Nats Chat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.