Nats Chat

The Nats led 6-1 in Oakland but it all fell apart in the 6th inning and they ultimately lost 7-6. Mark (Live from the Oakland Coliseum) & Al recap the disappointing series finale.(04:36) Derek Law gave up four runs despite retiring the first batter he faced in the bottom of the 6th. This blighted Trevor Williams' final line as two of the three runs he ceded came with Law on the mound. This was another game with many bullpen arms used, as the team sent out 13 relievers collectively over the weekend.(12:00) Riley Adams caught every game this series as Keibert Ruiz remains out to illness. This hosts note that it turned out to be a mistake in not keeping Drew Millas on the roster as his replacement Amos Willingham never took the mound.(17:20) The lineup was shuffled and Lane Thomas came through by homering, part of his 3 hits and 3 RBIs on the afternoon while hitting 5th. Jacob Young occupied the lead off spot and delivered with a pair of hits. This leads to Mark giving an update on Victor Robles and hamstring strain.(23:00) Mitchell Parker will make his MLB debut on the mound on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Parker was a 5th round pick from the 2020 Draft. He has made one start this year for Rochester and was promoted to AAA in mid September in last 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 beat the Athletics 3-1 in California on Saturday afternoon as MacKenzie Gore tied a career high with 11 strikeouts. Mark (Live from Oakland Coliseum) & Al discuss the southpaw's sterling outing that saw five shutout innings on 90 pitches.(08:45) CJ Abrams had a pair of hits including a RBI triple and Al notes that it seems like the team's success is directly correlated to Abrams' performance. The triple scored Jacob Young and Mark points out how just how lighting quick both of them are when running the bases.(13:40) Luis Garcia Jr. also had two hits, one of which was a RBI double to give Washington a 2-0 lead and also flashed leather in the bottom of the 9th. Garcia is hitting .333 so far on the young season and it is to his benefit as Nick Senzel might return to the roster in the near future.(16:05) Riley Adams had the rare assignment of catching a day game after a night affair as Keibert Ruiz remains out of the lineup due to illness. If Ruiz is sick, why is he in the clubhouse and dugout around the team as opposed to his hotel room?(21:00) Five relievers combined to give up just one run in four frames and they totaled seven strikeouts. Robert Garcia led the way with a trio of Ks in one inning of work.(25:30) Who will start on Monday night at Dodger Stadium in place of Josiah Gray? 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 2-1 in Oakland on Friday evening in 10 innings of play. Mark (Live from Oakland Coliseum) & Al begin by noting that this is the final season in this particular stadium as the team will temporarily relocate to Sacramento next year, before ultimately settling in Las Vegas.(04:40) Jake Irvin only allowed a solo homer in 6 IP on just 74 pitches for his best start of the season thus far.(08:00) Jesse Winker went 4 for 4 and was the lone source of offense as he clubbed a solo homer to tie up the game in the top of the 9th. Winker was signed to a minor league deal, but so far has been the team's best outfielder.(15:00) Trey Lipscomb made a base running error to begin the top of the 10th thus nullifying the ghost runner.(21:30) Keibert Ruiz missed another game due to illness (flu like symptoms) as Riley Adams starting behind the plate on Friday night. Drew Millas was called up on for Wednesday in San Francisco, but was sent back down afterwards because it was originally thought that Ruiz would be ready for the opener in Oakland.(24:00) Prior to the game Davey Martinez gave an update on Josiah Gray, that he has full range of motion and will start rehabbing soon. Mark adds who who might possibly take Gray's spot in the rotation when the Nationals play at Dodger Stadium in a few days. 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 7-1 on Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco, ending their three game win streak. Al & Mark (Live from Oracle Park) recap a quiet day for the bats as they only mustered four hits in defeat. The only run came from Joey Gallo, who now has a trio of homers on the young season.(05:30) Catcher Drew Millas was called up and started behind the plate, replacing Joan Adon on the roster. Millas stepped in for Keibert Ruiz who wasn't feel well, but immediately was sent back down to the minors after the game. Since Adon is not with the Nats, who will take that rotation spot on this road trip?(13:00) Patrick Corbin took the loss as he allowed seven runs off 11 hits. Corbin's ERA after three outings is 8.44.(20:00) A discussion on how the bullpen hierarchy is shaping up through a dozen games.(24:00) As the Orioles have called up heralded prospect Jackson Holliday, will James Wood get promoted to Washington in the near future? We do the best we can to explain the complicated wrinkles involved in the decision and a summation of the Player Prospect Incentive (PPI).(30:20) Yohandy "Yo Yo" Morales has moved into the top 10 rankings on MLB Pipeline. Morales is an infielder who currently is at AA-Harrisburg and was drafted in the 2nd round last summer out of the University of Miami (FL). Due to Brady House at 3B, Morales very well could end up playing 1B for 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 held on 5-3 in San Francisco on Tuesday night for their 3rd straight victory. Mark (Live from SF) & Al though begin with the news from pregame that Josiah Gray is headed to the 15 day IL with a right elbow/ forearm flexor strain. Despite the news, there were some positive indications from both Gray and Davey Martinez that this does not necessarily mean season ending surgery or anything of that magnitude.(11:45) Taking Gray's place in the rotation was Joan Adon who serviceable in his four innings of work. Mark explains why Adon was called up from AAA-Rochester instead of Jackson Rutledge.(16:00) Kyle Finnegan recorded a four out save, but sure made it interesting in the 9th inning as he loaded up the bases with no outs. Finnegan ultimately escaped by inducing a game ending double play to preserve the Nationals win.(23:00) CJ Abrams returned to the lineup after missing the past three games and certainly delivered. He homered and knocked in a trio of runs on his two hit evening. The hosts take this is opportunity to note how Abrams is truly blossoming into a star.(27:00) Jacob Young continues to impress while filing in for Victor Robles as he stole three bases and also connected with a pair of hits. A startling stat in the early season is that four Nationals have already stolen three bases in a single game and they have only played 11 games thus far. 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 cruised to an 8-1 victory on Monday night in San Francisco to begin their west coast road trip. Mark (Live from Oracle Park) & Al begin with the Nationals offense knocking Blake Snell out of the affair after just three innings of work with his new team. The reigning NL Cy Young winner did not sign with the Giants until mid March and therefore missed the bulk of Spring Training.(05:00) CJ Abrams missed a third straight game, but Mark notes that he did take infield practice in pregame. Abrams has a bone bruise in his pinky finger which likely came on a slide on Friday evening.(06:30) Trey Lipscomb had the best game of his young career as he had not only had three hits, but also stole three bases, one of which was a steal of home on an impromptu double steal. This was well timed for Lipscomb after struggling in his first home stand.(11:30) Lane Thomas continued his surge as he clubbed his first homer of the season, part of his three hit evening. Thomas is 7 for his past 11 after scuffling to begin the season.(14:50) Ildemaro Vargas drew a trio of walks while filling in again for Abrams at SS. The hosts point out how the veteran consistently steps up when given the opportunity.(19:30) Trevor Williams is 2-0 to begin his season as he only allowed one run in 5 IP on 81 pitches. Last season Williams did not record his 2nd victory until late May in what was a rough season for the right hander.(23:30) Matt Barnes pitched the final three outs in poetic fashion as he is a UConn alum, shortly after the Huskies defeated Purdue to capture the Men's Basketball National Title. 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 three game skid with a 3-2 victory over the visiting Phillies on Sunday afternoon. Al & Tim start with MacKenzie Gore's solid performance as earned his first win of 2024 in 5.2 IP of work. A trio of bullpen pitchers (Weems, Harvey, and Finnegan) then combined for ten scoreless outs.(11:15) Lane Thomas had his best game of the season as he had a pair of hits, stole three bases, and scored the final two runs. The negative for the offense was that CJ Abrams missed a second straight game to a bone bruise in his pinky finger, which is believed to have happened on a Friday night slide.(16:00) Jesse Winker had an excellent catch in the top of the 9th to avoid a lead-off double in what has been a strong start to his time in Washington. Luis Garcia Jr. had a RBI double and is hitting .333 thus far on the season after being sent down to the minors for portion of 2023.(25:00) On Sunday Nationals ownership released a statement about the retirement of Stephen Strasburg, which became official on Saturday. Strasburg himself released a statement and Mike Rizzo also met with reporters before the game. Al & Tim then wonder if he is the biggest "Star" 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 lost 5-2 to the Phillies but afterwards in a very subtle manner, it came across the MLB.com's transactions log that Stephen Strasburg is retiring. Mark & Al react to the news that the Strasburg saga has finally been wrapped up. The next homestand will serve as the 5th anniversary celebration of the World Series title as Houston will be in town and they wonder if the timing of that weekend played a role in the eventual resolution.(15:40) CJ Abrams was a late scratch due to a bone bruise in his pinky finger. Lane Thomas was moved up to the lead-off spot and responded with his first multi hit game of the season.(20:00) Joey Gallo homered for the 2nd time this week and it is the 200th of his career.(22:00) Nick Senzel seems to be on track to return to action quicker than initially expected. If Senzel returns to Washington, what will happen to Trey Lipscomb?(29:00) Jake Irvin gave up four runs in 6 IP and took the loss. Irvin's outing was part of a troubling trend by the Nats starters who do not seem to be taking advantage of the cold weather, which typically leads more dominant pitching. 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.

On a chilly night in the District, the Nats were blanked 4-0 by the Phillies. Mark & Al start with the struggling offense as they only totaled two hits on the evening. One of those was squandered by poor base running as CJ Abrams tried to stretch an early single into a double.(06:25) Lane Thomas was hitless and is mightily slumping this season. So far he is just 2 for 28 at the plate and has not had a hit since the home opener.(10:00) Trey Lipscomb was charged with his 2nd throwing error of the year after airmailing a throw way over 1B. He also has skipped a few throws thus far and has at times been bailed out by Joey Gallo's glove work. During pregame workouts, Lipscomb was also seen getting reps in the outfield. What to make of it?(15:00) Patrick Corbin's pitching line: 6 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K on 93 pitches. He had the unusual modern feat of facing the top of the Phillies order for the fourth time. The bullpen followed up with three scoreless innings despite combining to issue six walks.(24:30) A listener submitted email asking about the scarcity of consistently great relief pitchers.(31:00) We conclude with a discussion to an article in the Ringer about the rising injury rates for pitchers: https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2024/4/2/24118963/pitcher-injuries-crisis-mlb-study-tommy-john-ucl 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 7-4 to Pittsburgh in D.C. to drop a 2nd straight rubber match as they are now 2-4 on the season. Al & Mark recap another bad outing by Josiah Gray as he gave up four runs in the opening inning. His ERA so far this season after a pair of starts is 14.04.(14:00) The offense totaled eight hits after trying to dig themselves out from the early deficit. Lane Thomas was for 0 for 4 and so far he is hitting just .179 on the young season.(18:00) Joey Gallo doubled and drew a walk in what ended up being a solid series for the new National. Jacob Young started in CF shortly after being called up from Rochester as earlier in the day Victor Robles was placed on the IL due to a hamstring strain.(20:20) A recap of the bullpen's performance and five arms were needed on Thursday. Tanner Rainey allowed two hits but didn't give up any runs for the first time this season in three appearances.(31:00) The Phillies come to town this weekend and the hosts ends the show by noting how mediocre the division has been thus far. 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.

Wednesday was filled with rain in the DMV, but the skies were clear enough in the early evening for a 5-3 Nationals victory over Pittsburgh. Mark & Al start with Joey Gallo as his first hit with the franchise was fittingly a solo HR. He then later added two more hits after beginning the season 0 for 12.(08:00) Luis Garcia Jr. doubled three times and knocked in a run. It is the first time in Garcia's career that he pulled off that feat.(11:40) CJ Abrams had another impressive performance as he had a pair of hits and knocked in two runs. His RBI single was the capper to the four runs that Washington scored in the bottom of the 2nd.(14:30) Victor Robles exited the game early due to a left hamstring injury and will receive a MRI on Thursday. If he lands on the IL, this would mean the team needs to likely call up another outfielder to fill his spot.(20:15) Trevor Williams threw the best outing of any Nats starting pitcher so far this season and was rewarded with a victory. He allowed two runs in 5.1 IP and it is his first victory since August 20th of last season.(24:30) A very encouraging sign was how effective Hunter Harvey and Kyle Finnegan were in preserving the victory after some rough moments so far this season. Finnegan impressed many with his new "sweeper" pitch while notching the Save.(30:30) The series wraps up on Thursday afternoon as Josiah Gray will take mound. Gray did not pitch well on Opening Day in Cincinnati as the Nationals seek their first series victory of 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 lost 8-3 to the Pirates in their sold out home opener to begin the season 1-3 for the sixth consecutive year. Mark & Al recap a second straight day filled with bullpen struggles as the game was tied at 4 entering the top of the 8th. Matt Barnes and Tanner Rainey shared responsibility for the four late Pirates runs and overall the quartet of Nats relievers gave up ten hits in the afternoon.(12:00) MacKenzie Gore threw a so-so start as he gave up a trio of runs in 5.1 IP on 101 pitches. His pitch count was immediately high as it took over 40 pitches to get through the first two innings. Thus far this season, it seems like the Nationals starters are having sluggish beginnings to their outings.(17:20) The offense overcame a slow start and their performance was highlighted by Riley Adams' longest HR of his career. Adams got the start behind the plate as Keibert Ruiz served as the DH.(21:40) Victor Robles drew a pair of walks and also stole two bases on Monday. It is the first time that Robles has walked more than once in a game since April 26th last season. The hosts then explain where Robles is fitting into the organization's long term plans.(26:00) It was Michael A. Taylor's first game at Nationals Park since the World Series believe or not. He played well for Pittsburgh in their win and received a strong ovation from the crowd during introductions and before his initial at bat.(29:00) What to expect from attendance at Nationals Park this season? The listed crowd was over 40K for Opening Day in D.C. 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 one out shy of winning the opening series of the season as they lost 6-5 on Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. Mark (Live from Cincy) & Al recap the loss where a 5-3 lead with two outs in the 9th quickly turned into a Reds walk-off HR given up by Kyle Finnegan.(07:30) Trey Lipscomb homered in just his 2nd career game and continues to impress at 3B.(11:00) CJ Abrams also homered on Sunday, but Al takes issue with a decision for him to attempt a sacrifice bunt despite it working out.(20:00) Jake Irvin allowed 3 runs in 5 IP in his first start of the season. This leads to a discussion of what to expect from the rotation in early April.(25:00) The weather forecast this week in D.C. is not great for Opening Day and Monday could potentially be a long one at the ballpark if Tuesday's forecast does not improve. 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 scored 3 runs in the 9th to escape with a 7-6 victory on Saturday afternoon. Mark (From Cincinnati) & Al discuss the comeback, which involved a lot of "Small Ball". Keibert Ruiz tied the game by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Eddie Rosario continued his strong start to the season with the go ahead sacrifice fly. CJ Abrams had a excellent game as he scored a trio of runs and also stole 3 bases in the win.(11:00) Trey Lipscomb made his Major League debut as the starting 3B and came through with his first career single and flashed the leather too. Lipscomb is the first prospect from the next wave to join the Big League team and was called up after Nick Senzel's Opening Day injury.(16:00) Jesse Winker had a productive Saturday as the #3 hitter, coming through with a pair of hits, a run scored, and an outfield assist to throw out a runner at the plate.(23:20) Patrick Corbin lasted 4.1 IP in allowing 4 runs and 7 hits in the final season of his long term contract. His outing began with 3 scoreless outings before the Reds offense awoke. 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 8-2 on Opening Day on Thursday afternoon in Cincinnati . Mark (Live from Cincy) & Al recap the defeat that got off to an immediate negative tone as third baseman Nick Senzel broke his thumb while fielding a ground ball in warmups. Then Josiah Gray allowed seven runs before the 3rd inning was over, including allowing a pair of HRs to Nick Martini, who entered the game with only 8 career HRs.(16:20) The offense was very ineffective as only one runner reached scoring position and zero walks were drawn. The only source of offense came from Eddie Rosario who hit a 2 run HR while starting in CF.(23:00) It didn't take long for our first "TOOTBLAN" on the season as it came in the top of the 1st.(29:10) Stephen Strasburg was officially placed on the 60-day IL on Thursday. Any update on a potential resolution? 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.

Mark is back from Florida and so are the Nats as Opening Day is Thursday in Cincinnati. He & Al begin start with the prospect likeliest to begin in Ohio this week and it's not James Wood or Dylan Crews. Hear all the factors that led to Trey Lipscomb escalation up the depth chart within the organization. Lipscomb is an infielder and was drafted by Washington in the 3rd round of the 2022 Draft after playing at the University of Tennessee.(12:00) An update on the starting rotation which will include Trevor Williams and not Zach Davies. Why is Jackson Rutledge beginning his season in Triple A Rochester?(19:00) Bullpen Roll Call. Mark explains how competitive spots were for relievers this Spring. As of now, Robert Garcia is the only lefty on the roster.(22:00) An evaluation of where the Rebuild stands.(29:00) Davey Martinez is entering his his 7th season at the helm for the Nats. What sort of pressure is there on Davey for this season or none at all? He signed a two year extension in August that runs through the 2025 season.(34:15) Al poses the question - who most needs to show improvement this season?(38:30 Both hosts give their official season prediction for the 2024 Washington Nationals. 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.

As Opening Day approaches next week, Mark (From West Palm) & Al react to Davey Martinez giving Josiah Gray the nod to take the mound on March 28th in Cincinnati. Patrick Corbin, who started Opening Day the past two seasons, will get the ball in Game #2. MacKenzie Gore is expected to be the starting pitcher for the home opener on Monday April 1st.(15:20) An update on the bullpen and which arms are healthy as the regular season approaches.(19:15) A look at the outfield and first base from a defensive perspective. Eddie Rosario was recently signed to play left field and now Joey Gallo is the primary plan at 1st Why Gallo over Meneses at that spot?(25:25) Mark runs through why he thinks there might be a defensive regression this season in the infield. Nick Senzel is expected to begin the season at third, but the long term answer at the hot corner remains in flux.(29:00) Davey publicly scolded Luis Garcia Jr. for a base running miscue, is it indicative of how many chances he's running out of in D.C.?(32:00) "Robo Umps" has been experimented with in Spring Training and is referred to as the ABS (Automated Balls and Strike System). This has been used recently in minor league games so many of the younger players are familiar with it. Will this be instituted at the Major League level?(38:00) It is unclear if final cuts will be made before or after the team flies north from Florida. The final Grapefruit League game is Sunday and then on Tuesday in D.C. will be the inaugural futures game featuring prospects at 12:05pm. 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.

Opening Day is under a month away as Mark & Al convene to discuss the latest with the Nationals. James Wood has been the star of Spring Training and that is where the conversation begins. What are the chances the 21-year-old will be with the Nats on March 28th in Cincinnati?(08:30) An update on how Dylan Crews and Robert Hassell III have looked during Grapefruit League play.(11:30) An explanation of the complicated Prospect Promotion Initiative (PPI) that factors into the decision of whether or not to put a highly regarded prospect on the Opening Day roster.(14:45) A look at the starting rotation and who stacks up where in the pecking order.(25:35) There have been rave reviews for Sean Doolittle in his new role as pitching strategist, a position he was hired for in mid January. Hear a brief explanation of what his duties entail.(30:00) Then we turn our focus to what the bullpen looks like this year. Unfortunately there will not be Mason Thompson in 2024 as he will undergo Tommy Johnson surgery. 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 played a pair of Grapefruit League games and James Wood homered in each one. Mark & Al begin by discussing the team's #2 ranked prospect's mammoth shots in West Palm and Jupiter over the weekend. Wood is 21 years old spent the bulk of 2023 with Double-A Harrisburg. Meanwhile, Robert Hassell III tripled on Saturday night and Dylan Crews already came through with a diving catch.(11:45) Keibert Ruiz's had a rough start to Spring as he was charged with two catcher interference calls and a passed ball. Mark explains what Keibert is working on in camp after his sub standard 2023 behind the plate.(16:45) The Lerners have told the Washington Post that they are no longer exploring a sale of the Nats. How much does the timing of this announcement have to do with the specifics of the Orioles sale?(31:35) Saturday was the deadline for all players to report to Spring Training and Stephen Strasburg was not among them. At the beginning of camp Mike Rizzo indicated he expected Strasburg to be in West Palm by February 24th. Mark explains the latest regarding the situation.(40:00) Ryan Zimmerman meanwhile is helping out down in Florida. Al wonders what the future holds for "Mr. National".(47:35) Tim Shovers speaks with Gary Sarnoff about his new book on the 1924 World Champion Washington Senators, "Team of Destiny: Walter Johnson, Clark Griffith, Bucky Harris, and the 1924 Washington Senators". 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.

Mark is down in West Palm Beach, Florida for the beginning of Nats Spring Training and relays to Al what he's seen thus far. James Wood has already reported and it is emblematic of the high profile prospects that will garner a lot of attention down at camp unlike the past few seasons.(13:30) Despite the optimism for the future, a negative story line from the past remains as there is still a vacant locker for Stephen Strasburg. Mark explains the complicated situation that was not resolved over the offseason. Listen as to why February 24th is a particularly noteworthy day on the Nationals calendar.(25:00) It was a very quiet Winter for the franchise but a few weeks ago did sign Joey Gallo to a minor league deal. Gallo had quite the unique stat line last season as he had more homers than singles. Yes, Al is already talking flipping him at the Trade Deadline.(33:00) There are high profile Free Agents still on the markets that include Cody Bellinger and Blake Snell. Any chance Washington could sign one of them to a 1 year deal?(42:00) A discussion on how the Orioles sale could affect the Nats? 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.

Al & Mark are back in 2024 in what continues to be a very sleepy offseason for the Nationals. The episode begins with an exciting podcast announcement as it relates to the NL East.(12:25) We are joined by two important new additions to the organization who just came over from Baltimore. Brad Ciolek, Senior Director Amateur Scouting, and Danny Haas, VP of Amateur Scouting. A true "Inside Baseball" segment as they give a peek into the world of scouting and the exhaustive preparation head of this summer's Draft.(37:00) Should MLB allow teams to trade Draft picks, like other sports do? 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 Winter Meetings wrapped up with a flurry of news as Mark has returned home from Nashville. He and Al begin by evaluating the Nick Senzel signing to a one year deal. If he primarily plays 3B, what does mean for Brady House's timeline? This comes as Jeimer Candelario agreed to terms with Cincinnati where Senzel played last season.(10:15) The Nats acquired Nasim Nunez from the Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft. Get to learn about the young shortstop.(19:00) Juan Soto has been traded again and he is now a New York Yankee. Nats Chat unpacks all the layers of interest as it relates to his original organization. Oh by the way, he and Trent Grisham forever remain associated together as Grisham is also on the move from San Diego to the Yanks.(36:20) A forecast of what's coming up next for the team. Will there be any moves before Christmas? 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 MLB Winter Meetings are underway as Mark (Live from Nashville) & Al check in on the latest regarding the Nationals off-season. Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez each addressed the media and there are indications that this could be another slow Hot Stove for Washington. How does Jeimer Candelario fit into all of that?(19:00) The Stephen Strasburg situation was addressed and we still have not yet reached a resolution.(26:00) An explanation as to why Joey Meneses' did not have the power we all expected throughout 2023. Will he get time at 1B next season?(30:00) Davey did not give a ringing endorsement for Luis Garcia as the definitive 2B for 2024. Garcia was surprisingly sent down to AAA for a portion late in the season.(37:30) New look coaching staff that includes Gerardo Parra and former veteran infielder Miguel Cairo at Bench Coach. Parra will take over as the franchise's new 1st Base Coach.(41:30) Will any of the highly touted prospects make the Opening Day roster? Hear about the new Future's Game in D.C. in late March after the conclusion of Spring Training. 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 Texas Rangers won their 1st World Series title to officially bring on the MLB's off-season. Al & Mark begin with a quick recap of the successful Podcast Party last month at Walter's. Thanks to all who came!(04:00) The Nationals announced that weeknight evening games will begin 20 minutes earlier at 6:45pm. This seems to be a way to encourage more fans to be able to stay for the final few innings, but what about those who don't get off work until around 6:30pm?(11:30) Roll call and analysis of the new members of the Nats Front Office. This includes the new senior director of amateur scouting, Brad Ciolek, who joins the organization after a successful tenure in Baltimore.(25:00) There also was some movement among the coaching staff that includes Gerardo Parra replacing Eric Young Jr. as 1st Base Coach. Darnell Coles was retained as Hitting Coach and Jim Hickey will also return as Pitching Coach. How much of these changes are simply about money?(39:20) Now that teams can no longer keep players on the IL, Stephen Strasburg is back on franchise's 40 man roster. Is this headed to a resolution this Winter?(45:00) Texas won it all just two years after losing over 100 games. Arizona meanwhile made the World Series with only 84 victories as the final Wild Card team.(50:00) A tribute to Frank Howard, one of the greatest hitters in the history of Washington Baseball. Howard passed away at age 87 and had many prolific offensive season while playing for the Senators in the late 60's/ early 70's. 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 2023 on a high note as they defeated the Braves 10-9 in a Sunday Slugfest. Mark (From Georgia) & Al wrap-up the 71 win campaign; which was 16 more victories than a season ago. Washington ended up beating Atlanta 5 times and were never swept from the NL East Champs.(05:30) CJ Abrams stole a pair of bases in the finale to surpass Trea Turner's previous franchise mark. Abrams ended at 47 swipes, which just nosed past Turner's 46 stolen bases in 2017.(12:30) Lane Thomas concluded his season w/ a team high 28 HRs. Where does he fit into the organization moving forward as there is a lot of OF talent in the pipeline?(19:00) Jackson Rutledge took a no decision in his 5 IP as he allowed 5 runs in his efforts. Rutledge made 4 MLB starts since getting called up from AAA Rochester and was originally drafted in the 1st Round of the 2019 Draft.(29:10) Mark gives an overview of immediate off-season headlines to keep track of, many of which involve musical chairs in the Front Office/ Coaching changes. What sort of payroll flexibility will Mike Rizzo have 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 lost 5-3 on Saturday night in Atlanta despite jumping out to an early edge. Mark (From ATL) & Al examine how the offense immediately attached Spencer Strider, but then went silent after the 1st inning.(06:25) CJ Abrams had a pair of hits and stole his 45th base of the year. He trails Trea Turner (46 - 2017) by just one stolen base for the franchise record in a single season.(11:00) Joan Adon only lasted 4 IP in his final start of the season. Adon made 10 starts and his ERA was a woeful 6.45 with a WHIP of 1.63. What does his future look like?(17:30) Tanner Rainey tossed a scoreless 8th inning as he finally made it back to the Washington mound for the first time in 2023. Rainey has been away since last summer as he rehabbed from "Tommy John" surgery.(22:00) Mark relays what GM Mike Rizzo had to say to the gathering media prior to the game. 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 out-slugged the Braves on Friday night for their 70th victory on the season. Mark ( From ATL) & Al recap the 10-6 victory that saw Washington crush 5 home runs as Dom Smith continued his scorching September with his 6th trip around the bases this month.(07:40) Carter Kieboom went deep while getting the start in his hometown. The hosts handicap where Kieboom fits into the organizational plans and show why this past stretch might be his last real opportunity to make an impression.(11:00) Keibert Ruiz has not had a good year defensively, but offensively his OPS of of .708 is encouraging. Ruiz has the 2nd most hits of any NL catcher (131) only trailing William Contreras (153).(17:30) Trevor Williams only lasted 3.1 IP and his season is now over with a 5.55 ERA. He is contractually due to return to Washington next season and his rotation spot is seemingly not guaranteed for next season.(29:00) Tyler Clippard officially announced is retirement on Friday via Instagram as he did not sign anywhere this season after pitching for Rochester in parts of 2022. Is he the best overall relief pitcher 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 were swept in their 2 game series in Baltimore as they fell 5-1 on Wednesday night. Mark (From Camden Yards) & Al have another Nationals loss to discuss as the team is now 7-17 in September.(06:45) Patrick Corbin took the "L" in his final outing of the season. He wraps up with a 10-15 record, ERA of 5.20, and a staggeringly high WHIP of 1.48. Corbin threw 180 IP, up from 152.2 IP.(18:45) Jake Alu had a RBI single; which shockingly was the only run Washington scored on Baltimore all season. Unfortunately, Alu had a TOOTBLAN to immediately follow.(23:00) CJ Abrams stole his 44th base on the season and trails Trea Turner by 2 for the franchise record (46 - 2017).(33:00) Sam Holbrook, the home plate umpire for Game 6 of the 2019 World Series, joins Tim for a quick conversation about the infamous "Trea Turner Play". 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 1-0 on Tuesday night in Baltimore, to begin their final road trio of the season. Mark (From Camden Yards) & Al though begin by honoring Brooks Robinson, the Orioles Hall of Fame 3rd Baseman, who passed away prior to the game at age 86. Robinson was an 18 time All Star and won 16 Gold Gloves (2nd most all time).(02:00) Josiah Gray only allowed 1 run in 6 IP in what is his final start of the season. Gray dropped his ERA to 3.91 to conclude his All Star season. Al poses the question of whether or not the organization will look into an extension for Gray, similar to what Keibert Ruiz agreed to in the off-season.(17:00) Gunnar Henderson unsuccessfully tried to steal in the bottom of the 8th with Robert Garcia on the mound. Henderson was the source of the only run scored in the game with his lead-off homer off Gray.(26:00) Davey clarified the rotation for the rest of the way and this weekend in Atlanta and it will be Trevor Williams, Jackson Rutledge, and Joan Adon. Will Tanner Rainey get activated?(32:00) A portion of our March 2022 interview with Sean Doolittle prior to Opening Day. Hear the full interview at natschatpodcast.com 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.

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.