches to last eight innings. (09:15) James Wood clubbed his 14th homer of the season and was the only source of offense for the team. However, Wood struck out three times and the hosts explore why he tallies so many Ks. (16:10) Mitchell Parker struggled again on the mound and gave up a trio of homers. Parker's troubles began right away as he gave up Back to Back HRs in the bottom of the 1st, continuing his recent trend of not pitching well in the opening inning. (25:15) Extended discussion of Ken Rosenthal's scathing piece of the Nationals rebuild woes in The Athletic. (39:30) Josh Whetzel, the voice of the Rochester Red Wings, swings by for his weekly AAA update. Hear his latest on Cade Cavalli, Yohandy Morales, Brady House, and more.

The Nats fell 3-2 on Sunday afternoon to the visiting Giants. Al begins with the sluggish offensive performance, that was punctuated by the curious decision to pinch-hit Josh Bell for Amed Rosario in the bottom of the 9th.  James Wood had a RBI double, but the bats only collected five hits in total.(07:30) Alex Call and Robert Hassell III each had disappointing outfield defense in the pivotal top of the 3rd.  Most notably, Call lost a fly ball in the sun at the wall that turned into a Sam Huff homer instead of an out.(12:15) Michael Soroka had a solid outing, but still was tagged with the loss. His six innings of work is the most he has pitched in five starts this season.(15:00) Al answers a listener email.  Feel free to send your thoughts to natschatpodcast@gmail.com. 

The Nats shutout the Giants on Saturday afternoon 3-0 for their seventh win in the past nine games.  Mark & Al have plenty of praise for Jake Irvin, who tossed eight scoreless innings and tied a career high with seven strikeouts. Irvin's ERA is down to 3.42 and his WHIP is an impressive 1.10.(10:45) Jorge Lopez surprisingly pitched the 9th instead of closer Kyle Finnegan.  Mark explains what is going on with Finnegan and why he did not enter the game on Saturday.(16:35) James Wood hit a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 1st for an early lead.  Wood has homered in seven of the eleven games in which he has been the DH.(21:00) The final out came on a diving catch by Daylen Lile in RF.  Lile started for the second straight day and had a single in the win.(24:00) The team is playing better,  but still remains four games below .500.  The hosts close the show by looking at the organization's big picture as we are almost one-third of the way through the season. 

The Nats five game win streak was snapped in Friday night's 4-0 loss to the visiting Giants. Mark & Al focus on MacKenzie Gore's status as he exited in the middle of an at- bat in the top of the 7th. Davey Martinez said afterwards that Gore is fine and it simply was a "Charley Horse" from a comebacker that Gore fielded in the bottom of the 2nd.(07:00) Gore struck out nine Giants to extend his MLB lead to 93Ks on the season.  The only run charged to the lefty was the leadoff batter in the top of the 7th, who came across the plate after Gore had left the mound. Gore was much more pitch efficient on Friday night as he was at 83 pitches through six innings of work.(13:35) Daylen Lile singled on the first pitch he saw as he hit 9th and played RF in his MLB debut.  Lile was called up from Rochester due Jacob Young being placed on the 10-day IL with a sprained left shoulder. Lile spent April in AA-Harrisburg and immediately made an impact when given the opportunity in AAA.(23:10) The offense could not get anything going as CJ Abrams & James Wood combined for an 0 for 8 effort. Luis Garcia Jr. was the only Nat to collect two hits against San Francisco's Landon Roupp and crew.(25:40) Four relievers were needed and none excelled. Zach Brzykcy allowed a pair of runs in an inning of work and his ERA is up to 11.12 in seven Big League appearances. 

The Nats won their 5th straight on Thursday night as they outlasted the Braves 8-7 in extra innings. Mark & Al focus on the completely flipped script for the Nationals in the past week; as they recently had lost seven games in a row.  Amed Rosario was the 10th inning hero as his pinch-hit RBI single ended the affair.(07:20) Robert Hassell III had quite the MLB debut as he singled in his first at bat, stole a base, collected two hits, and scored the winning run on Rosario's RBI single. Hassell got the nod in CF and hit 7th in the lineup.(10:00) Dylan Crews is on the IL due to an oblique injury; not a back issue. Jacob Young did not play on Thursday and it is unclear if too might be headed to the IL as he has not played since crashing into the Camden Yards wall on Saturday.(16:00) James Wood' big game was overshadowed, but nonetheless impressive as he reached base four times. Wood' big hit of the night came in the bottom of the 2nd on his 3-run double to take a 5-2 lead.(17:10) Keibert Ruiz had a big eveningin front of his parents, who saw him play in person for the first time in his professional career.  Ruiz's family traveled to D.C. from his native Venezuela for the occasion.(20:00) The bullpen mostly came through in their heavy workload on Thursday night. Six relievers were needed to toss over six frames and only allowed two runs in the process. Kyle Finnegan though did blow the save in the top of the 9th, but in his defense Jose Tena committed a crucial error to extend the game.(28:10) Trevor Williams had another poor start as he was yanked in the 4th inning. Williams was charged with five runs allowed and his ERA is now up to 6.39.  Will he get moved out of the starting rotation?

Tim gives a quick update on what you need to know as the Nats & Braves game was officially postponed at about 5PM on Wednesday.

The Nats won their 4th straight on Tuesday night as they topped the visiting Braves 5-3. Al & Mark have a lot to get to as Dylan Crews homered in the victory, but was removed mid-game because of a back issue, and that means Robert Hassell III is getting called up from AAA-Rochester. Hassell is one of the pieces from the 2022 Juan Soto trade with the San Diego Padres.(05:50) Jacob Young did not play for a second straight game due to crashing his shoulder into the Camden Yards' wall on Saturday. It is unclear if Young or Crews will be headed to the IL, and that likely will be decided after Crews' MRI on Wednesday morning.(10:00) Hassell's OPS is at .742 this season with four homers. He had a pair of doubles on Tuesday night in Syracuse prior to getting informed that he is headed to Washington.(14:30) The Nats offense continued their recent string of hot starts by scoring three runs right away against Atlanta's Spencer Strider.  They totaled eight hits in the win, but also had multiple terrible base running mistakes.(18:10) Mitchell Parker's outing was marred by a bad top of the 2nd where he gave up all three of his runs.  It was the 5th consecutive Parker start that was not classified as "good".(20:15) The bullpen teamed up for nearly four scoreless innings.  Kyle Finnegan punctuated the effort with a clean 1-2-3 inning for his 15th save of the year, which leads all of MLB.(26:10) Per the Washington Post, the team's Chief Revenue Officer and the Chief Marketing Officer left their positions earlier this month.  What does that mean in the bigger picture or isolated personnel moves?

The Nats continued to hammer Orioles pitching in their 10-4 win on Sunday afternoon. Mark (From Camden Yards) & Al discuss the Nationals first series sweep since mid July last season.  Washington also dominated the Battle of the Beltways this year by winning five of the six meetings.(03:30) The offense combined for five homers on Sunday and the team now has 50 home runs in 48 games this season.  CJ Abrams went deep in both the 1st & 2nd innings to lift his OPS this season to an impressive .942.(08:00) The other homers came from Dylan Crews, Luis Garcia Jr., and Josh Bell.  The team's increase in power this season leads to the hosts evaluating the hitting coach Darnell Coles, who is in the 4th season with the organization.(14:05) Michael Soroka earned the win after 5.2 IP and allowing three runs in the process. It is Soroka's first recorded victory since July 21st, 2023 while pitching for the Braves.(19:10) Brad Lord only lasted an inning in relief of Soroka despite inheriting a big lead. Al points out that not only is Lord a reliever instead of a starter right now, he isn't being utilized that often for long relief.(26:15) Washington has a well deserved day off on Monday before opening a three game series in Navy Yard vs. the Braves on Tuesday.  Thursday is a pitching matchup worth circling as Chris Sale takes on fellow lefty MacKenzie Gore.

The Nats immediately jumped out to a 6-0 edge on their way to Saturday's 10-6 victory at Camden Yards. Mark (From Baltimore) & Al convene after the Nationals third win in the past four days and their 2nd in a row at the Orioles. (04:30) Jacob Young crashed into the wall in the 7th and exited the game. X-rays were negative and it seems like no major injury was incurred. (08:00) Washington dominated Kyle Gibson in the opening inning by batting around and scoring six runs. The first out did not come until the 7th hitter and Young concluded the hit parade with a RBI triple. (12:20) Keibert Ruiz had a pair of hits, including a RBI double. Ruiz's OPS is .700 and is playing better defense than last season. (15:45) Despite entering the bottom of the 9th with a 10-2 lead, Kyle Finnegan had to warm up while Zach Brzykcy mightily struggled to get the final three outs. (18:15) Update on Derek Law, who has been on the IL all season due to right forearm inflammation. (22:00) Jake Irvin gave up five hits and allowed two runs in just over six innings of work. Irvin's ERA currently sits at 3.88, but Al notes the continuing trend of his declining velocity. (26:30) Brandon Hyde was fired as Orioles Manager on Saturday morning as they are in last place. Hyde & Davey Martinez worked together for years in Chicago, including when the Cubs won the 2016 World Series. Hyde took over in Baltimore; one season after Martinez came to D.C.

For the second time in three days, the Nats rallied late for a comeback win. Mark (From Baltimore) & Al gather after the Nationals 5-4 victory at Camden Yards to open the weekend series. (05:45) James Wood tied the game twice and the first came following a curious decision by Orioles Manager Brandon Hyde to pitch to Wood with a base open in the top of the 6th. Wood went deep in the top of the 8th for his 12th home run of the season. Nathaniel Lowe also homered in the affair in the the top of the 2nd. (08:00) Nasim Nuñez had by far the best game of his Big League career. Nuñez most importantly beat out an infield single for the go-ahead run in the 9th, but also flashed some leather in the outfield of all places. The only reason that Nuñez started was due to a fluky injury on Thursday night by Amed Rosario in his hotel room as he suffered a laceration. (16:00) A bizarre outing for MacKenzie Gore as he recorded nine strikeouts, but gave up ten hits on over 100 pitches in less than four innings of work. Hear Mark explain why this is one of the strangest starts he has ever seen. (22:30) A good night for the bullpen as they teamed up to only allow one run in over five innings of work. Jorge Lopez earned his 6th win of the season, which in a major statistical oddity has him tied for the most wins this season in all of MLB.

The Nats lost 5-2 in the Atlanta series finale on Thursday afternoon. Al Galdi hosts solo and begins with a wide angle lens look at CJ Abrams' future, as it is growing more appropriate to talk about Washington signing him to an extension ahead of his Free Agency after the 2028 season.  Abrams homered in the 8th inning, his second dinger this week, and his average currently sits at .317.(11:35) Trevor Williams only lasted 4.1 IP and fell apart once he faced the Braves lineup for a 3rd time.  Williams' ERA is now up to 5.91 and it is fair to wonder if he should flip places with Brad Lord in the bullpen.(14:40) Davey Martinez explains why Jose Tena got the start at 3B while Amed Rosario was at 2B.  Luis Garcia Jr. has been out all week after just having a child.(18:00) Al reads an email from an exasperated fan, who is asking for a purge of veterans that are not playing well.(23:00) Jim Callis, senior writer MLB Pipeline, gives Nats Chat an exclusive look at who the Nationals might pick at #1 overall in July's Draft. **** (This is a replay from earlier this month)

The Nats were on their way to another loss, but rallied for a 5-4 victory on Wednesday night in Atlanta. Al & Mark hop on after the losing streak ends at seven games; their longest of the season.(04:00) Offensive contributions came from the youthful trio of CJ Abrams, James Wood, and Dylan Crews.  Wood's RBI double in the top of the 8th gave Washington the lead for good. Abrams had a pair of hits and is hitting .311 so far on the season.(11:30) Jose Tena got another start at 2B while Luis Garcia Jr. is on Paternity Leave.  Tena was then moved to 3B late in the game when Nasim Nunez took over at 2B.(16:45) Mitchell Parker started off well, but ultimately gave up four runs in 4.2 IP. Parker was removed from the game after taking a come backer in the knee and was relieved by Jackson Rutledge.(23:50) Brady House & Robert Hasell III both homered on Wednesday night in AAA Rochester.  It is time to keep House on your radar as there is a decent chance that he is called up by next month.(30:00) Mark reacts to Tuesday's breaking news that Pete Rose and others have been removed from the Permanent Ineligible List.  Mark gives insight to what the upcoming process will be for Rose to determine whether or not he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

The Nats lost 5-2 in Atlanta on Tuesday night for their 7th consecutive defeat. Al & Tim run through the rotten state of affairs and wonder if any big changes are on the horizon as Washington is now nine games below .500 (17-26) through 43 games.(09:30) CJ Abrams homered on the first pitch of the game, his 5th of the season, and his OPS is up to .880.(10:45) Dylan Crews struck out to end the game on a questionable call. Crews' struggles at the plate are continuing as his batting average currently sits at .181.(17:30) Michael Soroka only lasted four innings on 81 pitches. Brad Lord relieved him and didn't do well as he allowed the Braves to take the lead for good, but also did not get much help from the defense behind him.(22:05) Cole Henry tossed a scoreless inning and has not given up a run in the month of May.  Henry only has one bad outing this season, when he gave up 5 runs in the series finale vs. the Mets in late April.(28:00) Pete Rose was removed from MLB's Permanently Ineligible list by Commissioner Rob Manfred and this could lead to him eventually getting into Cooperstown.(34:00) The weekly AAA report from Josh Whetzel, the voice of the Rochester Red Wings.

The Nats rallied in the top of the 9th, but couldn't make it to extras in Monday night's 4-3 loss in Atlanta.  Mark & Al dig into the decision to not use Kyle Finnegan in the bottom of the 9th, where it was tied 3-3. Jackson Rutledge initially stayed in the game, but then was relieved by Andrew Chafin as opposed to Finnegan.  The All-Star closer has not pitched since Game 1 of last Tuesday's doubleheader.(15:30) Jake Irvin gave up three runs off of seven hits in six innings of work.  Al points out the troubling trend regarding Irvin's strikeouts, as he only had one on Monday night.(20:35) James Wood chopped his 1th homer of the season, but it was another quiet day at the plate for his teammates.  Washington went 0 for 7 with RISP and struggled against Braves starter Grant Holmes.(27:10) The six game losing streak is now the longest in MLB and it seems that they are playing form behind every game. Michael Soroka takes the mound against his original team on Tuesday night.

The Nats were swept by the Cardinals on Mother's Day Sunday as they lost the series finale 6-1. Mark & Al address the growing elephant in the clubhouse after the 5th straight loss: Is the seat getting hotter for Manager Davey Martinez?(12:05) Nathaniel Lowe's solo homer was the only source of offense in defeat.  The bats were so quiet this weekend, that the only other Washington runs scored in the entire series were off of Dylan Crews' 2-run HR on Saturday. Hear Mark point out how much better Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas is against the Nationals than he is against most other opponents in the past few seasons.(17:30) Dylan Crews made a beautiful diving back-handed catch in the top of the 9th and it is an example of his great outfield defense since getting called up.(23:10) MacKenzie Gore gave up a 1st inning homer and four runs overall in just shy of seven innings of work.  Gore's exit was a tad curious as it seemed like he asked out of the game with two outs and about to face the 9th hitter.(31:00) Jarlin Susana, the highly rated AA pitcher , has been placed on the 7-day IL due to a Grade 1 UCL sprain. Susana was part of the trade package in the 2022 Juan Soto trade to the Padres.(35:00) Cade Cavalli has been optioned to AAA and was pulled in the 3rd inning on Saturday.  Mark explains the ramifications of Cavalli's roster status and most importantly when he might take the mound for the Nationals this year. 

The Nats rallied late with the bases loaded, but a CJ Abrams pop up resulted in a 4-2 loss on Saturday afternoon to the Cardinals. Al discusses the 4th consecutive defeat for Washington just after winning three in a row earlier in the week.(04:20) Davey Martinez was critical of the team after the game for issuing too many walks and conversely not drawing enough of them. Abrams swung on the first pitch against embattled St Louis closer Ryan Helsley with bases jammed in the bottom of the 9th with two outs and down two runs.(09:00) Dylan Crews slugged his 5th homer of the season to put the Nationals on the board in the bottom of the 8th.  His OPS currently sits at .571.(11:30) Trevor Williams gave up all four runs in the top of the 2nd.  Williams is currently staying in the rotation as Brad Lord is being moved back to the bullpen.(15:00) The 'pen was unscathed in three innings of work and Al highlights how well Cole Henry has mostly been performing.(16:30) Al reads some of the plethora of emails we received for feedback on the new MASN+ streaming app.(22:15) A special interview with Perry Giannis, President of Expos Fest, an annual gala in Quebec, that is to support a great cause.  Perry tells Tim why he thinks there needs to be more momentum for Felipe Alou to get inducted into the HOF and why Jose Vidro's number was retired at the event.

Erick Fedde, a former 1st Round pick for the Nats in 2014, shutout his old club on Friday night in D.C in the Cardinals 10-0 victory. Mark & Al evaluate Fedde's masterpiece, where he only gave up six hits on 109 pitches. This is the second time Fedde dominated his original team as he did so last May in a seven inning effort for the White Sox. (12:05) While we are here, Patrick Corbin threw a good outing on Friday night for Texas. Corbin has a ERA of 3.13 for the Rangers this season and Mark tries to lend an explanation for the better numbers this season. (17:30) Mitchell Parker had a third consecutive poor start as only has lasted four innings. Parker had immediate trouble as he walked the first two St. Luis batters he faced and both came across to score that frame. (26:40) The relief pitching struggled again and after the game Lucas Sims was released. Sims only recorded two outs in the top of the 8th and issued four walks that led to three Cardinal runs. He leaves his brief time with the organization with a 13.86 ERA.

The Nats led 3-0 entering the top of the 6th, but in less than a half hour they yielded eight Guardian runs on their way to an 8-6 loss. Mark & Al evaluate Michael Soroka, who initially seemed to have an excellent outing coming off the IL, but his scoreless effort turned into being tagged with four Cleveland runs. Soroka took the mound in the 6th after needing only 67 pitches prior to that frame. (9:25) Jorge Lopez & Andrew Chafin each struggled mightily in the nightmare inning, including a run scoring wild pitch. The low key positive came from Cole Henry, who tossed three scoreless innings to keep the game in striking distance. (13:30) The offense scored six runs off of 13 hits, but Davey Martinez was critical of their 4 for 19 effort with RISP in his postgame press conference. (23:00) What is swirling in GM Mike Rizzo's head regarding the state of the bullpen? (31:30) Washington hosts St. Louis & Erick Fedde on Friday night. Fedde has made seven starts this season and is sporting a 4.78 ERA.

The Nats opened the doubleheader vs. Cleveland with their 3rd straight win, but that momentum was halted just a few hours later. Mark & Al reluctantly begin again with the bullpen, who overall had an awful Tuesday at the ballpark.  They inherited a 6-2 lead in Game 1, but the Guardians immediately scored six runs in the top of the 7th.  The offense bailed them out and then Kyle Finnegan notched his 100th career save.(7:10) The Nationals were trailing when Brad Lord departed Game 2, but the 'pen still managed to give up five runs in only three innings of work. Lucas Sims allowed three runs and his ERA is now up to 12.34.(14:30) Jake Irvin continued his season long trend of having his roughest inning in the top of the 1st. Irvin was pulled in the 6th and Al offers a suggestion of how the organization should consider handling his future starts.(17:30) Lord had a good outing, but all signs are pointing to him moving back to the bullpen once Michael Soroka returns from the IL on Wednesday.  Lord began the season as a reliever before he was thrust into the rotation due to surrounding injuries.(27:00) The offense came through with ten hits in the Game 1 victory.  James Wood went deep with a 2-run shot for his 10th homer of the year.  Dylan Crews had a RBI double to tie the game in the bottom of the 7th; shortly after the bullpen coughed up the lead.(29:30) The bats were quiet in Game 2, Riley Adams solo HR was the only source of scoring.  Josh Bell returned to the lineup after missing three straight games and went hitless in the cleanup spot.  The bright spot came from CJ Abrams as he drew a trio of walks in the leadoff spot. Abrams has played at a level where he might return to the All-Star Game this summer.(36:40) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the Rochester Red Wings, gives Nats Chat an exclusive report on what is happening at AAA.

The Nats and Guardians were rained out on Monday and will play a traditional doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 3:35PM.

The Nats won their first road series of the season after a 4-1 victory over the Reds on Sunday afternoon. Mark (From Cincinnati) & Al note the bullpen having a solid weekend and instilling a bit more confidence as of late.(04:40) MacKenzie Gore extended his MLB lead for strikeouts this season by whiffing nine Reds in the series finale.  Gore fought through muddy conditions to make it through the bottom of the 5th as the rain intensified in what was his last inning of work.(13:00) Three Nationals relievers combined for four scoreless frames after Gore departed. Jorge Lopez tossed two innings on his way to earning the win.  Lopez has five consecutive scoreless appearance and all of them have come in high leverage situations.(16:10) Luis Garcia Jr. hit the go ahead solo homer to give Washington a 2-1 lead in the top of the 7th.  Garcia hit two homers on the road trip and his OPS this season is at .642.(20:00) The Nats begin a three game series vs. Cleveland on Monday night in Navy Yard.  There is some mystery as to who will start on Wednesday afternoon as it could either be Trevor Williams or Michael Soroka.  Brad Lord is slated to start the middle game on Tuesday evening.  (26:30) Jim Callis from MLB Pipeline previews the options for the Nationals this summer when they select the top pick in the Draft on July 13th. 

The Nats totaled 15 hits on their way to an 11-6 triumph at the Reds on Saturday evening.  Mark (From Cincinnati) & Al note Amed Rosario's biggest game yet since joining the team as he had four hits and a 3-run homer in the 6th to put Washington ahead for good.(07:00) Riley Adams had a big game with both the bat and his arm. Adams came through with a late 2-run single and threw out a pair of base stealers. Adams only has 22 at bats so far this season in the backup catcher role.(11:15) Trevor Williams had another rocky outing as he gave up four runs off of nine hits in just over five frames. Williams' ERA is up to 5.86 and his spot in the rotation is under closer scrutiny as Michael Soroka is poised to return soon from the IL.(16:20) Andrew Chafin excelled in his organizational debut as he recorded two strikeouts in relief of Williams to keep the 7-4 lead in tact through six innings. Mark relays his colorful impression of the veteran lefty who is full of personality.(23:00) MacKenzie Gore takes the mound on Sunday in the series rubber match.  Gore currently leads all of MLB w/ 59 strikeouts this season in seven starts. 

The Nats fell 6-1 in Cincinnati on Friday evening to open the three game set. Mark (From Cincy) & Al discuss Mitchell Parker's second consecutive poor outing as he allowed five runs off of four walks in only four innings on the mound. Parker this past week has been struggling with control and looks like a different pitcher than the one that began the season. (06:40) Michael Soroka struck out 11 Iron Pigs in only five innings of work in his AAA rehab outing in Rochester. He is expected to return to the big league rotation in the near future. (9:45) Jackson Rutledge tossed a scoreless bottom of the 8th and quietly is sporting a 2.38 ERA. Will he start to pitch in more high leverage situations moving forward? (13:10) Reds hurler Hunter Greene dominated Washington as he collected a dozen strikeouts in only six innings of work. Greene now has 55Ks this season, 3rd most in the majors, trailing league leader MacKenzie Gore by four strikeouts. (16:30) Josh Bell homered and the exited the game early due to tweaking his hamstring. (19:40) Trevor Williams is slated to start on Saturday, but there is heavy rain in the Cincinnati forecast.

The Nats snapped their three game skid with a 4-2 victory on Thursday night at the Phillies.  Mark (From Philadelphia) & Al open with the eventful top of the 6th where Washington scored all of their runs.  Luis Garcia Jr. not only had a RBI single, but also stole home on a double steal for the final insurance run.(08:10) Keibert Ruiz knocked in Nathaniel Lowe on what was ruled a three base error by Bryce Harper, but should it have been scored as a triple?(12:45) Brad Lord lasted five innings and recorded his first Big League "W". The timing is rather interesting as his rotation spot is at stake if Michael Soroka returns from the IL in the near future.(18:45) The bullpen came through for Lord as three relievers combined for four scoreless frames.  Jose A. Ferrer tossed two innings, Jorge Lopez pitched the 8th, and Kyle Finnegan bounced back with his 10th save of the season, the 2nd most in the NL.(25:00) The Nationals made their first bullpen transaction post Opening Day as they signed veteran Andrew Chafin and DFA'd Colin Poche. Chafin has been in the majors since 2014 and has a career ERA of 3.42. The lefty pitched well for AAA-Toledo last month before signing a major league deal with the Nats.(30:00) The road trip moves this weekend to Cincinnati for a three game set.  Mitchell Parker will start the opener on Friday night vs. Hunter Greene.   The Reds are 17-15 overall and are in 2nd place in their division. 

The Nats lost 7-2 on Wednesday night for their 3rd straight defeat. Mark (From Philadelphia) & Al begin with an update on James Frisbie, one of the Nationals batting practice pitchers, who collapsed on the field at the beginning of the day's workouts.  He received immediate medical attention and is apparently "feeling better".(04:30) A look at the Nats in April as they end the opening month at 13-18 overall.(06:45) Jake Irvin gave up a pair of homers, including a 3-run shot in the bottom of the 1st to Kyle Schwarber.  Irvin has allowed eight homers so far on the season in seven starts and has shown signs of diminishing velocity.(15:45) Josh Bell went 0 for 4 and struck out three times on Wednesday.  His OPS is now down to .503 and the hosts evaluate what to do regarding Bell's struggles at the plate.(24:00) Nathaniel Lowe had a RBI double hitting out of the cleanup spot. Lowe has likely been the team's 2nd best hitter so far and his OPS sits at .762.

The Nats lost a heartbreaker in Philadelphia as what briefly looked like a thrilling comeback victory turned into a 7-6 walk-off loss. Mark (From Citizens Bank Park) & Al start with the seesaw 9th inning that was initially a 5-2 Phillies lead at the start of the frame.(12:45) Discussion on how this ballpark has an aptitude of quirky games due to its odd dimensions.(16:30) MacKenzie Gore gave up a pair of homers and struck out six in his outing. Gore returns to the MLB lead for strikeouts this season just ahead of Zack Wheeler, his foil on Tuesday night.(19:30) The offense scored two off of Wheeler and came through with six extra base hits on the evening.  The highlight came in the four run top of the 9th when Nathaniel Lowe hit a go-ahead 3 run homer for a brief 6-5 edge.(22:45) Mark points out that Washington had the bases loaded in four separate at bats and struck out every time.(28:40) A special report on Cade Cavalli's short rehab outing in AAA, from Josh Whetzel, the voice of the Rochester Red Wings. 

Monday was an ugly one in Navy Yard as the Mets routed the Nats 19-5 to split the series.  Trevor Williams allowed five runs in just over five innings of work, but the bullpen really imploded in the loss.  The 'pen then combined to give up 14 runs in less than four innings on the mound. Cole Henry especially had a rough afternoon, as New York plated five runs off of him in the top of the 7th.(13:30) The offense only scored in the bottom of the 8th in this one.  Among the scoring was James Wood's 9th homer of the season, putting him just one back of the MLB lead.  Nathaniel Lowe also went deep and this leads to a discussion about the trade that brought him over to Washington this offseason.(22:45) Al & Tim look at the recent emergence of MASN+, the new direct to consumer streaming option of Nationals & Orioles baseball.  What does this mean for the team's broadcast rights long terms?

The Nats had their second walk-off win of the weekend as they overcame a six run deficit on Sunday afternoon for a thrilling 8-7 victory over the NL East leading Mets.  Riley Adams hit a 3 run HR in the bottom of the 7th to put Washington just one run back.  The offense then ncame through with two runs in the 9th and yet again it was CJ Abrams coming across for the winning run.(11:30) Dylan Crews began the team's scoring with a solo homer to continue his hot stretch. Crews has six hits in the past three games and has gotten a hit almost everyday since April 15th.(16:00) The much maligned bullpen kept its momentum as of late alive.  The 'pen combined for four innings of scoreless work, including a clean inning by the lefty Colin Poche.(19:30) Mitchell Parker had a disastrous first inning as he allowed five runs and saw the Mets bat around.  As bad as his start was, he was able to settle down and fight his way to complete five innings and save the bullpen for a few frames.(25:00) Evaluating where the Nationals are at after this recent stretch.