Nats Chat

The Nats were crushed 13-6 on Friday afternoon for Opening Day at Nationals Park. Mark & Al focus on starter Miles Mikolas, who gave up a staggering 11 runs in just over four innings of work. Mikolas has allowed 17 runs in just two starts this season and there are already questions about how long he will remain in Washington. (20:30) Recap of the bullpen's so-so game. (23:20) CJ Abrams launched a 3-run HR in the 1st inning to briefly put the Nats up 3-0 on LA. (28:25) Blake Butera was very complimentary of the 41K+ crowd after his first home game as Skipper. (31:00) Our first fan submitted shoutout of the season. If you want one, please email [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats had a gut punch extra-inning loss on Wednesday afternoon. Mark (From Philadelphia) & Al react to the 6-5 defeat where the Nationals blew a 5-1 late inning lead. (05:00) The bullpen did not get it done as four relievers gave up a run. Cole Henry took the loss after giving up a RBI leadoff single in the bottom of the 10th. (09:45) Could Brad Lord have taken the mound late in the game? (12:40) CJ Abrams launched a 3-run HR to put Washington up 5-1 for his first of the season. (13:30) Dissection of Daylen Lile getting thrown out on the bases in each of the final two innings. (18:00) Cade Cavalli had a much better outing than Opening Day as he only allowed one run in six frames. (22:05) Friday is the Nats home opener against the two-time defending World Series Champion Dodgers. Who will get the nod on the mound and what will the attendance be? (30:30) Tim is joined by Robert K. Fitts, award winning author, who has extensively written about Baseball in Japan. Robert talks about just how big Shohei Ohtani actually is in his native country. 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 3-2 in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, but still are a game above .500. Mark (From Philly) & Al look react to James Wood's up and down start thus far, where he has contributed offensively, but also is tied for the MLB strikeout lead. Wood came through with a RBI double in the loss, but also had a pair of K's. (13:40) Daylen Lile has carried over his impressive September into the beginning of this season. Lile has been mostly been hitting cleanup and came through with a RBI single on Tuesday evening. (17:00) Washington used an "Opener" to perfection as lefty reliever PJ Poulin set down the Phillies top of the lineup in order. Zack Littell then entered the game and took the loss while giving up six hits in five innings of work. (23:20) An evaluation of the starting rotation after the first time through all five guys. (25:50) "ABS" (Automated Ball-Strike System) is here and has already made its presence felt across the sport. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats extended their strong start with a 13-2 victory in Philadelphia on Monday night. Mark (From Citizens Bank Park) & Al note how this is the first time that the franchise has been two games over .500 since.... the summer of 2021! (06:00) Joey Wiemer's streak of reaching base made it to ten consecutive plate appearances. Wiemer had two hits in the victory, part of the 17 hits that the offense collected. (08:40) The Nationals properly pulled off the steal attempt in order to bring the runner home from 3rd (!) (14:20) Seven Washington starters had multiple hits and Luis Garcia Jr. led the way with a trio of them. (17:45) Foster Griffin impressed in his team debut on Monday night. Griffin allowed a pair of runs in five innings of work to earn the win. The lefty spent the past few seasons in Japan after many different MLB stops to start his career. (21:30) Brad Lord tossed three frames in the win and is establishing himself as potential force out of the 'pen. (25:15) Mark's prediction was correct and the Nats will utilize an "Opener" on Tuesday night. PJ Poulin will start the game and it is possible that he will hand the ball off to Zack Littell. 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 Cubs 6-3 on Sunday afternoon to take the series in Chicago. Mark (From Wrigley Field) & Al have a lot of praise for Joey Wiemer, who is having a dream start to the season. Wiemer has homered in both games he has played so far and has reached base in all eight plate appearances. Wiemer bounced around a bit th roster transactions this offseason, but ultimately Washington claimed him off of waivers in early January. (07:00) CJ Abrams was back in the lineup on Sunday after missing the previous game due a death in the family. (12:05) This is the first series victory to to start the season since.... 2018! (16:10) Keibert Ruiz showed rare power with a 2-run HR in the 8th for his first homer since the opening weekend of last season. (18:20) Jake Irvin earned the victory in his season debut by lasting five innings. Irvin struck out seven Cubs and only issued one walk on Sunday afternoon. (22:40) Clayton Beeter, notched the save after Cionel Perez pitched the 8th. Are these sort of decisions made by the Front Office prior to the game? (28:30) The Nats move their road to Philadelphia for a three game series with Foster Griffin take the mound on Monday. Tuesday's starter is still TBD, will it be Zach Littell? 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 10-2 on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field for their first loss of the season. Mark (From Chicago) & Al discuss a sloppy affair for the visitors. One of the runs came courtesy of James Wood, after connecting on his first homer of the season, while hitting in the leadoff spot. (10:15) Drew Millas was a very surprising choice to bat 2nd in the lineup. It is expected that Millas and Ruiz will split catching duties to begin the year. (14:00) Nasim Nunez made an incredible defensive play at SS late in the game. Nunez got the nod due to a recent death in CJ Abrams' family and came through with a RBI single at the plate. Abrams also apologized to Blake Butera for the mental lapse on Opening Day. (20:45) Miles Mikolas lasted five innings in his Nats debut, but allowed allowed six hits and four earned runs in the process. Mikolas was plagued with poor defense behind him in the pivotal bottom of the 2nd. (29:05) The bullpen yielded four runs, but Cole Henry did retire the heart of the Cubs order in the bottom of the 8th. (31:00) Washington acquired utility man Curtis Mead, who has previous big league experience. 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 season in style with a 10-4 road victory over the Cubs on a chilly Thursday afternoon. Mark (From Wrigley Field) & Al discuss the strong start for the offense, as a trio of Nationals went deep. Joey Wiemer got things going with a solo shot in the 2nd while getting the nod in RF. The other homers came courtesy of Jacob Young and Brady House in the 9th for some welcomed insurance. (12:00) The first lineup card under Blake Butera had a few surprises, including Andres Chpparo hitting 2nd. (16:30) The bullpen had a busy and effective afternoon as four pitchers combined for just over five innings of work. Brad Lord earned the win as the versatile pitcher is beginning this season in relief. Veteran lefty Cionel Perez notched the save in his first appearance with Washington. (22:05) Cade Cavalli's Opening Day start only lasted into the bottom of the 4th, but he did record five strikeouts along the way. Cavalli tossed 75 pitches before handing it off the P.J. Poulin. (25:40) CJ Abrams had a 2-run single in the 4th, but it also included a mental mistake. Abrams admired his long hit, but it did not go over the fence and it resulted in him getting thrown at 2nd base. (31:00) Update on Josiah Gray's latest trip to the 60-day IL. (35:30) Miles Mikolas will start on Saturday and Jake Irvin will take the mound in Chicago on Sunday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Al & Mark convene just a few days before the Nationals open the season at Wrigley Field on Thursday afternoon. There has been a flurry of roster activity in the past few days as Spring Training is finished and the Paul Toboni Era is underway. (04:45) Josiah Gray was surprisingly placed on the 60- Day IL on Monday evening (Right flexor strain). Gray has not pitched for the Nats since April 2024 due to injury. (14:35) Why was Dylan Crews demoted to AAA? Crews was sent down on Friday afternoon to the surprise of many. (28:30) Harry Ford, acquired from Seattle in exchange for Jose A. Ferrer, will also start his season in Rochester. A few months ago it was widely expected hat Ford would be starting catcher for the Nats on Opening Day. (31:45) Robert Hassell III, who saw time in the majors last season, also will begin the year in AAA. (35:10) Season predictions and potential areas of optimism. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Quick update by Tim Shovers regarding Friday afternoon's news that Dylan Crews will not be on the Nationals Opening Day roster. **Audio Courtesy of natsjournal.com** Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Opening Day is just one week away and the roster is starting to come into focus. Mark (From West Palm) & Al dive into what players are expected to head north with the Big League team as Spring Training is wrapping up soon. Many positions still have question marks and catcher is atop the list. (05:45) Zack Littell is on track to start the Nats 2nd game of the season in Chicago despite not having signed with the team until March. (08:00) Where does Jake Irvin fit into the starting rotation as he has impressed this exhibition season on the mound? (12:05) There are a lot of off days in the first month of the season; mixed with th impending return of Josiah Gray. How many starters will Blake Butera begin the year with in the rotation? (18:10) Brady House is tearing it up at Spring Training as he prepares for his first full season at 3B in D.C. (20:35) Dylan Crews is struggling at the plate this Grapefruit League season. The hosts address the online conversation about how it might be best for Crews to begin 2026 with Rochester instead of Washington. (30:35) Update on Jacob Young as he has been dealing with a wrist contusion. (32:00) The defense is off to a poor start; will this be indicative of another rough season in the field for the Nats? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It is a busy time in Baseball as Spring Training continues alongside the popularity of the World Baseball Classic. Team USA is onto the quarterfinals amid very strong TV ratings. (04:30) The Nats just signed veteran starter Zack Littell, who surprisingly was available into March. The 30-year-old has a 3.88 career ERA and will immediately fit into the starting rotation, which has more experience than previously expected. Washington also inked Foster Griffin and Miles Mikolas after camp began in Florida. (15:00) Will Jake Irvin be in the rotation? (18:15) Cade Cavalli this week was given the ball for Opening Day on March 26th at Wrigley Field. Cavalli missed mutiple seasons due to injury, but made ten starts to close out 2025. (24:15) What is Josiah Gray's timeline? He hasn't pitched in the majors since April 2024. (29:25) The Nationals have a new TV situation for this season and we help explain the steps to get all set as a viewer (best we can). (43:40) A heartfelt goodbye to the "Secret Weapon" AKA Paolo Espino, who took the mound for the final time this month for Team Panama in the WBC. Espino will always be part of Nats Chat lore due to his performance in the 2021 season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats will be in Wrigley Field in under three weeks, but before then the sport is focused on Spring Training & the World Baseball Classic. Al & Mark begin with looking at how the new Front Office has made its impact on the club while down in Florida thus far. (09:00) Jacob Young is dealing with a wrist contusion and has been out of the lineup for an extended time. (22:20) Harry Ford, the catcher who the Nationals acquired from Seattle in exchange for Jose A. Ferrer, is playing for Great Britain in the WBC. Ford is expected to play a lot in Washington this season, but will any highly rated prospect join him in the Bigs? (34:30) Initial thoughts on Foster Griffin, who will likely be in the starting rotation. **Audio courtesy of 106.7 The Fan 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 had a strong start to exhibition play in Florida; for whatever that is worth. Mark & Al begin with James Wood seeing a lot of action in RF so far this Spring Training. Wood has a lot of CF experience in the minors and LF duty in the majors, but has not found a permanent spot in the outfield. There is also conjecture that Wood could switch to 1B within the next few seasons. (14:30) Brady House homered twice in the Spring Training opener vs. Miami. House struggled mightily in his rookie season at the plate, but this will be his first Opening Day in the Big Leagues at 3B. (21:40) The annual February focus on improved base running. (26:25) The Nationals did not seem to sign a collection of veterans that could be flipped at the Trade Deadline unlike previous seasons. (35:10) Is there another signing on its way or only if there is an injury? (37:30) Mark relayed questions to Manager Blake Butera that were contributed from subscribers at natsjournal.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Grapefruit League play is just days away. Mark (From West Palm) & Al open with Dylan Crews, who is looking to bounce back after an injury filled rookie season. Crews showed signs of power last year with 10 homers, but his average was barely over the "Mendoza Line". (10:10) Blake Butera was singing the praises of CJ Abrams and expects him to return to All-Star form. The hosts also dive into the notion of him not returning to the trade market until this summer despite many expecting Abramsto be dealt at the same time as MacKenzie Gore. (19:00) The new manager made mention that Cade Cavalli has been standing out so far this spring. Cavalli returned to the Washington mound last August for the first time in three years due to injuries and made ten starts in the process. (27:40) Catching up on recent additions to the bullpen on minor league deals. (34:45) What is Luis Garcia Jr.'s primary position? Is it 2B or 1B? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"Pitchers & Catchers" (and a lot more) have reported to West Palm Beach to begin the 2026 Nationals campaign. Mark (Live from Florida) & Al discuss the initial impressions of a camp run by Paul Toboni & Blake Butera. Hear what the reaction has been to the upgrade in technology and infrastructure behind the scenes.(14:00) Washington signed veteran starting pitcher Miles Mikolas to a one-year deal around $2M. Mikolas has not had a ERA below 4.00 since 2022, but consistently starts over 30 games a year.(18:30) An early look at the potential starting rotation and if Cade Cavalli will take the mound on Opening Day.(22:40) Almost all position players have already reported to Florida, including James Wood.(31:15) This is a critical season for Dylan Crews, who is aiming to take on a larger leadership role in the clubhouse.(34:00) Updates on Travis Sykora & Jarlin Susana, who are out for the season, but are participating in Big League Camp. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For all of those wondering what Mark's next step would be after MASN, here is your answer! Mark tells Al about natsjournal.com and how to subscribe in this quick episode before "Pitchers & Catchers" get going this week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Just one day after making his first big move as Nationals President of Baseball Operations, Paul Toboni joins the podcast for a wide ranging conversation. Mark & Al begin by asking him about trading MacKenzie Gore to Texas in exchange for five prospects. The discussion then touches upon Free Agency, 1B, building a bullpen, CJ Abrams' future, working with ownership, and more. Stay tuned after the 25 minute interview to hear the hosts give their thoughts on the Gore deal and other observations from interviewing Toboni.(01:00) Gore traded to Texas(08:00) Competitive timeline(14:30) Approach in Free Agency(15:20) 1B Situation(18:35) CJ Abrams' future(20:00) Bullpen construction(22:40) Did you run the Gore trade past ownership?(25:30) Extended post interview reaction from Al & Mark Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tim Shovers with a quick reaction to the news that MacKenzie Gore has been traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for 5 prospects. Mark & Al will have a full episode out Saturday morning. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nationals announced on Wednesday that the era of games airing on MASN is over and that the next chapter of local broadcasts will be on the newly formed "Nationals TV". Al & Tim explain what this means and how this will align with some other MLB team's broadcast situation.(06:00) A refresher on the decade plus litigation between the Orioles & Nats over MASN that suddenly ended last year.(12:15) How will the new broadcast compare to its predecessor?(21:15) Alexa Datt has reportedly been hired as the team's new sideline reporter and she comes from the Cardinals broadcast team. Who will replace Bob Carpenter as the play-by-play announcer?(23:00) The Orioles will remain on MASN, but MASN2 will no longer exist. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The new era of Nationals leadership just completed their first time representing the franchise at the annual MLB Winter Meetings. Mark (After returning from Orlando) & Al begin with the results of the Draft, where they were not allowed to end up with a top 10 pick. The Nationals had the ping pong balls bounce their way initially, but due to the leagues rules they will settle for #11 overall.(06:00) Evaluating the chances that MacKenzie Gore and/or CJ Abrams get traded this off-season.(15:00) Parsing through Toboni's recent note to fans that could be interpreted as a heads-up that we are headed towards a new rebuild.(19:10) Handicapping the catcher situation now after the trade with Seattle. Harry Ford is one of the top rated catching prospects and Keibert Ruiz still has many years left on his extension.(27:30) Why did Washington trade away Jose A. Ferrer?(30:15) A check at the new technology that Toboni has added to the infrastructure of the organization.(36:10) Jake Irvin, Riley Adams & Luis Garcia Jr. were among those were tendered by the team to return in 2026.(40:00) Would Abrams move to 2B if he is not traded? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Quick recap of the Nationals trade over the weekend with Seattle by Tim Shovers. Closer Jose. A Ferrer was sent to the Mariners in exchange for catcher Harry Ford & RHP Isaac Lyon. Get up to speed on the first trade executed by Paul Toboni. **Next full episode with Mark & Al will be Friday morning December 12th after the MLB Winter Meetings take place in Orlando, FL. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nationals introduced their new 33-year-old Manager Blake Butera on Monday afternoon to the local media. Mark & Al react to the press conference where Butera was joined on stage by Paul Toboni and fielded questions about becoming the youngest MLB Manager in a half century. (17:00) An early look at Butera's coaching staff, which will include Sean Doolittle.(24:35) Luis Garcia Jr., Jake Irvin, and Riley Adams are among the non-tender candidates as it relates to upcoming Arbitration eligibility.(32:00) Brief commentary on some potential big names that will be floated this off-season in trade rumors.(35:10) Tim is joined by WTOP & Sirius XM's Ben Raby for a review of the Netflix documentary "Who Killed the Expos?". Ben grew up an Expos fan in Canada and is an avid Nats Chat listener. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tim Shovers provides a short recap of Paul Toboni's Conference Call on Tuesday to address the hiring of Blake Butera as new manager. Butera and his wife welcomed a child the same day he accepted the job and his intro press conference is expected to be held later this month in D.C. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Nationals hired the youngest Manager in over 50 years. Mark & Al discuss the news that Washington will soon name 33-year-old Blake Butera as the team's next skipper. The surprising hire comes from the Rays organization and his only previous managerial experience was in Low-A. Butera was drafted in the 35th Round out of Boston College but became a minor league manager at age 25.(14:10) A look at some of the other candidates in the interview process.(22:00) Going over Butera's resume in MLB, who was Tampa Bay's Director of Player Development in 2025. (29:15) Who will be on Butera's Coaching Staff? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tim Shovers with a quick reminder about the end of season Podcast Party. This Friday night, October 10th, at 7pm at Walter's Sports Bar in Navy Yard. 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 a new era on Wednesday morning as Paul Toboni was officially introduced as the new President of Baseball Operations. Mark & Al react to Toboni's first time meeting with the D.C. media in the press room at the ballpark. Toboni was joined on the podium by three members of ownership in Mark Lerner, Ed Cohen, and Robert Tanenbaum.(07:00) Spending by ownership was brought up multiple times during the press conference. (15:35) Toboni's answer on if he will hire a General Manager beneath him. Mike DeBartolo was in attendance at the press conference.(21:20) Toboni's response about the young talent within the franchise.(24:00) Discussion on the managerial situation and what Toboni had to say about interim skipper Miguel Cairo.(36:45) How should Toboni handle the current staff within the Front Office?(39:05) NATS CHAT PODCAST PARTY ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 10TH AT 7PM AT WALTER'S. FIRST BEER ON THE HOUSE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats closed their last place season on a sour note as they were shutout 8-0 on Sunday afternoon by the visiting White Sox. Mark & Al put the 66 win campaign under a wide-angle lens on the heels of their 14th shutout defeat. It should be a more active October than the past few years as they remake the front office and likely will make a change at manager.(13:20) Hear what Dylan Crews said afterwards as he seems to be gearing up for more of a leadership role on the team.(21:15) James Wood went 0 for 3 and struck out in every at-bat. Wood finishes the year w/ 221 strike outs, by far the most in Baseball, but still two shy of Mark Reynolds' record from 2009.(23:45) A wrap-up of just how the bad the Washington relief pitching was this season.(32:00) A thank you to our great listeners as our numbers grew this season on the podcast despite the terrible performance on the field. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats overcame an early four-run deficit to edge the White Sox 6-5 on Saturday afternoon. Mark & Al begin with an ode to Bob Carpenter, who is calling his final Nats games this weekend for MASN. Carpenter was honored prior to the game after 20 years of being the TV voice of the team.(10:00) James Wood hit his 31st homer to take the lead for good in the bottom of the 7th. Wood has four homers this week to end his season on a high note.(15:00) "Mr. September" was at again as Daylen Lile bolstered his NL Rookie of the Year with his 8th home run of the month. Hear how Lile's season stacks up against the other top candidates for the award.(20:10) Josh Bell & CJ Abrams are surprisingly neck and neck for OPS this season (.751/.752).(23:00) Jake Irvin allowed four runs in six inning to close his season. Irvin's rough 2025 ends with a 5.70 ERA and his future in the rotation is in jeopardy.(29:15) Julian Fernandez pitched a perfect top of the 7th and that led to earning his 1st career Big League win. Fernandez was picked up off of waivers in Mid August after he was DFA'd by the Dodgers. Jose A. Ferrer recorded a bumpy save one night after blowing it in the 9th. 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 all the way back from a seven run deficit, but Jose A. Ferrer could not close the door in the 10-9 loss to the White Sox. Mark & Al gather after maybe the craziest game of the season that saw the Nationals hit six homers, but also commit four errors.(06:00) Luis Garcia Jr. hit a trio of homers for the first time in his career. Garcia's third homer of the night briefly put them up 9-8 in the bottom of the 8th. The last time Washington lost when a player hit three homers in a game was in 2013 in Baltimore when Ryan Zimmerman went deep three times.(09:05) Daylen Lile tied the game with a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 8th. Lile is having an all-time month as he has five homers and seven triples in September.(13:20) CJ Abrams & Josh Bell each went deep, but both committed errors in the top of the 1st. Abrams is now up to 19 homers; one behind his total last season.(19:30) Cade Cavalli finished his season on a bit of a down note as Chicago tagged him for four unanswered runs in the top of the 1st. Cavalli ended up making ten starts with the Nats after his very long rehab from Tommy John surgery.(24:10) Ferrer's disastrous 9th inning began with a throwing error from the lefty; before have gave up the game deciding 2-run HR to Colson Montgomery.(26:45) When should we expect the formal announcement about Paul Toboni taking over as Head of Baseball Operations? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats won 4-3 in Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon, but the major news came from ESPN's Jeff Passan. Mark & Al spend plenty of time reacting to the report that Paul Toboni, Red Sox Asst. GM, will take over as Washington's new head of Baseball Operations. Toboni is 35 years old and has spent the last decade working in the Red Sox Front Office.(21:10) James Wood homered twice to reach the 30 home run milestone. Wood homered as many times this series (three) as he had in the past two months. Wood also did not strike out all series and remains eight Ks behind Mark Reynolds' 2009 record pace.(25:50) Josh Bell hit his 21st homer of the season in the win. It is the 5th year in which Bell surpassed the 20 homer plateau.(30:20) Andrew Alvarez lasted until the bottom of the 5th and did not allow a run. Alvarez was called up on Labor Day and had 2.31 ERA in five starts.(35:30) Jose A. Ferrer notched his 7th Save of the month and his 10th of the season. It was a rough day for the bullpen as they allowed a trio of Braves solo homers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats fell short 3-2 on Tuesday night as the Braves have now won ten games in a row. Al & Tim begin with James Wood's 28th homer of the season, just his 4th since the All-Star Break. Wood did not strikeout and remains eight Ks shy of Mark Reynolds' single season record.(08:00) Luis Garcia Jr. played 1B on Tuesday as it seems like his days at 2B are coming to an end. Daylen Lile was also in the lineup just a few days after exiting Sunday's game early due to a knee contusion.(15:10) The Nationals yet again unsuccessfully attempted a staggered double steal with runners on the corners. This came in the top of the 4th as Washington was unable to increase their one-run lead.(17:30) Brad Lord pitched well, but the two solo homers he allowed led to him taking his 9th loss of the year. Lord's ERA is at 4.12 as is his season is likely over. Could Lord win Nationals Pitcher of the Year this upcoming weekend?(22:30) MacKenzie Gore's season is also over as he was placed on the IL due to an ankle impingement. Gore made the All-Star Game, but his ERA continued to climb in the back half of the year. Gore did set a career high with 185 strikeouts; four more than he had last season.(30:00) Reaction to MLB instituting an ABS challenge system for 2026. ABS stands for "Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System" and would serve as a version of Robo Umps. 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 match for the Braves in Monday's 11-5 loss. Al & Tim convene after the Nationals pitching staff needed six pitchers just to make it through six innings and combined for nine issued walks.(06:00) MacKenzie Gore was pulled in the top of the 3rd after having already thrown 71 pitches. The Braves lineup fouled off 24 of them and now Gore's ERA is up to 4.17.(09:00) The bullpen really struggled until Shinnosuke Ogasawara stabilzed the final few innings. Jackson Rutledge was the first reliever out of the 'pen, but gave up three runs while only recording one out.(13:45) Both James Wood & Daylen Lile were out of the lineup in the series opener. Lile suffered a left knee contusion in Sunday's victory in New York. CJ Abrams did return after jamming shoulder on Saturday, but served as the DH as opposed to taking the field.(15:45) Nasim Nuñez & Dylan Crews each homered in the loss. Nuñez played at SS and now has four homers in September since getting called up from AAA.(19:00) Jacob Young made another excellent catch on a sliding attempt that survived a few bobbles. This was Young 3rd fantastic grab in the past two days.(23:50) Josiah Gray's season is over after his three minor league rehab starts. Gray will not take the mound this weekend vs. the White Sox as some had hoped in his recovery from "Tommy John" Surgery.(27:00) Brad Ciolek , the National Director of Amateur Scouting, is leaving for a role with the Tigers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats took the weekend series in Queens as they held off the Mets 3-2 on Sunday afternoon. Before we get to Mark & Al's analysis, Executive Producer Tim Shovers comes on to deliver an annual end of season message. If you would like to donate to the podcast, visit natschatpodcast.com and click on Merch to get directed to our Donation page.(04:30) Daylen Lile exited the game early after crashing into the side wall on a sliding catch in the bottom of the 3rd. Mark was at the game in New York and relays what he saw and learned afterwards.(11:10) Nasim Nuñez hit his 3rd homer of the month to put the Nats ahead 3-0. Nasim got the start after CJ Abrams jammed his throwing shoulder in Saturday's 11th inning.(14:30) Jacob Young made possibly the catch of the season in CF in the bottom of the 5th.(20:00) Jake Irvin & Mitchell Parker have been awful this year, but on Sunday they teamed up for the entirety of the game. Irvin exited in the top of the 6th and Parker got out of the jam. The lefty was making his first career relief appearance and turned that into the longest save in team history as he almost lasted four innings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats handed the Mets a crucial defeat on Saturday afternoon in Queens. Mark (From NYC) & Al meet after the Nationals blew an early 3-0 lead, but Daylen Lile's exciting 2-run Inside-the-Park-Home run put them ahead for good 5-3.(05:00) It looked initially that Lile's big hit would be a triple as he is one away from setting a franchise record. Lile's OPS is now ahead of James Wood (.814 vs. .807).(08:45) CJ Abrams made a brutal TOOTBLAN in the top of the 11th just before Lile's homer. Abrams was then mysteriously replaced in the field in the bottom of the 11th.(13:10) Cade Cavalli had another good outing as he tossed five shutout innings. Cavalli has only had one bad stat since getting called up from AAA in early August.(17:30) Jose A. Ferrer took over in the 8th and could not protect the 3-run lead. New York scored a pair off the lefty in the 8th and then Juan Soto's 9th inning single sent the game to extra innings.(25:00) Reaction to the expansive story from the Washington Post on the current ownership situation with the Nats. (37:30) Brief mention of recent comments by Ted Leonsis. 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 straight on Friday night as they were beaten by the Mets 12-6. Mark (From NYC) & Al gather after Washington guaranteed itself of having more losses this season than the previous two years.(04:30) The pattern of sloppy defense continued on Friday as the outfield combined for three errors; two of which were on Dylan Crews.(07:15) James Wood struck out two more times and committed a fielding error himself. Wood is now up to 212 Ks on the year; 21 more than AL leader Riley Greene.(09:20) Daylen Lile tripled for the 11th time this season and 7th time in September. Lile is now tied with Denard Span for the most triples in Nationals history since 2005.(14:20) Andrew Alvarez's fourth outing was his worst so far as he gave up six runs in less than four innings of work. The Mets lineup was the hardest test yet for the young lefty.(23:30) Mitchell Parker is being moved to the bullpen for the rest of the season. This is not much of a surprise as his ERA is now up to 5.85 and this will be the first time he will take the mound as a reliever.(26:45) Josiah Gray pitched on Friday for AAA-Rochester as he struck out a pair, issued three walks, in just under 3 innings. Will he pitch next weekend in Washington against the White Sox?(30:00) Another update on a potential candidate for the vacant GM position, this one being Eddie Romero, the Assistant GM for the Red Sox. 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 9-4 on Wednesday and dropped all four games this week against the Braves. Mark & Al evaluate the team's tired legs as they have shown recent signs of fatigue. It has been a busy stretch for the team as they have played 14 games in the past 13 days.(07:30) James Wood had a RBI double and a single on his 23rd birthday. Wood did strikeout for the 210th time this season, extending his own franchise record.(13:10) Brad Lord had a shutout through five innings, but it all came apart in the top of the 6th. Lord was charged with two runs in the four run 6th and his ERA is now up to 4.18.(25:00) Sauryn Lao is a recently acquired right hander who was called up to replace Orlando Ribalta. Lao gave up a pair of runs in his two innings on the mound.(30:15) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the Rochester Red Wings, gives an update from AAA as they are in their final week of the season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tuesday was a long one on South Capitol Street and neither game went the home team's way. Al & Tim convene following a day/night doubleheader where the Braves won 6-3 in the afternoon and then took the evening session 5-0 in extras.(05:45) James Wood struck out four times in the Game 1 loss. Wood sat out Game 2 and is now up to 209 strikeouts this season, 23 more than Riley Greene who leads the American League.(10:30) Daylen Lile tripled for the 10th time while only having played in 82 games. Lile set a franchise record for a rookie in this category and Denard Span has the most in a season with 11 since the franchise relocated to D.C. in 2005.(15:00) Jake Irvin had a typical 2025 start as he allowed six runs and his ERA is up to 5.76.(16:45) MacKenzie Gore lasted into the top of the 6th and didn't allow a run in his outing. Gore dropped his ERA to exactly 4.00 and our new mantra is for him is "Gore Under 4".(21:45) The series finale is on Wednesday and Thursday will be the team's first day off in two weeks. 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 pounded 11-3 by the Braves on Monday night in Navy Yard. Mark & Al begin with Daylen Lile yet again impressing as he homered and lifted his OPS to .816, just six points behind James Wood. Lile has the highest OPS of any NL Rookie with 300+ at-bats.(05:45) Dylan Crews went 0 for 3 and his batting average is now down to .202.(08:00) Mitchell Parker was pushed into the the top of the 6th and ended with a grisly line of allowing six runs off of ten hits.(15:45) Jarlin Susana recently had surgery on his right lat after going on the IL in early September.(19:00) More updates on the team's search for a new President of Baseball Operations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats took the series rubber match in Sunday afternoon's 4-3 win over the Pirates. Mark & Al note that the Nationals are 9-4 to start September and need only one more victory to avoid a 100 loss season.(04:35) Daylen Lile was the offensive hero as his 8th inning RBI double put Washington ahead for good. Lile reached base four times and his OPS is now up to .796 on the season.(09:00) CJ Abrams made his 20th error of the season, the 2nd most of any short stop in Baseball.(17:45) Cade Cavalli struggled in the opening inning as he immediately fell behind 3-0. Cavalli adjusted from there and didn't give up any more runs.(20:35) The bullpen got the job done with four scoreless innings, but the choice of Clayton Better instead of Jose A. Ferrer was curious.(28:15) The Braves come to D.C. on Monday for four games in the next three days. 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 on Saturday afternoon to the visiting Pirates. Al & Mark convene after the offense was only able to muster one run in the defeat.(06:00) Dylan Crews had multiple instances of aggressive and heads up base running in the bottom of the 6th. His play that inning is emblematic of the kind of player Crews wants to be.(13:10) Andrew Alvarez was superb on Saturday as he tossed six shutout innings in his third Big League start.(22:40) Washington's 1-0 lead evaporated in the top of the 8th and the Pirates off score four runs in that frame off of Cole Henry and PJ Poulin.(28:05) Josiah Gray threw just shy of two innings for AA-Harrisburg on Saturday. Will he make it to Washington in 2025? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats opened the homestand with a 6-5 victory over Pittsburgh despite an early three run deficit. Mark & Al begin with the defensive exploits by James Wood in the top of the 9th as his perfect throw nailed the tying run at the plate. It was an up and down evening for Wood as he doubled twice, but also struck out twice, thus setting a single season franchise record with 200Ks.(10:15) Brady House & Dylan Crews each went deep in the victory. Crews is now at nine homers on the season.(15:00) Brad Lord had a decent outing as only gave up three runs in six innings of work. Lord's ERA is now at 4.21 for the year.(18:30) Jose A. Ferrer struggled in the 9th as he almost blew the 6-3 lead. This was after he entered the game with a light show to signify that the closer was coming on the mound.(25:05) Interesting details on Brad Haas, who was officially announced as the new Special Assistant to the Orioles GM. Haas just left the Nationals role as their Director of Scouting. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats had to settle for a series split in Miami after dropping Thursday night's finale 5-0. Al & Tim gather after Washington was shutout for the 12th time this season to conclude their otherwise winning road trip.(04:00) MacKenzie Gore returned from the 15-Day IL to toss five innings in the loss. Gore allowed two runs in the first inning and struck out four Marlins in the outing.(08:05) CJ Abrams had a throwing error and it was his 18th of the season. Abrams has the 3rd most errors in Baseball and his defense is called into question. Abrams did however steal his 30th base of the season, reaching the milestone for the 3rd straight year.(11:20) James Wood had the day off and the offense was quite anemic in his absence. RIley Adams was back behind the plate and hit 3rd in the lineup.(14:30) Response to a report by the Washington Post's Barry Svrluga about the latest phase in the GM search.(23:45) Terry Byrom, the long time voice of the AA-Harrisburg Senators, is calling his final game on Sunday. We replay an interview that Tim held with Terry back in late May of 2023 when James Wood was still in AA. 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 entering the bottom of the 6th, but an ensuing comedy of errors tilted the evening in the Marlins direction for an 8-3 loss on Wednesday. Mark (From Miami) & Al though begin with the very encouraging news that MacKenzie Gore not only is coming off the IL, but will take the mound on Thursday night in South Florida.(08:00) Jake Irvin tossed five scoreless innings, but it all came apart in the four run bottom of the 6th. The defense made a pair of errors, Miguel Cairo was ejected after a replay didn't go Washington's way, and Jake Irvin was also ejected just after he was removed from the mound.(15:20) The sloppy defense leads to a conversation about what kind of Manager could be in the dugout in 2026.(23:35) James Wood struck out three times and now is up to 198 on the season. It is the 2nd most in franchise history and he is only one behind Adam Dunn's dubious mark from 2010.(24:40) Daylen Lile tripled for the fourth time this road trip and he is stunningly just two behind the team record since moving to D.C. Denard Span, who coincidentally called the game on MASN, has most in Nats history with 11 triples. The most impressive part of all of this is that Lile has basically only played half of a season.(30:00) Seaver King & Jake Bennett are the main organizational names headed to the Arizona Fall League.(33:45) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the AAA-Rochester Red Wings, provides his weekly update on players such as Nick Schnell, Andrew Pinckney, and Phillip Glasser. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.