Nats Chat

On the final day of play this season at Nationals Park, the Nats and Braves split the Sunday doubleheader. Mark & Al open with Jackson Rutledge coming away with his 1st career MLB victory in his 3rd start since getting called up. Rutledge went the minimum 5 IP and is expected to face Atlanta again next weekend.(08:00) Lane Thomas reached the 20/20 plateau and is the first player in franchise history to accomplish that feat since Bryce Harper in 2016.(16:10) Jacob Young had an excellent Game 1 as he had multiple RBI hits and a great catch to rob Ronald Acuna Jr. Young was recognized pregame for winning the "Nationals Way Award".(23:00) Joan Adon took the loss in Game 2 as he allowed 4 runs and issued 4 walks. His ERA in 4 September starts is at 7.23 but he likely will pitch in Atlanta for the final series.(30:00) The Nats have a 2 game series this week in Baltimore and the Orioles are close to clinching the AL East. Their magic number is at 3; which means it can't happen until Wednesday at the earliest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 9-6 to the Braves on what was a very busy Friday in Navy Yard. Mark & Al start with the offense somehow going just 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position. CJ Abrams paced the lineup as he had a pair of hits, 3 RBIs, and stole his 43rd base of the season.(10:40) Patrick Corbin immediately fell behind 3-0 and the game began by him surrendering Ronald Acuna Jr.'s 40th homer of the season. Acuna is only the 5th player to join the 40/40 club and is the first since Alfonso Soriano did it with the Nationals in 2006.(18:10) The local media voted Lane Thomas as the team's Player of the Year for the 2nd consecutive season. Kyle Finnegan won Pitcher of the Year and Mark explains why he personally voted for Hunter Harvey instead.(24:00) Prior to the game Sean Doolittle announced his retirement as he continued to have injury setbacks in his attempt to return to the mound. Doolittle came to Washington during the Trade Deadline in 2017 and recorded the final out for Game 1 of the World Series in Houston. Is he the best closer in team history?**SATURDAY'S GAME HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO EXPECTED HEAVY RAINS AND THE PLAN IS TO NOW PLAY A SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER ON SUNDAY 09/24/23. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A day after an easy win, the Nats were smashed by the visiting Braves 10-3 on Thursday evening. Al & Tim recap Jake Irvin's short outing that ended in the top of the 3rd. It matches his shortest start of the season when he also had 2.2 IP vs. Detroit back in May. (11:00) Cory "The Janitor" Abbott struck out 8 Atlanta hitters while throwing nearly 5 innings of mop-up duty. This comes on the 14th consecutive day of play for the Nationals as they have a very fatigued bullpen.(19:45) Alex Call homered for the only the 2nd time since August and came through with a pair of hits. The offense had another 9th inning rally in a blow loss; which feels like a familiar refrain.(23:10) New Commanders Owner Josh Harris thew out the ceremonial 1st pitch on a "Capital Crossover" evening that brought together the two franchises. This leads to an extended discussion about the potential for a stronger relationship between the baseball & football teams in this new era of D.C. sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats pummeled the White Sox 13-3 for a rare easy victory on Wednesday afternoon. Mark & Al have plenty of fun items to discuss as the offense came through with a trio of homers and 14 hits. Lane Thomas grand slam broke the game open in the bottom of the 3rd to give Washington a comfortable 8-1 lead. CJ Abrams matched Thomas' feat of reaching base four times as he was able to draw a pair of walks in the win.(16:30) Dom Smith homered for the 5th time this month after only having 6 dingers through August. Mark explains why he has a hunch that Smith will be back as the Nationals 1B next season.(22:00) Josiah Gray earned the victory despite only lasting the minimum 5 IP. Gray's ERA is exactly at 4.00 as the season winds down, it was at 3.41 entering the All Star Break.(30:45) For the 1st time since April, the Braves come to D.C. on Thursday for a 4 game series. Ronald Acuna Jr. enters with 39 homers and 67 RBIs. Nobody has reached the 40/40 Club since Alfonso Soriano did so with the Nats in 2006. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats outlasted the White Sox 4-3 on a Tuesday evening with a lot to smile about. Mark & Al open with Jackson Rutledge's solid start after he had a disappointing debut last week. Rutledge only allowed a pair of solo homers and is the first Washington rookie pitcher to make it into the 7th of his home debut since Stephen Strasburg (2010).(10:45) Cade Cavalli talked to reporters pregame in D.C. and surprisingly revealed that he will be back on the mound in June. Mark relays his first hand account of Cavalli's comments and what to infer.(17:00) Joey Meneses was the offensive hero with a pinch hit 3 run HR in the bottom of the 7th. It is remarkably only the 2nd pinch hit homer the team has hit all season.(25:00) Kyle Finnegan notched the save, but it was an adventure along the way. His September ERA is a startling 9.39 and he has given up at least 1 earned run in the majority of those outings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats began their final homestand with a 6-1 defeat at the hands of the White Sox on Monday night. Al & Tim wonder why Dom Smith & Mike Clevinger got into it in the moments after Smith's 9th inning solo HR that led to the benches briefly clearing. It was the only time that Clevinger was uncomfortable all evening; on his way to a complete game victory.(10:00) CJ Abrams was picked off and these sort of instances seem to be quite common. Is Eric Young JR. definitely returning as 1st Base Coach in 2024?(18:00) Joan Adon allowed 5 runs in 5 IP and it went sideways for him beginning in the top of the 5th. Adon has been in the rotation since early August and most of his outings have gone poorly.(24:00) Al points out the better than expected attendance in 2023. We salute the fans for continuing to show up despite this streak of last place finishes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats ended their 5 game losing streak by edging Milwaukee 2-1 on Sunday afternoon in extra innings. Mark (From **Miller Park) & Tim begin with Michael Chavis, who spearheaded a game ending double play to escape a bases loaded jam. Chavis was not in the starting lineup, but stayed at 1B after pinch running for Dom Smith in the 9th inning.(09:20) The Brewers are on the verge of winning the NL Central, but the numbers suggest they have a similarly modest offense as the last place Nationals. Both teams for instance only have one player with over 20 HRs (Thomas/ Adames).(16:40) Patrick Corbin only gave up 1 run in 6 IP and briefly on Sunday he found his ERA below 5.00. Mark handicaps how Corbin fits into the team's plans for his upcoming final season under contract.(25:05) It's the first September that Washington has experienced the overlap of Nats & Commanders since the football team changed hands. Will there be a new relationship between the 2 organizations? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost again on their road trip, a 9-5 defeat on Saturday evening in Milwaukee. Mark (From Wisconsin) & Al explain how a game that seemed out of reach for awhile all of a sudden became a tied affair in the 8th inning. The Brewers struck back with a Grand Slam from Mark Canha in the bottom of the frame off of Kyle Finnegan.(04:15) Trevor Williams had an awful start and only made it 2 innings. Should Williams stay in the rotation for the final weeks?(23:00) Luis Garcia homered for the first time since late July off of Cy Young candidate Corbin Burnes. Garcia had a pair of hits on Saturday after entering with only 2 hits since returning to the Nationals on September 8th.(25:30) Joey Meneses had a trio of base knocks and Mark points just how clutch he can be in certain occasions. Meneses has 157 hits on the season, as many as Matt Olson, who leads MLB in HRs (52). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 5-3 in Milwaukee on Friday night as they are now just 3-10 in September. Mark (From Wisconsin) & Al point out how the beleaguered lineup mightily struggled despite scoring 3 immediate runs off of Wade Miley. There was some brief confusion during a Miley vs. Lane Thomas at bat regarding pitch clock rules and Mark explains what the fuss was all about.(16:30) Thomas hit his 25th of the year and this includes not having any in April. The last time that a National hit 30+ homers in a season came in 2019, when Anthony Rendon & Juan Soto each crossed the benchmark.(22:00) Jake Irvin's gave up back to back HRs to the final batters that he faced and was removed in the bottom of the 5th. Irvin did not allow a run until that frame, but did issue 5 walks along the way.(29:45) There is a chance that Tanner Rainey could join Washington before the end of the season as he has made a dozen rehab appearances since returning from Tommy John surgery. The final game for AAA- Rochester is on September 24th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats were shutout Thursday afternoon in Pittsburgh, but overall it was a good day for the organization. Al & Tim rehash Gray's sterling outing where he struck out 10 Pirates; serving as his season high for Ks. He potentially has 3 starts remaining and 2 of them might come against the division champion Braves. This was the quickest game of the season; clocking in at 1 hour and 50 minutes.(19:00) A veteran listener writes in to us his strong opinion as to why he is disappointed that Mike Rizzo will be returning as GM.(20:15) Tim gives his strong opinion as why he is very happy that Rizzo is back and extended. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 7-6 in Pittsburgh, but on Wednesday morning the news became official that GM Mike Rizzo agreed to an extension with the franchise. Mark & Al spend plenty of time dissecting all facets to the news and what it means for the Rebuild. Hear what Rizzo had to say for the next phase, why Davey Martinez's deal got done first, and his commentary about the Lerner's. Is extending Rizzo the right call long-term?(29:00) The Nationals turned an early 7-2 deficit into 7-5 entering the top of the 9th. Keibert Ruiz came through with a RBI infield single, but the game ended with a pair of stranded runners. Dom Smith had a big evening as he homered and doubled and his OPS has snuck up to .701.(32:40) Jackson Rutledge pitched poorly in his MLB debut as he gave up 10 hits and 7 runs in 3.2 IP. Rutledge was drafted in the 1st Round back in 2019 and has spent part of this year in Harrisburg and Rochester. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 5-1 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday evening for their 80th loss of the season. Mark & Al begin with the news that Jackson Rutledge, RHP selected in the 1st Round of the 2019 Draft, will make his MLB debut on Wednesday night. His ERA this season is 3.71 and it comes through stints at Harrisburg and Rochester. His road to "The Show" has been a bumpy one, but lets see how beautiful it turns out.(11:15) Joan Adon had another no so good outing as he allowed 4 runs in as many innings on 93 pitches. The worst part was the 6 walks that he issued (1 intentional) and at least two Pirates reached base every frame.(23:00) Al takes issue with certain players who are not receiving playing time during this final month. Jake Alu has not played yet in Pittsburgh and is hitting .229 overall in his late season audition.(27:40) Hear more details on our upcoming Podcast Party at Walter's. Friday night October 13th from 6:30-8:30pm in Navy Yard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nationals began this week's road trip on the right foot with a 6-3 victory on Monday night in Pittsburgh. Al & Tim dive into CJ Abrams' big evening as he had his 1st multi HR game of his career. Abrams is 5th in the NL among shortstops with 18 career HRs.(15:00) Patrick Corbin took home the W for his 6.2 IP effort where he only allowed a pair of runs. Corbin leads the team with 158.1 IP, which is 17 innings more than Josiah Gray.(25:00) Al points out that the Nats have never had a close September race, even in all the successful division title years. This includes 2019, when Washington clinched the Wildcard with relative ease in the final month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amid yet another rain delay, the Nats lost 7-3 to the Dodgers on Sunday in the series rubber match. Al & Mark start with Trevor Williams. who had another poor outing in a season where his ERA sits at 5.44. Williams has given up 14 earned runs in just 2 September starts.(13:00) Joe LaSorsa performed yeoman's effort as he came up just shy of pitching all of the final 4 innings. LaSorsa joined the team on Friday after his recent stint in Rochester.(21:30) A check in on Carter Kieboom who has been at 3B nearly everyday for weeks. He currently is hitting .189 and is having a slow start to September. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats outlasted the 1st place Dodgers in extra innings for a 7-6 victory on Saturday afternoon following a 4+ hour rain delay. Mark & Al wonder if Jake Irvin is sneakily the best story of the franchise's season after he threw another solid outing on the mound. His ERA is at 4.20; which is a far improvement from when he last faced LA in late May (5.67 ERA).(13:40) Lane Thomas returned after sitting out all week due to an ailing back and homered for the fourth consecutive game that he's played in. Thomas now has 24 HRs, which is by far the most on the team (Ruiz in 2nd place with 16 HRs).(19:45) Lost in the shuffle of all the organizational news this week was that Luis Garcia returned to Washington after spending August in AAA. Garcia on Saturday came through with a RBI single his 2nd game back from Rochester.(32:00) MacKenzie Gore's season was effectively ended this weekend as he was placed on the IL due to blisters. His best month of the year came in April when he allowed more than a pair of runs on only one occasion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 8-5 on Friday night vs. the visiting the Dodgers, but that was hardly top of mind locally. Mark & Al sift through all the busy back drop currently involving the organization as it seemed like there was an endless avalanche of news reports involving the Front Office during Thursday's day-off.(04:00) As for the game, MacKenzie Gore struggled and only lasted 4 IP as he returned from the Beareavment List. This is the 3rd consecutive outing that he did not exceed 5 innings of work and it came at a bad time as the team just began a stretch of 17 straight days with a game.(11:00) The entirety of the offense came via the homer as Keibert Ruiz and CJ Abrams each went deep. Abrams also stole his 41st base of the season; which is 5 shy of the franchise mark set by Trea Turner in 2017.(17:30) There has been significant drama involving Stephen Strasburg and a potential retirement ceremony that will not occur this weekend. On Friday evening, Principal Owner Mark Lerner released an eyebrow raising statement as it relates to the situation.(33:15) There were a slew of reports this week regarding even more shake-up in the scouting department and the Front Office. Kris Kline, veteran Assistant GM & VP of Scouting Ops, was reassigned to Special Assistant to GM, which has the feel of a demotion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats ended their 6 game skid by edging past the Mets 3-2 in a Wednesday evening walk-off victory. Al & Mark start with Jacob Young's decisive single over New York as he owns an 8 game hitting streak; which commenced shortly after his MLB debut.(07:20) CJ Abrams swiped 2 more bases and joins rare franchise territory with 40+ stolen bases on the season (Trea Turner 2x, Alfonso Soriano). The most impressive part is his success rate as he only has been thrown out 3 times this season.(16:20) Joan Adon only allowed 2 runs in 5 IP; which gave Washington a chance in the late innings. Adon did allow a run in the 1st inning; continuing a dubious streak of the starting pitching staff this entire home stand (6 games).(25:45) More uncertainty surrounds the future of the Nationals Front Office as reportedly many long time scouts will not be retained. This comes at a tenuous time as Mike Rizzo is currently in negotiations for an extension. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 11-5 to the visiting Mets on Tuesday; in a game in which they immediately trailed by 4 runs. Mark & Al sing a familiar song, which is recapping a rough outing by Patrick Corbin. He has now given up 30 homers this season and the only NL pitcher who has allowed more this season is his teammate Trevor Williams (33).(13:00) Andres Machado immediately gave up a homer to Pete Alonso upon taking the mound. Hear the jarring stat of how many times that has occurred among Washington relievers this season.(21:00) Jacob Young filled in admirably for a resting CJ Abrams in the lead-off spot as he came up with a pair of hits. Which of the young everyday players now on the MLB roster has the best chance to stick in the Bigs?(30:00) Lane Thomas did not play on Tuesday due to his lingering back issue. Davey Martinez revealed pregame that Thomas underwent a MRI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats were swept for the third time this season by Miami and on Sunday they fell 6-4. Mark & Al note the 5th consecutive loss and that they finally will get an off-day on Monday.(04:00) Josiah Gray had a short outing and had a nightmarish opening inning. This included allowing a solo HR, issuing 3 straight walks, and jawing at Jacob Young at the end of the frame for misplaying a fly ball in the sun. He ultimately only lasted 4 IP and it casts doubt on when he next take the mound.(14:00) The bullpen had to fill in for 20 IP over the course of the 4 game series. The Nationals took a 4-3 lead in the middle of the game, but could not hang on. Kyle Finnegan allowed a pair of runs in the top of the 9th that led to him taking the loss.(19:00) CJ Abrams had a crucial throwing error in the pivotal9th and this leads to an extended discussion at the infield defense. Not only its recent decline, but also how the infield projects moving forward.(31:45) MacKenzie Gore is currently on the Bereavement List and it is TBD as to when his next start will be. The hosts explain what this list means from a baseball/ roster perspective. He is out until at least Friday and he last pitched Tuesday (August 29th). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats rough stretch continued as they were flattened 11-5 by the Marlins on Saturday afternoon. They have dropped 6 of their past 7 and are a wretched 2-10 this season vs. the Marlins. Mark & Al though begin with the big organizational news that came pregame as Johnny DiPuglia, veteran Director of International Scouting since 2009, is resigning from his position. Is this related to the ongoing contractual negotiations between Mike Rizzo and the franchise?(17:00) Trevor Williams had an awful outing as he allowed 4 HRs in as many innings. Williams has now given up 10 homers in his past 5 outings and his ERA now currently sits at 5.21.(25:00) The struggles of Williams leads to a look at where Cade Cavalli fits into the organization's plans when he returns from Tommy John surgery. Will he be ready by Opening Day or will he need more time?(34:00) Sunday will mark the 13th consecutive day that the Nationals have taken the field and this has spanned across 4 cities and 2 countries. This series has seen plenty of sloppy play; especially on the defensive side, and a much needed off-day awaits on Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 8-5 in extras on Friday night to visiting Miami for their 5th defeat in the past 6 games. Adding additional insult to the evening is that the Mets beat Seattle to move back in front of Washington by a half game. Al & Mark recap the 11 inning defeat; which required 6 IP by 6 different relievers.(17:15) The Nationals slugged 3 dingers on Friday and one of them came from Travis Blankenhorn in his first game since getting called up by Rochester. He hit 5th playing LF and this season had a OPS of .877 in AAA. Lane Thomas & CJ Abrams also went deep in the loss.(30:00) Josiah Gray is still slated to start Sunday after a throwing a monitored bullpen session. There will be a lot of attention to his next start after he had a very poor August.(34:30) Mike Rizzo still has not officially signed an extension despite the expectation that he will do so. Where do the negotiations stand between the GM and the franchise? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats successful August (17-11) came to anti climatic conclusion as they lost 6-1 on Thursday night in the series opener vs. the Marlins. Al & Tim discuss the struggling offense; which only scored 1 run in the past 2 games. The lineup was dealt a tough blow pregame as Lane Thomas was a late scratch due to back tightness.(14:10) Joan Adon allowed 5 runs in as many innings and gave up 9 hits along the way. Adon has been on opposite ends of the spectrum in his 5 Big League starts since being called up from AAA. Two of his starts saw him tease a no hitter and the other 3 outings did not go so well.(22:40) We take an opportunity during this NL East series to evaluate how the new look MLB schedule is playing out. This season the Nationals play their divisional foes 13 times compared to when they used play them 19 times a year. Is Radical Realignment around the corner? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats long winning road trip ended with a thud as they were shutout Wednesday afternoon in Toronto. Mark (From Canada) & Al note this end a string of 5 consecutive series victories. The offense was no match for Chris Bassit, who only allowed 3 hits in 8 IP.(08:00) CJ Abrams was 0 for 4 in the loss Al points out the surprisingly disappointing numbers for the young SS in August. His .229 average this month is far lower than when he hit .327 in July.(15:00) Patrick Corbin gave up 10 hits in one of those starts where he couldn't stop giving up hits. Corbin leads MLB in hits allowed (183) and this was a dubious category in which he led last season.(18:20) Tanner Rainey is rehabbing in Rochester and it is looking like he will return to Washington in September. Rainey has been out since he had Tommy John surgery in early August of last year.(23:00) It is up in the air whether or not Josiah Gray will make his next scheduled start on Sunday vs. Miami. Gray had a very poor August and the next update will come after Friday's bullpen session. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats held off Toronto 5-4 for a dramatic win against the AL Wild Card contender. Mark (From Ontario) & Al begin with the bullpen that clung on to the lead, but allowed 3 runs in 4 IP. Kyle Finnegan loaded the bases with no outs while nursing a 2 run lead, but was able to emerge with his 25th save of the season.(12:30) The Nationals hit a pair of homers on Tuesday night for all of their offensive production. Carter Kieboom homered for the 3rd time since joining the team and Keibert Ruiz left the yard for the 5th time in August.(17:45) Jacob Young made a memorable throw from CF to home for a crucial outfield assist to end the bottom of the 8th. Young made a no hop throw that was then perfectly played from Ruiz.(27:30) MacKenzie Gore made it through 5 IP despite a pitch count that went over 100. Gore has made 5 starts this month and his ERA during that stretch is under 4.00 (3.76). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Josiah Gray's rough August continued as he only lasted 2 innings in Monday night's 6-3 loss at Toronto. Al & Mark (From Canada) recap Gray's gruesome start and what seems to be wrong with his pitching mechanics. This month in five starts, the right hander's ERA is at 8.84 with 17 walks issued.(17:30) CJ Abrams had a very electric evening (error aside) as he had a trio singles and also stole 3 bases. Abrams now has 37 stolen bases on the season and is seriously threatening Trea Turner's franchise record of 46 swipes.(20:00) The Nats now have 3 catchers on the roster and Mark explains why dentistry plays a role in that occurrence. Keibert Ruiz returned to the starting lineup as Drew Millas was called up from Rochester.(26:00) Joey Meneses has a legit shot at 100 RBIs this season. He currently stands at 76 as there are 30 games remaining in the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats came up short in their sweep attempt as they fell 2-1 on Sunday afternoon in Miami. Al gets you up to speed on the catching situation as Riley Adams started every game this series while Keibert Ruiz has been out of the starting lineup since taking a foul ball to the mask on Wednesday in New York. It is important to note that Ruiz did pinch hit and minor league catcher Drew Millas will join the team on Monday in Toronto per Mark's report.(05:00) Trevor Williams had a solid outing, but the 2 run HR he gave up to Jorge Soler was the difference. It was Williams 2nd straight good performance after navigating through a difficult stretch this summer.(14:15) Al answers an email about how the team should handle this off-season now that the team is clearly more competitive. Should they be spending on the Free Agent market this Winter? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Facing a 2-1 deficit in the top of the 9th, the Nats rallied to come away with a 3-2 win in Miami. Al, always a pragmatic one, wonders if a .500 season is in play, believe it or not. They would need to go 20-12 over the final stretch to meet the threshold. Washington is now two games ahead of the last place Mets.(07:30) Jacob Young pinch ran in his MLB debut and scored the tying run. Young was a 2nd round pick in the 2021 draft and played a portion of the season at four different levels.(14:00) Jake Irvin yet again had a solid outing as he only allowed one run in 6 IP. Al throws out the notion that Irvin has possibly been the team's best starting pitcher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats beat the Marlins 7-4 and later on Friday night the Mets lost to lift Washington into solo possession of 4th place in the NL East. Al & Mark are astonished by yet another Joan Adon start that saw a No Hit bid make it into the 6th.(10:00) Carter Kieboom continues to take advantage of his opportunity as he homered for the 2nd time this week. This does to be his last chance to make it within the organization.(21:00) Alex Call had an eventful evening in Miami as he had an early game collision with Lane Thomas, was picked off, and had a RBI single. We take the microscope to Call as the franchise's outfield future is crowded & TBD.(35:30) The latest with GM Mike Rizzo's extension is that it is expected to happen in the near future. This comes after there was speculation he might be under consideration for a similar role with the White Sox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Washington Post broke the news on Thursday that Stephen Strasburg will officially retire as opposed to waiting out the full duration of his 7 year deal. Mark (From The Bronx) & Al marvel at just how busy the Nats news cycle has been ever since heading to Williamsport. The Little League attention, Dylan Crews to AA, Davey Martinez extension, Stone Garrett injury, and now the Strasburg news in just the past 5 days.(10:00) The Nationals defeated the Yankees 6-5 in the matinee in order to capture their 4th consecutive series. The bottom of the 9th was a bit of an adventure, but Kyle Finnegan did just enough to notch the save.(14:00) Alex Call is expected to get even more playing time after the Stone Garrett injury. Call stepped up on Thursday as he homered and made a dramatic catch in CF for the final out of the win.(16:00) CJ Abrams hit a crucial HR, but did admire his work on the way out. Hear what his manager had to say afterwards regarding the incident.(30:00) Strasburg has been on the IL all season and it is expected that he will announce his retirement in September. Mark catches you up on everything you need to know on the situation and what the bread crumbs were along the way. Al then lays out the various ways to view his legacy to the organization and the city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats were routed on Wednesday night 9-1 at Yankee Stadium in an affair where Aaron Judge hit a trio of homers. Mark (From the Bronx) & Al begin with Stone Garrett needing to be carted off the field after his leg ran into the outfield wall. Garrett was seen covering his face with a towel in the immediate aftermath.(14:40) MacKenzie Gore did not pitch well in this game and allowed 6 runs in just 4 IP. His defense behind him was not very good and the 2nd inning was the undoing as the Yankees scored 5 runs in the frame.(22:00) The offense only totaled 3 hits and never had a runner in scoring position. The most disappointing aspect was that the lineup was ineffective against Luis Severino; who has had a wretched season on the mound.(26:00) Carl Edwards Jr. has been shutdown due to a stress fracture in his throwing shoulder. This is particularly bad timing for Edwards because he is a Free Agent after the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats began the 3 city road trip on the right foot as they edged the Yankees 2-1 on Tuesday evening for their 20th victory in the past 30 games. Mark (From the Bronx) & Al recap Josiah Gray's strong outing in Yankee Stadium that lasted 6 IP. It is by far his best start this month and his ERA currently sits at 3.82.(10:30) Hunter Harvey struck out both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton during his flawless bottom of the 8th. Harvey has not missed a beat since returning from the IL.(19:00) Carter Kieboom homered in his first MLB at bat since 2021 and was the team's starting 3B. It was his first Big League homer since August 31st of that season.(28:00) Davey Martinez officially will receive a 2 year contract extension; which includes an option for the 3rd year. Does this indicate that the Lerner's are not planning for an imminent sale of the franchise?(32:00) Mike Rizzo's deal is expected, but not yet official. We dive into the notion floated by Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post that the White Sox might be involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sunday was a special day in Nationals history and it was punctuated with a 4-3 victory over the Phillies at the Little League Classic in Williamsport, PA. Mark (From Historic Bowman Field) tells Al about the unique itinerary, which lasted the entire day and night.(07:10) The Nats jumped all over Zack Wheeler for 4 runs in the opening inning and then the bats went silent after that. Was Wheeler tipping his pitches? Mark points out why the lighting situation at the long time minor league stadium might have played a factor.(11:45) Trevor Williams broke a string of poor outings by tossing a shutout in 6 IP. It was his first scoreless start since June 21st. As for the bullpen, Mason Thompson struggled to finish the job and Kyle Finnegan was needed for the 4th time in 5 days.(25:00) Carter Kieboom was called up for Sunday and will remain on the roster. Will he start this week at 3B in Yankee Stadium?(32:00) After just 14 games in Fredericksburg, Dylan Crews is being promoted to AA - Harrisburg, just a few months after being drafted. Is it realistic to expect him to in Washington by next summer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The final score is uglier than it looked, but nonetheless the Nats lost 12-3 to Philadelphia, despite nursing a 3-0 lead entering the late innings. Al recaps Cory Abbott's nightmarish 8th inning where surrendered 8 runs to the Phillies to put the game well out of reach. The fatigued bullpen forced Davey Martinez to stick with Abbott, but immediately afterwards Abbott was sent down to AAA.(14:45) The shame of the day was that Jake Irvin threw 6 shutout IP and struck out 7 in a no decision. It was his first scoreless outing since his 2nd career start in San Francisco back in May. From a big picture standpoint, him shutting out a powerful lineup was arguably more important than the actual final score.(19:00) Lane Thomas yet again had an all around excellent game as he had an OF assist and came through with a pair of hits. Riley Adams yet again took advantage of a rare start as he also had 2 hits himself. Adams' OPS this season in limited playing time is a staggering .937 and Al puts that high level hitting in perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats held on to defeat the Phillies 8-7 on Friday evening in Navy Yard. Mark & Al take note of the atmosphere at the Ballpark as the lively crowd saw the Nationals counter the Phillies' 6 run top of the 4th with a half dozen runs of their own. One week after being no hit by Michael Lorenzen, Washington knocked him out after just 3.1 IP.(10:30) Stone Garrett continued his hot month at the plate as he had 3 hits while getting the nod in RF. Mark puts in perspective where Garett fits in/might be in the outfield depth for the future. Jake Alu also had a solid night as he came through with a pair of RBI singles.(17:00) The Nats took the lead for good after CJ Abrams slugged a majestic 3 run HR and took his time admiring his work. The moment seemed emblematic of the newfound confidence being exuded by the young SS.(25:00) The bullpen stepped up yet again as they only allowed 1 run in 5 IP while using 6 pitchers in the process. This came in relief of Joan Adon who mightily struggled. Adon has not pitched well since his excellent start in St. Louis last month.(37:00) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the Rochester Red Wings, gives an update on Luis Garcia since he was demoted to AAA. Drew Millas, Carter Kieboom, and Jackson Rutledge are among those who also are featured. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats hung on 10-7 over Boston to take the series rubber match on Thursday afternoon. Mark & Al put in perspective what the victory symbolizes as they won their 55th game of the season, which equals last year's output with forty games still remaining. Washington has won 6 of their past 8 series and are 6 games over .500 since the All Star Break.(11:30) The offense broke out against Chris Sale to reach double digit runs and saw contributions from all across the lineup. Joey Menses had a pair of doubles that led to a 5 RBI afternoon. Keibert Ruiz reached base 5 times as the DH too see his scorching August continue. Other top contributors included Riley Adams, Stone Garrett, and Jeter Downs.(18:25) Patrick Corbin pitched well as he only allowed 1 run in 6 IP. Coming off a start where he issued 7 walks, on Thursday he didn't throw any "Ball Fours". His ERA is at 4.71, which is the lowest it has been since mid May.(27:20) The rout almost turned into a nightmare as Robert Garcia allowed 6 runs in less than an inning; which included a Grand Slam. This led to Davey Martinez having to use Hunter Harvey and Kyle Finnegan despite an earlier 9-1 lead.(31:20) This weekend is an odd 3 game series as the Phillies will be in D.C. on Friday and Saturday, but the finale will be Sunday night in Williamsport, PA to coincide with the Little League World Series. Mark explains the itinerary for the first ever neutral site game in franchise history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats topped the Red Sox 6-2 on Wednesday evening in D.C. Al & Mark begin with MacKenzie Gore who had an excellent outing cut short due to a cut nail on a finger on his pitching hand in the 7th inning. Davey Martinez minimized the long term effect of it afterwards, calming the worries of the fans.(12:30) The Nationals clubbed a quarter of home runs from 3 different players in the victory. Keibert Ruiz continued his torrid August with a tie breaking 3 run HR in the bottom of the 8th while hitting in the clean-up spot. Ruiz now has 15 HRs this season, the 2nd most on the current roster.(16:30) Stone Garrett hit a pair of homers and is also having a very strong month as his slugging % is at .633. Where does Garrett fit into the franchise's long term plans; if at all?(24:30) Another solid performance by the bullpen, but this time they did not emerge unscathed. Jordan Weems allowed 2 runs, but did step up to induce a crucial double play when relieving Gore. The conversation leads to the rehabbing Carl Edwards Jr., who has been in West Palm for awhile. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Josiah Gray's rough August continued on Tuesday as his start ended after just the 3rd inning in the Nats lost 5-4 to the visiting Red Sox. Mark & Al scratch their heads as Gray's post All Star Break is nowhere near how his season began. Davey Martinez afterwards harped on the fact that Gray needs to rely more on his fastball.(19:00) The resurgent bullpen pitched well in defeat as they threw 6 scoreless frames. Hunter Harvey returned from the IL and was immediately called upon to pitch the 9th inning instead of doing a rehab assignment in the minor leagues.(25:45) CJ Abrams joined an exclusive franchise club as he stole his 30th base of the season. Will he ever turn into a 30/30 player? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For the 3rd time since the All Star Break, the Nats pulled off a weekend series sweep. This one came in epic fashion as they trailed 7-2 to begin bottom of the 9th and the affair ended with the unlikeliest of bench players coming through with the walk-off hit in Jeter Downs. Mark & Al collect their breath and then analyze all that went into the comeback victory as Downs was in the game late to replace CJ Abrams at SS, who exited early due to back spasms.(23:20) The bullpen might get two important arms in the near future as Hunter Harvey and Tanner Rainey each showed progress in their rehab quest to return to Washington this season.(27:00) Trevor Williams had another poor outing as he has allowed 4+ runs in as many consecutive starts. Will he remain in the rotation or are there no better options?(37:00) Dylan Crews had a monster game on Sunday in Lynchburg as he went 5 for 5 with 2 HRs and 6 RBIs. In just over a week with the Fred Nats, he has already totaled 15 RBIs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats rallied against Oakland on Saturday for a 3-2 victory that abruptly concluded with a Keibert Ruiz lead-off homer in the bottom of the 9th. Al & Tim dive into Ruiz's hot month; where he is slugging .605 so far in August. It was Ruiz's 16th HR of the season, good for 6th most among NL catchers.(08:30) Lane Thomas was a late scratch in the starting lineup, but came through as a pinch hitter with the game tying RBI in the bottom of the 8th. Thomas currently has the 4th most hits in the NL (132) and the top 7 all are players from the NL East.(12:00) Blake Rutherford finally got his 1st career MLB hit after starting 0 for 16 since getting called up. Rutherford received strong applause from the home crowd and followed it up with another hit later in the game.(23:00) Jake Irvin pitched well and almost lasted for 7 IP vs. the Athletics. Has Irvin made his case to be in the 2024 starting rotation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats beat Oakland 8-2 on Friday night behind 3 separate home runs and overcoming an early 2-0 deficit. Al & Tim begin the recap with the bullpen stepping up big time for six scoreless innings after Joan Adon exited his start in the top of the 4th due to cramping. Cory Abbott recorded four outs after having to immediately warm up and Jordan Weems threw the final two frames.(14:30) Ildemaro Vargas equaled a career high with 4 RBIs which included a 3 run HR to break the game wide open and Jake Alu connected on his 1st career homer. Davey Martinez indicated pregame that his plan as of now is to keep Vargas at 3B and Alu at 2B.(24:00) CJ Abrams was thrown out in the top of 1st trying to steal 2nd base; one day after setting a franchise mark for most consecutive stolen bases (25).(32:25) Tim speaks to Paul Brunell, a lifelong Athletics fan, to hear what the current fan efforts are to keep the team from moving to Las Vegas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 6-2 in Philadelphia to drop 3 of 4 in this week's series. Mark & Al begin by with a curious examination of Patrick Corbin's unique pitching line where he did not allow an earned run despite issuing 7 walks.(16:40) Blake Rutherford was 0 for 2 on Thursday night and is hit-less in 16 MLB at- bats since getting called up. Rutherford has played in 5 games this month after hitting .345 this season collectively in Harrisburg and Rochester.(20:00) CJ Abrams swiped his 25th consecutive base to set a franchise record. He has not been caught stealing since all the way back to May 3rd vs. the Cubs.(26:10) The weekend the worst team in all of Baseball comes to D.C. in the Oakland Athletics; who are on pace for just 46 wins this season. As of now, the plan is for the A's to relocate to Las Vegas after 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats were no hit for the 1st time since they began play in 2005 as Michael Lorenzen led Philadelphia to a 7-0 defeat of Washington. Mark & Al tip their caps to the franchise almost going 20 years without being no hit; good for the longest active streak in MLB. It was just Lorenzen's second appearance with the Phillies after being traded from Detroit last week and he issued 4 walks while throwing 124 pitches.(16:30) MacKenzie Gore was hit hard on Wednesday as he allowed six runs in just 5 IP. Gore surrendered a trio of homers; which is the most in an outing since joining the organization. His ERA is now up to 4.62 and continuing to trend upward.(22:30) Davey Martinez announced pregame that Joan Adon will join the rotation and it will for the time include six starters. Adon is coming off a no hit bid for over the weekend, but he has struggled this season in AAA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats split their Tuesday doubleheader in Philadelphia to begin the 4 game series. Al & Mark recap Joey Meneses's late game heroics in Game 2 as his pair of HRs unexpectedly lifted Washington to victory. Hear Mark lay out what the first 162 games of Meneses' MLB career looks like in a stats sense; now that he has reached the unofficial milestone.(14:30) A big part of the 5-4 win was the bullpen coming through with 4+ scoreless innings of work. Andres Machado recorded 4 of the outs and his WHIP in August so far is 0.40. Earlier this summer the Nationals DFA'd Machado, but he ultimately ended up back in Rochester before being called back up.(26:00) Both Trevor Williams and Josiah Gray struggled in their starts and neither made it past the 5th inning. Williams has given up at least one run in eight consecutive outings and his spot in the rotation might be in jeopardy.(32:45) An extended discussion on recent pro Philadelphia comments by Bryce Harper that seemed to be underhanded towards D.C. fans. This oddly came in response to Phillies fans rallying around a struggling Trea Turner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nationals pulled off a road sweep for the first time in almost 4 years as they doubled up the Reds 6-3 on Sunday afternoon. Mark & Al open with Davey Martinez's aggressive managing in pushing many of his top bullpen arms for a 3rd straight day. Kyle Finnegan pitched the 9th inning all weekend without giving up a run.(10:45) CJ Abrams and Lane Thomas homered on the opening 2 pitches of the game, the first 2 ever MLB pitches thrown by Cincinnati starter Lyon Richardson. Abrams went 4 for 5 on Sunday; matching a career high from September of last season.(17:30) Jake Alu was back in the lineup at 2B and contributed with a RBI for the fourth straight start. Ildemaro Vargas meanwhile was at 3B all weekend, should that continue to be the case?(31:00) Paolo Espino was released by the organization to make roster space despite being on the IL. We salute Paolo's time in D.C. despite unlikely odds that led to him being part of the starting rotation for an extended time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats won 7-3 in Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon for the 10th victory in their past 15 games. Mark & Al begin with the stunning start by Joan Adon, as he had a Perfect Game going until it was broken up with 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th. Adon was only called up due to Trevor Williams being briefly away from the team and is now expected to remain on the Big League roster.(16:40) Tim Shovers gives a quick update on Dylan Crews debut with the Fred Nats on Saturday evening in Virginia.(21:30) Both Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams were in the lineup as Ruiz occupied the DH spot. The catcher tandem combined for 4 hits and Adams OPS this season is now at an eye opening .925.(33:30) Terry Byrom, the Voice of the Harrisburg Senators, gives an update on James Wood, Trey Lipscomb and more from the AA affiliate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats won 6-3 in 10 innings in Cincinnati to open the weekend series. Mark (Live from his Hotel Room) & Al have a lot to get to, but begin with extended discussions of Lane Thomas and Joey Meneses, who combined for 3 HRs in the victory.(11:40) Jake Alu started at 2B and Ildemaro Vargas took over at 3B on Friday night. Alu came through with another RBI since being called up; his 3rd in as many games. Where does Jeter Downs fit into all of this?(16:40) Mark relays what Davey Martinez had to say during Pregame about the demotion of Luis Garcia to AAA.(26:00) The Nationals were the beneficiaries of good pitching vs. the Reds as Patrick Corbin made it into the 7th with a low pitch count, and five relievers combined for a scoreless effort in 3.2 IP. Jordan Weems continued his strong summer as came through with a pair of K's in his one inning of work.(35:20) Dylan Crews had 3 hits on Friday in West Palm and is slated to make his Minor League debut on Saturday night in Fredericksburg. Hear where the hosts think he might be spending his September, just a few months after being drafted #2 overall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It ended up being a busy Wednesday afternoon in Navy Yard as initially the Nats had an unorthodox walk-off winner over Milwaukee by the score of 3-2. Then roughly an hour after the game; it was announced that Luis Garcia is being sent down to AAA and Corey Dickerson was unconditionally released. Mark & Al examine why Garcia will be headed to Rochester and what that means long term at 2B in Washington.(16:50) The offense had some rather creative ways to defeat Brewers All Star Closer Devin Williams in the bottom of the 9th. Alex Call is credited with an unusual scoring, a walk-off fielder's choice grounder. Ildemaro Vargas not only scored the winning run, but had very heads-up base running along the way.(24:30) MacKenzie Gore threw a solid outing as he allowed just a pair of runs in 6 IP. An encouraging element to his start is that he only needed 89 pitches to get through the top of the 6th; a frame where he struck out the side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats did not make any more deadlines on the final day of the MLB Trade Deadline leading up to their 6-4 loss at the hands of the visiting Brewers. Mark & Al examine why Washington did make any additional swaps and what went into the decision to retain Lane Thomas and Kyle Finnegan.(09:30) As for the actual game; Josiah Gray had a disappointing outing where he exited after 3.2 IP. It was the top of the 4th that did in Gray as he allowed 4 runs and tossed 37 pitches in that frame alone. This was his shortest outing of the season.(18:45) The offense had a mildly productive evening as Dominic Smith and CJ Abrams each had a pair of hits. Jake Alu, 24th rounder from 2019, came through with his 1st career RBI after getting called up from Rochester. It is expected that Alu will get plenty of opportunity at 3B after Jeimer Candelario was traded away.(27:15) Now that August has arrived, it puts into focus that both Davey Martinez and Mike Rizzo are not under contract for next season. Will they both be back in 2024? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats rallied to top the Brewers 5-3, but just before the series began Jeimer Candelario was shipped to the Cubs in exchange for a pair of prospects. Mark & Al react to the trade and see whether or not Mike Rizzo got proper value in return for the veteran 3B. Both prospects coming from Chicago ranked in the top 20 of their system, Kevin Made (SS), and DJ Herz (LHP).(10:15) The focus turns to 3B long term as we look sat what the MLB timetable is for Brady House, the 1st Round Pick from 2021, that recently was promoted to AA Harrisburg. Jake Alu was called up Monday from Rochester and is expected to get plenty of at bats at 3B for the rest of the season.(18:20) The remaining potential trade chips all played well in Monday night's victory. Joey Meneses and Lane Thomas combined for all 5 Washington RBIs and Kyle Finnegan notched his 15th save of the season. Will they all remain on the Nationals come as the 6pm Trade Deadline arrives on Tuesday?(28:30) Jake Irvin lasted 5.1 IP and Al continues to point out how much better he has been since having his spot in the rotation skipped earlier this summer.(33:00) A quick look back at the dizzying amount of trades the Nats pulled off at 2021 Trade Deadline. They moved a total of 8 players in return for 12 prospects, including Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats were beaten 5-2 by the Mets to close out the long weekend series in Flushing. Mark (From NY) & Al on a disappointing day for the offense are able to tip their caps to CJ Abrams for stealing 3 more bases from the leadoff position. Abrams has successfully stolen the last 21 bags he attempted to swipe; dating all the way back to May.(07:30) Lane Thomas did not start but was inserted mid game as a pinch hitter. It caused some raised eye brows when he was not in the lineup pregame, but Davey Martinez said it was for a scheduled day off; not due to a trade. Al points out how his slump seems to be correlated to dropping in the order to make room up top for Abrams.(13:40) Rico Garcia was placed on the IL and Amos Willingham returned to take his roster spot. The franchise's bullpen has been beleaguered this summer by many injuries, including to that of Sean Doolittle.(19:00) Trevor Williams only lasted 4 IP and immediately left after the game due to being added to the Bereavement List. Williams has struggled this month and his ERA is at 5.97 in 7 July starts.(23:30) According to the NY Post, Max Scherzer will now be paid millions by three separate franchises this season; which includes Washington. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.