Nats Chat

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.

The Nats topped the Mets 11-6 on Saturday night after jumping out to an early 8-1 lead. Mark ( Live from Citi Field) & Al convene after a busy day in Flushing as New York traded Max Scherzer to Texas in the middle of the game. The lineup feasted on Carlos Carrasco, including Riley Adams who continues to contribute at the plate in his limited playing time.(14:45) Jeimer Candelario reached base four times as his tenure in Washington likely is over in a few days. What is Candelario's trade value like as we approach the Trade Deadline?(25:50) Jordan Weems was one of four relievers to take the mound after Patrick Corbin and Weems had is fifth consecutive scorless outing. Of the seven runs he has allowed this month, four of which came in a single outing to skew his numbers.(30:00) Now that Scherzer has been dealt away from New York, does this guarantee that he will enter Cooperstown wearing the Curly W? This will be the 6th team of his career that began in 2008. 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 at the Mets on Friday night for a 2nd straight defeat. Mark (From Citi Field) & Al start with Jeimer Candelario's potential injury while trying to extend a single into a double in the 8th inning. Candelario has had many injuries this month, as we approach Tuesday's Trade Deadline.(06:00) MacKenzie Gore only lasted 5 IP and issued 4 walks in the process. Gore never threw a clean inning and it came to haunt him in the 5th when Pete Alonso connected on a 3 run HR off a hanging slider.(17:00) The offense was little match for Max Scherzer as the only run came off of a Luis Garcia Solo HR. Garcia was the lone bright spot in the lineup as he tallied 3 hits. July has been a tough month for Garcia as he is only hitting .225.(23:40) Our diehard listener in South Korea (Rich) passed along a first hand testimonial of how well Erick Fedde is pitching in the KBO and that he is a candidate for their version of the Cy Young Award. 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.

After yet another rain delay, the Nats lost 2-1 at the Mets on Thursday evening. Mark (Live from Citi Field) & Al immediately dive into the odd situation where Kyle Finnegan had an over an hour to think about the inherited bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 8th.(06:45) Finnegan entered the game in relief of Mason Thompson; who lost control in the middle of his outing. This has been a periodic pattern for Thompson and both of the Mets runs were charged against him.(10:00) Josiah Gray issued a few walks and had a high pitch count, but did not allow a run in his 6 IP. Gray's ERA this year is 3.27 in 21 starts.(17:10) The Nationals offense struggled in this series opener as they only collected 5 hits. Lane Thomas went 0 for 4 and his numbers at the plate in July have been lower than earlier this season. This leads to a discussion on where he stacks up on the open trade market.(24:50) The Angels are going for it and are keeping Shohei Ohtani. Given their dissatisfaction with Anthony Rendon (yep), might they ironically trade for Jeimer Candelario? 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 the successful home stand in thrilling fashion as they scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 9th to win 5-4. Mark & Al begin by wondering why Rockies Manager kept his struggling Closer Daniel Bard on the mound. Bard was out of the game though when CJ Abrams continued his magical July ride with a walk-off RBI single.(18:00) Jake Irvin had a mixed bag outing, but did tally 7 strikeouts and made it 6 IP. The negative of the afternoon was that he allowed 3 Colorado homers. The bullpen did pitch well behind as they combined for 3 scoreless frames.(27:35) Victor Robles was moved to the 60 day IL to help make room for the call-up of Andres Machado. The earliest Robles can return is late August as he is basically been out since early May. Where does he currently fit into the organization's long-term plans? 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 a very long night on a high note in the 6-5 victory over the Rockies. There were two separate rain delays that led to a conclusion just before Midnight; only 12 hours before Wednesday's series finale. Al & Mark start with the decisive 4 run bottom of the 8th where Jeimer Candelario had a RBI double and Joey Meneses was the hero with a 3 run blast. "Joey Four Bags" has been on a tear this month as he is slugging .535 in July.(09:00) Davey made sure to get both Keibert Ruiz & Riley Adams into the lineup and was rewarded with 2 hits and a RBI double for Adams. Will there be a continued push to get both catchers at bats every day?(17:00) Trevor Williams made it through 6 IP and ultimately gave up 4 runs. The bullpen only yielded one run; which led to Kyle Finnegan notching his 14th Save of the season.(25:00) Yet again rain played tricks on the Nationals as the first rain delay on Tuesday evening did not have any rain. Why does it seem like it gets botched in Navy Yard multiple times a year? At least the fans were given discounts on food during the wait. 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.

**Record scratch** The Nats win streak from the weekend came to an abrupt halt on Monday night in a 10-6 loss to visiting Colorado that was marred by plenty of sloppy play. Mark & Al recap the grisly details from Patrick Corbin's outing where he ceded 10 hits and his ERA is now up to 5.01.(11:30) Plenty of instances of poor defense in this defeat and this leads to an assessment of what the defensive chess board might look like for Washington in the next few seasons as the prospects continue to rise within the system.(21:05) Jeimer Candelario connected on his 16th HR of the season as we are one week away from the Trade Deadline. Any chance the Nationals do not deal him?(30:00) **Must Listen Segment** Mark recounts his special family trip over to Dyersville, Iowa to check out the real life "Field of Dreams". 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.

Get out your brooms as the 2+ year sweep drought in a 3 game series is thankfully over as the Nats took care of the Giants 6-1 on Sunday afternoon. Al & Tim have plenty to revel in, but especially Lane Thomas' unforgettable day where he tied a franchise record with 4 stolen bases, 3 hits at the plate, and flashed the leather in the field multiple times. However, the conversation quickly morphs into... should they trade Lane next week before the Deadline?(15:00) Riley Adams homered on Sunday and his OPS is well above .800 despite having fewer than 100 plate appearances. What can the Nationals do to get him more playing time?(22:30) MacKenzie Gore had a good outing as he threw 5 shutout innings with 8 Ks and only allowed 4 hits. Gore lasted 90 pitches and then handed it off to the bullpen. This was his best outing since last month in San Diego (June 25th).(29:00) The highlight of the sweep might be how effective the bullpen was all weekend. On Sunday, they shouldered 4 IP and only allowed 1 run in the process. 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.

Saturday was a special day at Nationals Park as it began with the introductory Dylan Crews Press Conference and was followed by a 10-1 thrashing of the Giants. Al & Tim start with all the offensive accolades for CJ Abrams, Keibert Ruiz, and Alex Call. Abrams homered on his Bobblehead night while Ruiz & Call each are slugging over .500 in July.(21:30) Josiah Gray issued 3 walks right away, but settled down and lasted 7 IP without walking anyone else. Gray has now lasted 7 frames on 4 different occasions this season. The bullpen continued their solid series as Rico Garcia and Joe LaSorsa each threw a scoreless inning to wrap up the victory.(29:00) Dylan Crews met with the media prior to the win and Tim asked the #2 overall pick what his expected timetable is in order to make it Washington. When should we expect him to make his MLB debut? Mike Rizzo indicated that his journey will begin in West Palm before heading up to either Fredericksburg or Wilmington.(37:10) Crews' Agent, Scott Boras, certainly made his presence felt at the press conference with a few memorable comments. Boras also referenced some of his past high profile clients that played in Washington in the previous decade. 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 Giants 5-3 on Friday night to begin the home stand. Al & Tim recap Jake Irvin's career best start as he struck out nine and almost made it 7 IP on 111 pitches. What is a realistic ceiling for Irvin as we move forward?(11:10) This was not a night to complain about the bullpen as they came through unscathed for the final 7 outs. Jordan Weems came through in a 7th inning jam, and then Jose A. Ferrer & Kyle Finnegan each threw 1-2-3 frames to close it out over San Francisco. Weems has struggled at times this year, but also has shown a propensity to strike guys out.(18:30) Lane Thomas & CJ Abrams each homered early in the victory; part of the offense's 5 extra base hits on the evening. Abrams continued his torrid stretch while hitting lead-off as his OPS this month is 1.015.(28:45) Dylan Crews reportedly has officially signed with Washington and is expected to have his introductory press conference on Saturday afternoon. The hosts discuss what a realistic timetable for Crews might look like between now and his eventual MLB debut. 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 bullpen imploded again in Chicago, this time they allowed 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th to lose 8-3. Mark (Live from Wrigley Field) & Al discuss the continued sorry state of affairs for the 'pen and on Wednesday Mason Thompson was part of the problem. During the final 2 games of the series, the relief pitching gave up 20 runs in less than 6 frames.(13:30) Trevor Williams had a so-so outing as he allowed 7 hits in his usual 5 IP. What are the chances that a contender would seek Williams at the Deadline to fill out their rotation?(22:00) Jeimer Candelario slugged his 15th HR of the season in the 8th inning just before Washington briefly tied the Cubs. What kind of return might the Nationals get for Candelario in a few weeks?(28:15) While Candelario is almost a given to be dealt, it is not as clear for Lane Thomas. Hear Mark explain what Mike Rizzo is weighing while potentially shopping Thomas. 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 led 3-0, but it was all Cubs form there in a 17-3 blowout on Tuesday night. Mark (Live from Wrigley) & Al run through the gruesome details on the "B" Bullpen as they allowed a combined 14 runs in the 7th & 8th innings. It was a particularly tough night for Our Guy Paolo; who ceded 8 runs in less than an inning of work. Will this end up as the worst Nationals Bullpen in history?(16:00) Before the game got out of hand, Patrick Corbin had a decent start as he pitched into the 6th inning. Corbin just returned from the Paternity List and did not have his usual preparation.(28:05) Brady House, 1st Round Pick from 2021, was promoted to AA Harrisburg after just 16 games in Wilmington. Could House get called up to Washington in 2024?(33:10) Elijah Green, 1st Round Pick from 2022, is currently in West Palm as opposed to Fredericksburg as he rehabs a wrist injury. Green has not played in a few weeks and his strikeout rate (42%) is of concern.(37:10) We play the scouting reporting that Jim Callis, Senior Writer for MLB.com, gave on Dylan Crews prior to the Draft. The Nationals took Crews #2 overall a few weeks ago and he is expected to sign in the near future. 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 Cubs 7-5 to begin their three game series at Wrigley Field. Mark (From Chicago) & Al examine Jeimer Candelario's immediate impact in his return to the lineup by homering right away. Candelario had missed action over the weekend due to a bone bruise in his thumb.(07:40) Keibert Ruiz was picked off, but made up for it with a 2 run shot in the 7th for a 7-3 lead. Ruiz played nice defense on Monday night, including some crucial picks on low pitches in the 9th by Kyle Finnegan.(10:15) Stone Garrett made his presence felt in the lineup as he collected 3 hits including a double that Cody Bellinger lost in the Friendly Confines. Garrett is slugging .552 in July despite sharing time in LF.(22:10) MacKenzie Gore's stat line does not convey how he really pitched on Monday as he gave up a pair of 2 run HRs in his final frames. Gore lasted until the 7th, which was crucial given how limited the bullpen is during Hunter Harvey's trip to the IL (elbow strain).(38:00) Hear Ben McDonald's scouting report of Dylan Crews. This full interview is available in our Game 88 recap. 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 the series rubber match on Sunday 8-4 in St. Louis as there was a rain delay for the third consecutive day. Al & Mark (Live from Busch Stadium) begin with the pair of crucial injuries that the team is currently dealing with for closer Hunter Harvey and Jeimer Candelario. Harvey's velocity was down and Saturday and this led to him being scheduled for a MRI back in D.C. Candelario tried pregame to be able to play despite his bone bruise, but instead Ildemaro Vargas played again at 3B. The timing of these injuries are also relevant as the MLB Tradeline is around the corner (August 1st).(18:45) More bad pitching for the Nationals as Josiah Gray allowed 10 hits and the taxed bullpen didn't do much better. Josiah Gray might have had a sterling All Star debut, but that momentum did not carry over on Sunday.(26:00) CJ Abrams tripled and doubled on Sunday and collected six hits in the weekend series. His OPS is at .719 for the month and has a batting average in July at .395.(36:00) The road trip moves to Wrigley Field for three straight evenings with MacKenzie Gore taking the mound on Monday night. 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 long Saturday at Busch Stadium resulted in the Nats winning Game 1 (7-5 extras W) and dropping Game 2 (9-6 L) vs. the Cardinals. Mark (Live from St. Louis) & Al run through the busy start to the series, which has seen plenty of rain delays. Jeimer Candelario did not play in either affair due to his thumb bone bruise and this is a cause for concern due to the looming Trade Deadline (August 1st).(10:15) CJ Abrams had four hits in these two games and has looked comfortable since being moved into the lead-off spot in the order as he is hitting .385 in the month of July. Joey Meneses meanwhile had a good day at the plate, continuing his momentum from last week vs. Texas.(21:45) Jake Irvin only lasted 3 IP on the mound in Game 2 and did not aid an already fatigued Bullpen. The "A" Bullpen was primarily used in the Game 1 victory; which led to a Paolo Espino appearance on Saturday night in Game 2.(32:30) The Nationals now have two of the top five prospects in the post Draft rankings. Dylan Crews is listed at #4, just ahead of James Wood at fifth, and Paul Skenes #6. Listen for an explanation as to why Washington will not be able to draft in the Top 10 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 Nats were only able to make it until the bottom of the 3rd on Friday night in St. Louis. Trevor Williams allowed a Solo HR in the bottom of the 1st to stake the Cardinals a 1-0 lead before the tarp was rolled out . Tim gives a quick scene setter of the now busy Saturday that awaits the Nationals in Missouri. 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.

**SPECIAL DRAFT EDITION**The Nationals picked the highly decorated Dylan Crews with the #2 overall pick in the MLB Draft. Al & Mark analyze the pivotal pick of the star outfielder, who just won a National Championship, hit .426, and took home the Golden Spikes Award. Crews' teammate Paul Skenes was unavailable to Washington; as Pittsburgh selected the pitcher at #1.(15:00) What's next for Crews? What's a realistic timetable until he gets called up to the Big Leagues?(26:20) The Nats beat the Rangers Sunday afternoon 7-2 in the series rubber match. Joey Meneses homered for the fourth time this weekend and is 8th in the NL in hits. Dom Smith and Stone Garrett each homered as well and CJ Abrams had 3 hits from the lead-off spot.(38:00) Patrick Corbin threw a fantastic start as he allowed only 1 run in 7 IP. Corbin pulled the very rare feat of striking out four consecutive Texas hitters who are headed to the All Star Game. Could Corbin actually be a trade chip at the Deadline? 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 five game losing streak as they jumped out early on Texas pitching for an 8-3 victory. Mark & Al begin with Joey Meneses, who homered for the 3rd time in under 24 hours, and also added a RBI double. Meneses now has more homers in this series (3) than the rest of his entire combined season (2).(07:45) Jeimer Candelario was only able to serve as DH, but immediately delivered with a 1st inning 3 run HR to set the afternoon tone. Candelario remains on the outside of the All Star Game despite being top 2 in WAR among all of NL 3Bs.(16:00) CJ Abrams had a pair of hits on Day 2 as serving as the lead-off hitter. Hear Mark handicap the reasons why the young SS has been given this opportunity.(24:20) Jake Irvin continues to pitch well ever since having his spot in the rotation skipped last month. Irvin really stepped up on Saturday as he kept pitching following the 1 hour+ rain delay. Irvin's ERA in his past 5 starts is at an encouraging 3.58.(31:30) One last MLB Draft conversation before Sunday night. If both LSU stars are available at #2.... who will Washington select? 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 dropped their 5th game in a row as they were beaten 7-2 by visiting Texas. Al & Tim evaluate Washington's 15th home loss in the past 16 games; which is becoming a bit of a head spinning stat. The lineup was tweaked as CJ Abrams occupied the lead-off spot and it sounds like this will be an ongoing experiment. Lane Thomas moved to the 2nd spot in the order, but went 0 for 4.(09:45) Joey Meneses touched eight bags while homering twice; thus doubling his season total. It was his first time going deep in exactly two months, when he hit one on May 7th in Phoenix.(15:45) Jeimer Candelario was out of the lineup on Friday one day after exiting early due to taking a fastball to the kneecap. Candelario was still sore after working out in the batting cage and is TBD for the rest of the weekend series.(19:00) The Nationals only used two pitchers, but that seemed to be more of a product of a tired bullpen instead of their actual pitching performance. Trevor Williams lasted 6 IP, but allowed 4 runs and threw well over 100 pitches on his way there. Joan Adon threw the final 3 innings, but gave up a HR to the first batter he saw, just after he was promoted from AAA Rochester.(31:30) Tim speaks with Ben McDonald, the perfect person to give you scouting reports on Paul Skenes & Dylan Crews. Ben himself was a Star pitcher at LSU and then drafted by the Orioles at #1 overall in 1989. Hear Ben's up close expertise on these two as the MLB Draft approaches this Sunday evening. 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 by the Reds and Thursday's finale was a 5-4 extra inning defeat for their 14th loss in their past 15 home games. Mark & Al recap the odd affair, that saw a nearly two hour rain delay in the top of the 2nd; thus prematurely ending MacKenzie Gore's start. This is his final schedule start until the All Star Break and his ERA is now at 4.42.(10:15) The rain delay caused the afternoon to become a Bullpen Game and the "A" Bullpen took the mound in addition to a few others. Hunter Harvey threw a perfect top of the 9th, but in the 10th immediately surrendered a 2 run HR to Nick Senzel. This does create plenty of complications for this weekend's upcoming series vs. Texas.(20:00) Keibert Ruiz went 0 for 5 while DHing and his OPS is a troubling .639. What to make of him at the moment at the plate? Why isnt' Riley Adams getting more chances at 1B?(25:50) Alex Call homered, stole a base, and walked twice. Call's HR briefly gave the Nationals the lead and this came one day after returning from Rochester.(28:00) Mark gives an update on Jeimer Candelario, who left in the 10th inning after taking a fastball to the kneecap while up to bat. 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 trounced 9-2 on Wednesday night vs. the Reds for their 3rd straight home loss. Mark & Al recap the unusual kerfuffle regarding the blast knob at the end of Elly De La Cruz's bat that ultimately led to his towering HR in the 5th inning. Mark was the designated pool reporter for the evening and relays what he was told form the Umpires afterwards.(08:40) Josiah Gray had a poor outing on the heels of making the All Star Game over the weekend. Gray only lasted 5 IP and was plagued by his typical high pitch count.(16:20) Joe La Sorsa gave up 4 runs in two innings; which included a run scoring balk. It was the 2nd time in the past few outings that La Sorsa gave up that many runs and his ERA this season is at 18.00.(26:30) Alex Call returned to Washington's CF just a few weeks after being sent down to Rochester. Derek Hill was DFA'd, which oddly enough came right after his 1st RBI with the Nationals. Call has struggled mightily at the plate this season, but has played well in the field.(32:20) Jim Callis, Senior Writer for MLB Pipeline and MLB.com, tells Tim Shovers all that he knows about Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes ahead of this weekend's Draft. He gives an easy to digest explanation on how the finances have changed since the Stephen Strasburg/Bryce Harper Drafts. 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 8-4 to the Reds in the annual 11:05AM July 4th start in D.C. Mark & Alex have plenty to carp about as the sloppy play began right away with poor defense in the 1st inning. Adding insult to the afternoon, Cincinnati was able to steal 6 bases off of Riley Adams behind the plate.(06:10) Patrick Corbin struggled while allowing 10 hits and 6 earned runs. Corbin's ERA is now up to 5.13 and for comparison sake it was 5.68 at this time last summer. It was the 4th time this year that Corbin gave up double digit hits in an outing.(19:00) It was another day of mild results for the offense, but Derek Hill did have his 1st RBI since being promoted from AAA. CJ Abrams did not play well in the field, but he did have a pair of doubles on Tuesday. Lane Thomas doubled too and his average currently sits at .301.(26:00) This series against the 1st Place Reds has been a tad sobering for Washington's Rebuild efforts, because Cincy has exposed the areas that need to be improved on South Capitol Street. The hosts blend this conversation into the importance of nailing the upcoming MLB Draft. 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 the home stand opener 3-2 on Monday evening to Cincinnati. Mark & Al begin with the very curious and costly decision by Stone Garrett to try and steal 2nd Base in the bottom of the 9th. Hear how Davey Martinez responded to Garrett getting thrown out for the 2nd out in the final frame.(09:40) Joey Meneses was slotted 5th in the lineup as opposed to his usual placement of 3rd or 4th in the order. Meneses really struggled in June as he only came up with six hits the entire month.(18:50) Jake Irvin took the loss, but pitched decently for the 4th straight outing. A month ago his ERA was at 5.81, but ever since having his spot in the rotation was skipped, it is now down to 4.70. After he departed; the "B" Bullpen held the Reds scoreless over the final three innings.(26:50) Quick turnaround on Tuesday morning as the Nats host their annual July 4th game at 11AM. Are you a fan of the tradition in DC?(30:00) Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline ends the show with an updated scouting report on Brady House. 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 5-4 on Sunday in Philadelphia to take the weekend rubber match and Josiah Gray also found out he is headed to the MLB All Star Game for the first time in his young career. The Nationals won all 3 series on the road trip and went 6-3 overall on the three city tour. Al points out how well the team is playing on the road this year as they are 21-22 this season away from D.C.(05:00) Gray is bound for Seattle at next week's Midsummer Classic. Gray makes it to the All Star Game less than two years after the Blockbuster trade with the Dodgers at the 2021 Trade Deadline.(09:00) Among the snubs, were Jeimer Candelario and Lane Thomas. Al runs through some stats that makes their omissions difficult to swallow, but plenty of explainable All Star roster quirks are at play. Candelario did homer on Sunday as well in the victory.(17:10) Stone Garrett came through as clean-up hitter with a go ahead Grand Slam, his 2nd one this season. The last player to pull that off for Washington? Gerardo "Baby Shark" Parra of course.(19:00) Trevor Williams immediately allowed 3 runs, but did settle down to make it through 5 innings. Hear Al explain how Williams has been mediocre, but in a complimentary way. The "A" Bullpen came through again with plenty of clutch double plays; and saw significant contribution from recent addition Jose A. Ferrer. 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 crushed 19-4 on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia. Al hosts solo and runs through all the troubling moments from MacKenzie Gore's awful start, which included not properly covering a play at 1st Base. It is the worst start of Gore's season and rose his ERA to 4.48. Hear what Davey has to say about the blister on Gore's finger afterwards.(08:40) The Nationals bullpen (which included Ildemaro Vargas) was demolished by the powerful Phillies offense as they gave up a whopping 12 runs in three frames. Joe La Soras for instance faced eight batters, but only retired one of them.(16:25) Vargas and Lane Thomas were the two members of the Washington offense to come up with multiple hits on Saturday. Al uses this opportunity to point out that how startling the lack of the Nats power has been this 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 enter the Halfway Point on a high note as they eked out a 2-1 win in Philadelphia for their 5th victory in the past six games. Mark & Al start with Josiah Gray's solid start on Friday night where he struck out 8 Phillies while only issuing 1 walk. Gray's ERA at 3.30 on the season through 17 starts.(10:50) The "A" Bullpen came through with the final nine outs spread out between Mason Thompson, Kyle Finnegan, and Hunter Harvey. Harvey has appeared on the mound in all five Nationals victories this past week.(19:45) The offense did very little, but Stone Garrett did come through with an early 2 run HR to get the job done. Dom Smith did have a trio of hits on Friday and the pair of Lane Thomas hits lifted his average to .302.(26:20) A quick look halfway through the season at the Core 5 (Gray, Gore, Garcia, Abrams, and Ruiz).(33:00) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the AAA Rochester Red Wings, gives an update on Jackson Rutledge, Blake Rutherford, Matt Adams, and more. 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 4-1 in Seattle to take the series and end their West Coast road trip with a winning record (4-2). Mark (Live from T-Mobile Park) & Al (He's Back!) revel in Patrick Corbin's stellar performance where he struck out 9 Mariners in 7 IP; without issuing any walks. This was especially clutch considering how short handed the bullpen availability was entering Wednesday afternoon.(11:00) Amos Willingham made his MLB debut in the 8th inning and immediately allowed a Solo HR. Willingham did settle down though to retire the next 3 batters before Hunter Harvey notched the Save.(17:00) The Nationals immediately led 3-0 as Jeimer Candelario and Keibert Ruiz each had RBI hits. Al points out how Candelario still has a real chance to make it to Seattle for the All Star Game. Ruiz was involved in a controversial call at Home Plate that led to Davey Martinez's immediate ejection. The hosts try to understand what Ruiz did wrong while trying to avoid the tag and poke holes into the logic of the overly complicated rule.(31:30) Jackson Rutledge, Starting Pitching prospect who was the franchise's 2019 1st Round Pick, has been promoted to AAA Rochester. Could he make his MLB debut this year? At the end of the episode, hear what Jim Callis (Senior Writer for MLB Pipeline) on a rehabbing Cade Cavalli as well. 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 Mariners 7-4 in 11 innings as Jordan Weems recorded the final six outs for the victory. Mark (Live from Seattle) & Tim recap the wacky affair which included many pitch clock violations, flared tempers, and Weems escaping a bases loaded no outs jam in the bottom of the 10th.(08:35) Jake Irvin threw 5.2 IP and allowed 3 runs. He has pitched better in June than in late May and has had four straight solid outings.(17:00) Luis Garcia had a great game with both the bat and glove as he had two hits and almost pulled off an unforgettable double play. Luis has been hitting well this month (.303) and his OPS on the season is .709. 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 8-4 to open their series in Seattle on Monday evening. Mark (Live from T-Mobile Park) & Tim begin with the bad Strike 3 call on Jeimer Candelario to end the game and quash the 9th inning rally. The Nationals trailed by five runs entering the final frame, but made it interesting by loading the bases and bringing up the tying run to the plate.(04:15) Dom Smith had an inexplicable error in the pivotal bottom of the 5th, which led to 3 Mariners runs to take a 6-3 lead. Cory Abbott was on the mound at that point, because Trevor Williams was only able to last for 4 IP.(10:20) Paolo Espino was sent back to AAA Rochester after just one appearance to make room for 24 year old right hander Amos Willingham. Hear Mark explain all the moving parts that likely led to this outcome for Paolo.(18:40) Lane Thomas yet again came through in the 1st as he homered for the 14th time this season and he finds himself in 5th place in the NL for hits (90). It is looking more and likely more that Thomas will be in next month's All Star game.(21:10) Will Matt Adams get called up in July to be showcased before the Trade Deadline? Adams has 11 HRs so far this season in Rochester.(27:10) LSU demolished Florida for the National Championship in Omaha and Paul Skenes was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Mark gives an explainer on why money (big surprise) might play a factor in Pittsburgh's decision on who to take at #1. 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 their first series in June after topping the Padres 8-3 on Sunday afternoon in California. Mark (Live from Petco Park) & Tim marvel at MacKenzie Gore's outing where he struck out the first six batters he saw to set a franchise record. Gore pitched well, but had to exit after 5 IP due to a high pitch count (104). His final pitch of the game was Strike 3 on Juan Soto, which defined the day as Gore K'd Soto in all three at bats.(13:00) The bullpen recorded the final 12 outs, but it was not the smoothest. Joe La Sorsa (a LHP!) had the biggest out of all to end the Padre threat in the 6th after relieving a struggling Mason Thompson. Our Guy Paolo made his 2023 Big League debut in the 9th, but needed Hunter Harvey's help for the final out of the afternoon.(19:20) Derek Hill went 1 for 4 on Sunday while he fills in for an injured Victor Robles. Mark gives the latest on Robles' rehab that is now in West Palm.(25:10) On Monday night the College World Series will be settled between LSU and Florida in Omaha. A fascinating subplot is that Paul Skenes, the Tigers star pitcher, will be on 3 days rest just a few weeks before the MLB Draft. How will the potential Nats 1st Round Pick be handled with a National Title on the line? 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 blanked San Diego 2-0 on a day that began with the great news that Paolo Espino is coming back to Washington! Mark & Tim evaluate Josiah Gray and the "A" bullpen's effort in not allowing the Padres to score a run all night. The trio of Mason Thompson, Kyle Finnegan, and Hunter Harvey came through with the final ten outs after Gray lasted 5.1 IP.(15:00) Jeimer Candelario and Lane Thomas each homered on Saturday night and it was Thomas' 13th HR of the season. Will he get an All Star nod from the crowded NL OF crowd? San Diego's starting pitcher featured a knuckleball, but did not use it as much as we initially were told.(20:10) The Cubs and Cardinals are in London this weekend and they have already announced the 2024 match-up (Mets/Phillies). What does the future hold for MLB in Europe? 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 clobbered 13-3 in San Diego and have now lost 15 of their past 18 games. Mark (Live from Petco Park) & Al take a temperature check on Davey Martinez's job status as this month is shaping up to be one of the worst in club history. Davey's currently is signed through the end of the season.(08:00) Patrick Corbin had a 2021 type start he as he allowed 7 runs in 5 IP. Corbin's ERA is up to 5.32, the highest it has been since early May. The Mets are reportedly interested in acquiring Corbin.... is it worth it?(20:45) Chad Kuhl really struggled in what was supposed to be mop up duty but ceded 4 runs before being pulled. His ERA is now at an astronomical 8.45 and the hosts discuss whether or not Kuhl will remain on the roster.(28:00) The offense doubled seven times among their ten hits on Friday evening. Recent call-up Derek Hill collected a pair of base knocks while hitting 8th. 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 lost 5-3 in their makeup game vs. Arizona to conclude a not so happy home stand. The afternoon crowd was a sleepy one given the scheduling circumstances, but Davey Martinez electrified the vibe by getting ejected in very dramatic fashion in the 5th inning. Mark & Al break down the ejection while musing about the team's subpar performance.(15:30) The defense did not perform well on Thursday and the tone was immediately set when a Derek Hill error resulted in Corbin Carroll scoring all the way from 1st base. Luis Garcia drastically misplayed a fly ball and also had a throwing error in the middle of the game. Davey was openly critical of the defensive effort in his Postgame press conference.(22:20) Jake Irvin now has had back to back good outings as he only allowed 1 ER in 6 IP. Irvin has responded nicely to having his rotation spot recently skipped.(26:30) Lane Thomas homered for the 12th time this season and it spurs on a conversation on whether or not he is a trade chip in the upcoming MLB Trade Deadline (August 1st). Thomas does not become a Free Agent following the 2025 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 blanked the Cardinals 3-0 in a wet Wednesday afternoon in Navy Yard to avoid the sweep and end the five game skid. Al & Tim start with Trevor Williams' victorious effort as he lasted 6 IP before handing it off to the "A Bullpen". Will there be interest for Williams at the Trade Deadline?(7:30) Carl Edwards Jr. is now on the IL due to shoulder inflammation and Mason Thompson seemingly is taking his spot in the Bullpen hierarchy. Kyle Finnegan escaped a jam in the 7th and Hunter Harvey was able to notch his first save since May 31st. Taking Edwards roster spot is Joe La Sorsa and the good news is he that he is a lefty.(14:00) CJ Abrams had a big day as he collected 3 hits, but most importantly a solo HR in the 5th that gave the Nationals a potential safety net of having the lead should the rain have increased. Spotlights are shone on Luis Garcia and Jeimer Candelario as well in this segment.(25:30) Victor Robles returned to the IL due to his back and Derek Hill was called up to take over CF. Hear some frank comments that Davey Martinez had for Robles after the events of Tuesday night. Why did Alex Call stay in Rochester?(35:00) NBC Sports Washington is being rebranded locally as Monumental Sports Network. This news ties into the never ending MASN ripples. 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 have dropped five in a row this home stand as they fell 9-3 on Tuesday vs. St. Louis. Mark & Al have an extended discussion on the argument between MacKenzie Gore and Victor Robles following a misplayed fly ball in the top of the 2nd. Hear what Davey Martinez had to say about it in his postgame press conference.(15:30) Gore did not have a good outing as he ceded 9 hits and 5 runs in 6 IP. He was able to survive back to back walks and did strikeout 8 Cardinals in the process. His ERA in four straights this month is 5.16 compared to 4.06 in May.(19:45) Only a pair of bullpen arms took the mound and the results were not pretty. Hunter Harvey pitched for the first time in awhile. but allowed a pair of runs in the 9th.(31:15) Tim Shovers steps in to go over the latest MASN dispute news with Al. According to the Washington Post, the Nationals and Orioles agreed on the TV rights amount from 2012-2016 (appx $100M), but 2017-2023 still remains unsettled. Will this hasten the sale of the team? 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 their 4th straight as they blew an early five run lead in a 8-6 defeat against visiting St. Louis. Josiah Gray was staked the early edge, but allowed six runs; the final four of which came in the bottom of the 5th. It was Gray's worst outing of the year and his ERA is a full run higher than it was a month ago (3.64).(15:00) The offense did very little from the 3rd inning on and had more instances of making outs on the bases. Luis Garcia had an unusual box score as he gathered 4 RBIs on only 1 hit.(25:30) Jordan Weems continued his solid stretch as of late out of the bullpen. Chad Kuhl threw an adventurous scoreless inning and then Kyle Finnegan took the mound for just the 5th time this month. Why did Finnegan miss the entire Marlins series, but pitched today when trailing?(31:40) A special interview in honor of Juneteenth as Tim Shovers is joined by Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum This is Bob's 3rd straight June joining the podcast and in this edition, he discusses Oscar Charleston, Hall of Famer. Oscar Charleston played from 1915-1941 and is considered "Willie Mays before Willie Mays". 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 on Father's Day by visiting Miami 4-2 and they are now 0-6 against the Marlins this season. Al & Mark have a "Roblesian" blunder to begin with as Victor Robles, fresh off the IL, was picked off at a crucial moment with Lane Thomas up to bat in the bottom of the 5th.(10:10) Lane Thomas slugged his team high 11th HR of the season and is flirting with a .500 slugging %. Davey Martinez has stumped for Thomas to serve as the Nationals representative in the All Star Game.(22:40) Patrick Corbin didn't pitch very well as he gave up 11 hits, but did last 6 IP to eat up some innings. Corbin's ERA is 4.89 on the season and his WHIP in three starts this month is a startling 2.00.(29:45) Paul Skenes was dominant again on Saturday night as he struck out a dozen Tennessee Volunteers in the College World Series. This leads to an extended discussion on how to evaluate the injury potential to the best pitcher in College Baseball. 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 remain winless this season against Miami as they fell 5-2 on Saturday afternoon in D.C. The bullpen inherited a tied game, but Chad Kuhl and Thad Ward combined to allow four runs in three frames. Davey Martinez afterwards said his "A" Bullpen was not available, and the short handed crew did not come through.(18:30) Jake Irvin had a good outing after having his spot in the rotation was recently skipped. Irvin lasted 5 IP and only ceded one run, his best start in over a month.(25:40) CJ Abrams went 0 for 3 and is hitting .215 on the season. Abrams has also had many defensive miscues this year and the hosts begin to wonder if a trip to the minors might be worth considering. 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 are now 0-4 this year against Miami after narrowly falling 6-5 in D.C. Al hosts solo and runs through Trevor Williams' rough start as he has now given up 11 runs in his three June outings. Meanwhile, last year's NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara has pitched poorly this year and that was the case on Friday night despite his dominance last year vs. Washington.(08:50) The Marlins' go head run came in the top of the 8th on an infield single that scored Garrett Cooper all the way from 2B. Al dissects the way that CJ Abrams played it and what the Nationals defense stats look like as of lately.(17:30) Victor Robles returned from the IL and just before he singled, he tried to pull of a phantom HBP. Robles' promotion sent Alex Call down to AAA Rochester, who was only hitting .209 on 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.

For the 1st time since October 30th, 2019 the Nats won in Houston and this one came in extra innings by the final score of 4-1. Al & Mark (Live from Texas) start with Keibert Ruiz who broke the scoreless tie in the top of the 9th and added the final insurance run with a 10th inning RBI single. Ruiz has struggled at the plate this season, but did have six hits on the two city road trip.(10:38) The bullpen pitched well, other than Hunter Harvey who blew the save in the 9th. The best news of the night was Mason Thompson who threw his 5th consecutive scoreless outing. His ERA entering June was 4.76 and now it is down to 3.93. Props are given to Carl Edwards Jr. who was able to blank the Astros in the bottom of the 10th to preserve the 3 run victory.(25:10) MacKenzie Gore did not allow a run in 5.2 IP coming off a poor start in Atlanta. Gore is still needing a lot of pitches each inning, but his WHIP has dropped to 1.38. This leads into a conversation about Sean Doolittle being promoted to AAA Rochester and he gave up a pair of runs in his first appearance with the Red Wings on Thursday.(31:30) Paul Skenes, LSU's star pitcher who the Nationals might select next month, won the Dick Howser Trophy (College Baseball's Heisman Trophy). He is expected to pitch at the College World Series on Saturday night vs. Tennessee. We close the show with a preview of UVA's match-up vs. Florida from legendary Virginia columnist David Teel of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. 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 "Trea Turner Play" somehow resurfaced in a game between the Nats and Astros in Minute Maid Park and this time it was the final sequence of a 5-4 Nationals loss. A bewildered duo of Mark (Live from Texas) & Al recap all angles of the controversial no call; including Davey Martinez's postgame rant that won't be forgotten any time soon. Why can't runner interference be reviewed?(17:00) The bottom of the 9th only came to be after Washington rallied with three runs in the top of the 9th to force a tie. Dom Smith came through with a game tying RBI triple, but his pinch runner Michael Chavis never came across to score. Smith has four hits in the past three games; after not starting at 1B on Saturday.(21:20) Josiah Gray lasted seven frames, but allowed four runs in the process. He has now thrown 7 IP on three occasions this season and did not issue any walks on Wednesday night. Mark explains how Gray has added a new array of pitches to his skill set. 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 6-1 in their first return to Houston since Game 7 of the 2019 World Series. Mark (Live from Texas) and Al scratch their heads over an Alex Call bunt attempt during the early stages of a potential 3rd inning rally. Call is really struggling at the plate as he is hitting .215 on the season(06:25) Chad Kuhl got the nod to pitch the 7th while trailing 2-0 and Al wonders if one of the "A" Bullpen members should maybe have taken the mound instead. Important to note the next off-day for Washington isn't until June 29th.(15:30) Patrick Corbin took the mound at Minute Maid Park and threw three scoreless frames (sounds familiar right?). He also posted a blank 4th inning before giving up a pair of solo HRs in the 5th. Shockingly enough, Corbin is the only 2019 champ on the current roster (Victor Robles meanwhile hit 2 HRs for Rochester on Tuesday).(27:15) Hear a listener voice memo from the 2019 Postseason, this one about the 1st inning from Game 4 of the NLCS vs. St. Louis. 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.