Nats Chat

The Nats pounded the Diamondbacks 14-1 after hitting five homers on Friday night. Mark & Al open with Luis Garcia Jr. who went deep twice; including a Grand Slam to make the game a rout. Garcia's OPS is .745 with seven homers on the season.

(10:00) James Wood homered for the 17th time this year which is tied for 2nd most in the NL.

(12:00) Jorbit Vivas ended his RISP woes w/ a pair of hits.  Vivas got the nod at 3B and made a nice defensive play in the win.

(17:00) TGIF - Foster Griffin earned the victory by only allowing one run in five innings of work.  Griffin was removed due to back tightness, but Blake Butera did note that the large lead played a role in the decision.

(24:45) Updates on injured pitchers DJ Herz & Jake Irvin.

(28:00) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the Rochester Red Wings, gives a report from AAA. Hear the latest on Yo Yo Morales, Brady House, and Abimelec Ortiz.

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The Nats lost 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon and it completed a three game sweep for the Marlins.  Mark & Al convene after the Nationals dropped to 1-5 on the season vs. Miami and are now back to one game below .500 overall.

(07:00) The offense was little match for Miami starter Max Meyer as he only allowed one run in seven innings of work. The Nationals only scored seven total runs during this series in Navy Yard.

(08:30) Dylan Crews drove in the only run with a RBI fielder's choice in the bottom of the 3rd. Crews' OPS is just at .547 through 48 Big League at bats this season.

(11:15) Keibert Ruiz started behind the plate and Drew Millas did not play on Wednesday.  Millas exited Tuesday night after lacerating his lip on a slide into 3rd base.

(13:30) Nasim Nuñez made a great defensive play off a hard hit ground ball in the top of the 5th.  Nuñez has made many impressive plays in the field so far this season at 2B.

(18:00) The bullpen struggled as five relievers combined to allow three runs in just over four innings of work.  Clayton Better gave up the pivotal 2-run single to Joe Mack in the top of the 8th that put the Marlins up 3-1.

(23:00) Andrew Alvarez only allowed a solo homer as he pitched into the 5th.  Alvarez's ERA sits at 3.54 through six Major League appearances this season.

(26:10) Who are the top pitchers behind Alvarez in the minor league pipeline?

(31:30) The Nats finished the home stand at 2-4 and head to Arizona on Friday to begin a six game road trip. 

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The Nats lost 7-3 for the second straight night against visiting Miami.  Mark & Al discuss the defeat that included the Marlins hitting three straight homers in the top of the 5th and some questionable decisions by Manager Blake Butera along the way.

(04:30) Richard Lovelady had an adventurous scoreless outing.  Lovelady issued three walks, but worked around the trouble in two frames on the mound.

(06:00) Miles Mikolas then took over and allowed three straight homers in the top of the 5th. Mikolas settled down, but surprisingly began to top of the 97 MPH on the radar. Amazingly, Mikolas threw harder on Tuesday night than he had in years.

(10:30) Mitchell Parker relieved Mikolas in the 9th and the Marlins lead ballooned to four runs. Parker did not help himself as he threw to 1st base instead of home on a squeeze bunt with runners on the corners.

(17:30) Drew Millas exited after suffering a "lip laceration" while sliding into 3rd base and Keibert Ruiz came in to replace him.

(24:00) A breakdown of Butera's decision to pinch hit Jose Tena for Jacob Young. Tena did not get a hit and he then played in RF for the rest of the game.

(32:00) Washington looks to avoid the sweep on Wednesday afternoon as Andrew Alvarez will take the mound at some point.  The Nats are just 1-4 against the hapless Marlins so far this season.

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The Nats lost 7-3 to Miami on Monday night in Navy Yard. Mark & Al note that the Nationals are now just 1-3 so far this season against the underwhelming Marlins.

(04:30) Cade Cavalli threw another good outing as he struck out six Marlins in five plus innings on the mound. Cavalli is tied for the 8th most strikeouts in the National League.

(12:20) The bullpen did not fare well on Monday evening.  Richard Lovelady allowed a game tying 2-run HR to the first batter he saw in the top of the 6th. Paxton Schultz stepped up with a scoreless outing , but Cole Henry let the game get a bit out of hand in the 9th.

(19:30) What is Cole Henry's future in the organization? His ERA thus far is 7.30 in nine appearances this year.

(22:00) Jacob Young homered for the 8th time this season and is tied for 3rd for the most on the team.

(25:45) Nasim Nuñez was thrown out in a steal attempt with two outs and James Wood at bat in the bottom of the 5th.  Nuñez is now 22 for 25 on stolen base attempts this season.

(29:00) An update on Jake Irvin and how he has not yet resumed throwing.

(31:30) Dylan Crews is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday after sitting out a few games due to being hit in the ribs.

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The Nats topped the Padres 4-2 to take the weekend series and return to two games above .500. Al solo hosts and begins with Blake Butera's early case for NL Manager of the Year as the team went 16-12 in the month of May.

(07:00) James Wood slugged his 16th homer of the season which is tied for the 2nd most in the NL. Luis Garcia Jr. also went deep for his 5th homer of the season.

(09:00) Keibert Ruiz had a great month of May; both at the plate and behind it. Is Ruiz a legit All - Star candidate?

(11:30) Zack Littell pitched into the 7th inning and this start was another indication of his in-season improvement.

(13:40) Orlando Ribalta & Clayton Beeter comined for the final nine outs and Beeter notched his 4th save of the season.

(16:50) The Nationals host the Marlins for three games beginning on Monday.

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(19:00) Tim is joined by Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports to discuss the Wizards holding the #1 pick in this summer's NBA Draft.

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The Nats offense exploded for six runs in the 7th inning in their 9-4 victory over the Padres.  Mark & Al run through the hectic frame, that began with a 3-1 San Diego lead. Washington scored in many unconventional ways and Craig Stammen was ejected for the first time as Padres skipper in the process.

(07:00) San Diego starter Michael King was cruising through six innings, but the 7th inning avalanche caused him to be charged with five runs.

(09:00) Curtis Mead didn't start, yet drove in three runs on Saturday.  Mead was purposely used a pinch hitter when the moment called for a right handed hitter.

(12:40) Dylan Crews helped ignite the rally, but continues to have trouble hitting the ball in the air.  Crews hard slide into 2nd base in the 7th led to the Stammen ejection.

(16:45) The "Tarp's Off" phenomenon came to Nationals Park on Saturday.

(18:30) Foster Griffin allowed three solo homers in five innings of work. His ERA sits at 3.76 after a dozen starts.

(23:30) Clayton Beeter notched a four-out save despite issuing two walks.  Better escaped a jam in the 8th to keep the big lead intact.

(26:00) The Nationals have won 15 games so far in May with one more game remaining in the month. 

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The Nats lost their homestand opener 7-5 on Friday night. Mark & Al examine the 7-5 loss to the Padres that put the team back at .500 after two consecutive defeats.

(04:45) Paxton Schultz surprisingly was used as the Opener and his 26 pitch 1st inning set a tone for a pitch inefficient evening on the mound for Washington.

(06:00) Andrew Alvarez only lasted three innings as the Bulk starter. Alvarez gave up a trio of runs off of five hits and two walks were issued.

(09:30) Could Clayton Better be used as an Opener against right-hand heavy lineups?

(11:20) Mitchell Parker gave up the 7th inning homer to Jackson Merrill that put the Padres up for good in the 7th.  Blake Butera had interesting comments on the lefty afterwards as he allowed three runs in only two innings on the mound. Parker's ERA has risen to 5.28 through 13 appearances.

(18:00) Curtis Mead & Keibert Ruiz each homered in the loss.

(22:30) Luis Garcia Jr. flew out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th.  Garcia was facing Mason Miller, who might be the best reliever in all of MLB right now.

(29:30) The Padres have a coaching staff that knows their way around Navy Yard. Craig Stammen, former Nats reliever, is the new San Diego manager and his staff includes Bobby Henley, Randy Knorr, and Steven Sousa Jr. 

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The Nats lost to the Guardians 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon to snap their four game win streak.  Mark & Al take stock in the 4-2 road trip where the Nationals only played 1st place teams.  The team went 10-6 during a sixteen day stretch without a day off.

(05:30) The offense was only 1 for 8 w/ RISP, but the big stars each doubled.  CJ Abrams doubled Wood into score in the 3rd and his 47 RBIs are the second most in all of Baseball.

(12:00) PJ Poulin tossed a scoreless 1st and then handed it off to Miles Mikolas.  The Guardians scored all of their runs in the bottom of the 5th and two of those runs were charged against Mikolas.

(16:00) Six pitchers were used and after the game Poulin was optioned to AAA.

(20:15) Andrew Alvarez will take the mound on Friday to begin the six game homestand.  San Diego is in town for the first three and then Miami comes to D.C. on Monday night.

(24:20) When will Yohandy "Yo Yo" Morales get called up to Washington? Morales' OPS is currently at 1.018, but there are questions as to where he fits in defensively. 

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The Nats doubled up the Guardians 6-3 on Wednesday night to go two games above .500.  Al & Tim discuss the longest win streak thus far for the Nationals as all four victories have come on the road.

(04:30) This is the highest point for the franchise since the Trade Deadline in 2021.

(06:30) Cade Cavalli struck out out seven Guardians in six innings of work. Cavalli escaped a jam in the 5th to maintain a comfortable lead.

(11:20) Mitchell Parker took the baton from Cavalli and pitched the final three innings.  Parker struck out the side in the 8th and it seems that he is taking on a role similar to Brad Lord on this pitching staff.

(14:40) Washington scored four runs in the top of the 2nd to go ahead for the rest of the night. Wood homered for the 15th time this season and his OPS is now .964.

(21:10) Miles Mikolas will take the mound at some point on Wednesday afternoon as the Nats look to not only sweep Cleveland, but also finish a 5-1 road trip.

**Audio courtesy of the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network 

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The Nats slugged their way to a 10-2 romp on Memorial Day in Cleveland.  Al & Mark begin with the fact that the Nationals are above .500; the latest point in the season that they have a winning record since July 1st, 2021.

(10:00) Washington crushed six homers in Monday night's win.  They began the hit parade immediately as James Wood led off the game with a solo shot and two batters later Carlos Mead made it 3-0.

(11:35) Mead and his .844 OPS went deep twice in the win as he is making a case to be the everyday 3B.  Mead was acquired from the White Sox in late March in exchange for Boston Smith, who is currently in High-A Ball.

(15:30) Jacob Young homered for the fifth time in the past seventeen games to put the Nats up 4-0.

(18:20) Zack Littell took over for PJ Poulin the bottom of the 3rd and took it home the rest of the way.  Littell & Miles Mikolas' improved performance have been crucial as of late.

(24:00) Would the Nats be buyers at the Trade Deadline if they are still in the playoff hunt? (Let's have some fun)

(29:05) Updated conversation on CJ Abrams' future with the organization. 

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