Nats Chat

Littell DFA'd but a RBI for Mikolas in Extra-Inning Win

The Nats ended their seven game losing streak with a hard fought 10-4 victory over the Phillies in extras on Wednesday night.  Mark (From Philly) & Al begin with the very unusual moment in the top of the 11th when Miles Mikolas of all people laid down a RBI single to give the team a 3-run lead. The offense erupted in the 11th with six runs off the back-end of the Philadelphia bullpen.  Washington lost the DH when Andres Chaparro took over at 1B for Abimelec Ortiz. (07:00) CJ Abrams 2-run triple began the rally in 11th, which led to Mikolas pinch-hitting opportunity. Abrams occupied the leadoff spot on Wednesday as James Wood was recently placed on the IL. (12:00) Brady House homered off a lefty despite usually being far more productive against a right-hander. (17:00) Jake Irvin pitched into the 6th and allowed only a pair of runs in his 2nd start back from the IL. (18:00) Two pitchers who were acquired recently in trades took the mound on Wednesday in Philly. Will Dion came over for Foster Griffin and Yovanny Cruz was part of the package from the Yankees for Luis Garcia Jr. (22:00) Brad Lord is back from the IL and only needed ten pitches to notch the final three outs in the bottom of the 11th. (26:00) Zack Littell was Designated For Assignment in order to make roster space for Lord.  This is a clear suggestion of what the organizational approach will be in the final two months of the season. The veteran struggled in Washington as he had a 4.97 ERA in 23 appearances. (34:00) Joey Wiemer, who had been in Rochester the past few months, was waived by the organization. Wiemer was struggling in AAA as his OPS was only .534. Wiemer had a great start of the season as he homered twice in Wrigley Field in late March.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Wood to the IL Before 7th Straight Loss

The Nats' losing steak is now up a to season worst seven games after getting shutout 5-0 in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.  Mark (From Philly) & Al immediately address the sorry state of affairs as just one week ago they were two games above .500 and very much in the wildcard hunt. (06:30) Prior to the game James Wood was placed on the 10-Day IL due to a left oblique strain.  Wood exited Monday's game shortly after he injured his side on a swing in the top of the 6th. (11:00) The offense was 0 for 11 w/ runners in scoring position in the loss and collectively on this road trip they are a stunningly bad 3 for 45. (14:00) Any chance that CJ Abrams becomes the leadoff hitter while Wood is on the IL?  Dylan Crews was first in the order in Tuesday night's defeat. (17:00) Andrew Pinckney had a hectic Tuesday as he spent the morning riding the bus to Scranton with his Rochester teammates and ended it as a member of the Washington Nationals inside the visitor's clubhouse in Philadelphia. Pinckney was available off the bench after arriving in the middle of the 2nd inning and he occupied the roster spot vacated by Wood. (21:00) Carson Palmquist's brief appearance as the Opener did not go well as he allowed one run after just facing four batters.  Palmquist has seen more action in that role, but it is not going well. (23:00) Keep or cut Zack Littell and/or Miles Mikolas for the final two months of the season? (26:00) Putting in perspective how many obstacles are facing the organization right now. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

6th Straight Loss After Trading Griffin

It was a long Monday for the Nationals in Philadelphia as the Trade Deadline elapsed less than an hour before losing 6-3 for a a 6th consecutive defeat.  Mark (From Philly) & Al start with Blake Butera getting ejected for the first time as a major league Manager. It came in the 7th inning after Nasim Nunez made an out on the bases. (06:00) The Nats made a pair of trades on Monday, but certainly of different magnitudes.  All - Star starting pitcher Foster Griffin was sent to Cleveland in exchange for four players and AAA outfielder Christian Franklin was dealt to the Orioles organization.  The Griffin trade on Monday afternoon cemented that the Nationals were ultimately "sellers" at the Trade Deadline. (10:00) Did Washington and Griffin's extension talks get close at all before he was traded away? (14:00) Analyzing the players coming over from the Guardians organization which were three pitchers and one outfielder. The Nationals overall acquired nine pitchers in their four recent trades before the deadline. (22:30) The Nats led 3-0 entering the bottom of the 7th behind the left arm of Andrew Alvarez.  It went south that frame as Tom Cosgrove gave up to Grand Slam to Derek Hill. (28:00) Abimelec Ortiz hit his first career homer right away as he was hitting 2nd in the order.  Ortiz was also called up from Rochester and started at 1B in place of Luis Garcia. Ortiz came over to the organization as part of the package from Texas from MacKenzie Gore. (32:00) Daylen Lile put Washington ahead 3-0 with a 2-run shot in the top of the 2nd. (33:00) James Wood exited the game early due to tightness in his side and he is getting a MRI on Tuesday. (35:00) PJ Poulin was transferred to the 60-Day IL due to a left flexor strain. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Garcia Jr. Traded After Getting Swept

The Nats lost 4-2 on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta for their 5th straight defeat at an inopportune time.  Mark (From ATL) & Al begin the show with real time reaction to the news that Luis Garcia Jr. has been traded to the Yankees. (10:00) Garcia made his MLB debut in 2020 with the Nationals and his career in Washington included multiple position changes. He is headed to the American League now, but Garcia's .560 slugging percentage is the best in all of the National League so far this season. (17:00) Discussion regarding the four pitchers coming over from New York to complete the trade.  Learn a bit more about Jack Cebert, Ben Grable, Yovanny Cruz, and Jake Bird. (21:00) What does the future hold for Garcia Jr. as he is headed to The Bronx? (25:00) The offense only scored 11 runs during the entire series in Atlanta. James Wood struggled mightily as he went for 1 for 13 over the course of the four-game series. (27:30) Andres Chaparro was hit in the head by a pitch and exited early due to dizziness.  Since Garcia Jr. was a late scratch just before the game, Brady House filled in at 1B.  House recently took ground balls at the position, but never played it in a professional game. (32:30) Cade Cavalli gave up a pair of solo homers and lasted six innings.  The Braves scored an unearned run off of Cavalli after a CJ Abrams throwing error in the bottom of the 5th. (40:00) The Trade Deadline arrives at 6pm Eastern on Monday.  Will Foster Griffin be dealt before the Nationals take the field on Monday evening in Philadelphia? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

4th Straight Loss

The Nats lost 8-3 in Atlanta on Saturday for their 4th straight defeat,  Mark (From Truist Park)  & Al update the latest Trade Deadline scenarios as they are now two games below .500 with just one game left before Monday's deadline. (11:00) Martin Perez was a late replacement for Reynaldo Lopez as the Braves starting pitcher.  The news came out an hour before 1st Pitch and it was a switch from a righty to a lefty pitcher.  The Nats ended up not getting their first hit until a Brady House 7th inning double to break up Perez's No-Hit bid. (17:30) Atlanta broke the game wide open in the bottom of the 7th when they scored four runs off Riley Cornelio.  Eddie Yean relieved Cornelio but brought in a run right away with a wild pitch. (20:00) CJ Abrams committed his 18th error of the season and had rough night defensively.  This leads to a wide-angle lens view regarding his future at the shortstop position. (28:00) If the Nats struggle in August, will Washington move on from Miles Mikolas? He allowed four runs off of nine hits on Saturday night and his ERA is now 5.67. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.