Nats Chat

The Nats led 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th but ultimately lost 4-3 in ten innings in Philadelphia on Saturday evening. Mark (From Philly) & Al examine the final two frames that saw Kyle Finnegan blow the save in the 9th and take the loss in the 10th. Finnegan retired the first two batters in the bottom of the 9th, but then gave up a game tying solo homer to Kody Clemens (yes, he is Roger Clemens' son).(07:00) The game ended on a Bryce Harper sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th . There were runners on 2nd and 3rd and Al asks Mark if Davey Martinez should have intentionally walked Harper and faced Alec Bohm instead.(16:00) MacKenzie Gore pitched very well and went into the bottom of the 7th. He did not reach 100 pitches in the outing, which is an improvement from a pitch efficiency standpoint. He has not yet given up more than three earned runs in any start so far this season.(22:00) The offense collected 11 hits, but still only came through with three runs. The team has now gone five consecutive games without hitting a homer. CJ Abrams & Ildemaro Vargas each had a trio of hits on Saturday and Vargas' average is at .320 for the year. 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 fell 4-2 in Philadelphia on Friday night and have dropped three straight games on the road trip. Mark (From Citizen's Bank Park) & Al yet again go over a struggling offense that only collected four hits. Oddly enough, all four hits were doubles. One of them came from Joey Gallo, who was just called up from AAA following his rehab stint.(12:30) Trey Lipscomb was the player sent down to AAA make room for Gallo on Friday afternoon. It is the second time this season that Lipscomb has demoted from Washington. Should Joey Meneses have been the player sent to Rochester instead?(23:00) Jake Irvin took the loss after giving up four runs in five innings of work. He threw a wild pitch and also hit two Phillies batters during the start. Mark notes how Irvin was profusely sweating during the outing.(29:00) Cade Cavalli will soon open his rehab window down in Florida. Mark explains what this means and when he might return to the mound in D.C.(32:00) An update on Josiah Gray who has been on the IL for over a month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats dropped the rubber match in Chicago as they were shutout for the second straight game in a 2-0 defeat on Wednesday afternoon. Mark (From the South Side) & Al discuss the batting order, which did not include many regulars and had Ildemaro Vargas hitting 3rd. Among those not in the starting lineup were CJ Abrams, Jesse Winker, Luis Garcia Jr., and Eddie Rosario.(06:00) Keibert Ruiz went 0 for 4 and struck three times. This season has been a rough one for Ruiz and his OPS is at a startling .393.(13:00) Mark gives an update on Lane Thomas after watching him run the bases during pregame warmups. He has been out three weeks with a sprained knee.(17:20) Patrick Corbin was dealt the loss as he gave up a pair of runs off of six hits in 5.2 IP. Three bullpen arms behind arm did record the final eight outs without ceding a run.(27:00) GM Mike Rizzo was on 106.7 The Fan and was not shy about the defense's recent struggles. Vargas committed an error on Wednesday and this came a day after the team made three in the same inning. 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 and White Sox split their doubleheader on Tuesday in Chicago. Mark (From the South Side) & Al begin with Game 2, where former National Erick Fedde threw seven scoreless innings in the 4-0 shutout vs. his old team. Fedde pitched in South Korea in 2023 and was non tendered by Washington in November of 2022.(07:00) The Nats registered ten hits in their 6-3 victory in Game 1 as Joey Meneses had four of them. The last time he had that many hits in a game was September 1st, 2022 when he hit a walk-off homer vs. Oakland.(11:00) Trey Lipscomb had a trio of hits in the win and stole a pair of bases. He did however commit his seventh error of the season as he did not play well defensively at 3B.(18:30) Eddie Rosario won NL Player of the Week and followed that up with a hit in each game on Tuesday.(20:00) Trevor Williams gave up his first homer of the season and had a no decision in his Game 1 outing as he did not have the benefit of good defense behind him. Mitchell Parker took the loss in Game 2 as he ceded three runs in five frames.(33:00) Al was mystified at how empty Guaranteed Rate Field was during Game 1. Mark gives a firsthand account of just how few people were in the stands. 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 3-2 in Boston on Sunday afternoon to lose the weekend series. Al & Tim scratch their heads at the mistakes made by Victor Robles as he dropped a routine fly ball and the next inning had inexplicable base running that led to a crucial out. Davey Martinez noted afterwards that he considered removing Robles from the game.(13:00) Robles was not the only cuprit on the bases as the Nats made multiple outs that way on Sunday. Nick Senzel was picked off in the top of 7th and Jacob Young was thrown out trying to steal 2nd for the final out of the game.(16:00) Eddie Rosario homered again as he continued his red hot start to the month of May. He is 10 for his last 22 with four homers mixed in there.(22:00) MacKenzie Gore struck out nine hitters and overall pitched well despite the loss. All of the runs he gave up came in the wacky of the bottom of the 2nd. Gore tossed a career high 111 pitches on in six frames.(30:00) The Nationals move their road trip to the White Sox for a three game series. Chicago is in last place, but recently won four straight. 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 4-2 in Boston on Saturday afternoon to return to .500 through 38 games. Al begins with Davey Martinez's decision to pitch Robert Garcia for the entirety of the bottom 8th as a tied game became 4-2 before the end of the frame.(05:00) Jake Irvin lasted a career high seven innings and exited the game when it was tied 2-2. Irvin struck out six and threw 103 pitches in the outing. Al notes how big it is that it seems that Irvin can be a long term rotation piece as it shows the improvement in the franchise's player development.(09:30) How much credit should we give Sean Doolittle for the pitching staff's performance thus far? He was hired in the off season as a "Pitching strategist".(14:00) The offense had just two solo homers and only once had a runner in scoring position. Eddie Rosario homered for the third time in May and he is hitting .409 this month after hitting .053 in April.(20:00) James Wood homered twice in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday. Wood has seven homers on the season and five of them have come this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats are back above .500 as they began their road trip with a 5-1 victory in Boston on Friday night. Al & Mark have a Patrick Corbin vwon to open with as he only allowed one run five innings of work. Corbin gave up seven hits, but was the beneficiary of great defense by Victor Robles early in the affair.(10:00) It was another busy night for the bullpen as five arms came on in relief to toss four shutout frames. Harvey made his 19th appearance of the season, which is more than half of the team's games thus far.(17:00) All of the Nationals runs came with two outs against them. Leading the charge was "Mr. May" AKA Eddie Rosario as he continued his total reversal from April. He had a pair of hits, stole a base, and scored two runs with some heads-up base running.(21:00) Robles had two hits and had a stolen base. Robles played RF in his first game back since landing on the IL early in the season as Jacob Young was in CF.(30:00) Jake Irvin takes the mound on Saturday afternoon and the Nats currently are in 3rd place all by themselves in the NL East. 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 in the bottom of the 9th and 11th, but came up short on Wednesday night in a 7-6 loss to the Orioles in 12 innings. Al & Mark catch their breath after one of the best ever "Battle of the Beltways" as the Nationals held their own this week against the top record in the American League.(08:00) Eddie Rosario homered in the 9th and had two hits in the loss. Rosario only had three hits in all of April, but already has six hits thus far in May.(16:00) Keibert Ruiz has been scuffling big time lately, but came through with two hits on Wednesday. It was his first multi hit game since March 30th in Cincinnati.(18:00) Mitchell Parker allowed a pair of runs in 5.2 IP in his 5th MLB start. The best part of his stat line was that 53 of his 77 pitches were for strikes.(21:20) A staggering seven relievers were used as a day off awaits Washington on Thursday. Every available arm in the bullpen was used except for Tanner Rainey.(27:00) James Wood homered twice on Wednesday in Scranton and Davey Martinez reiterated that the organization will be patient before calling up the team's top ranked prospect. 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 first time in almost three years, the Nationals are over .500 on the season as they now are 18-17 after shutting out the visiting Orioles 3-0 on Tuesday night. Mark & Al put in perspective just how long it has been since the team has had a winning record, which is all the way back in early July 2021.(05:10) Trevor Williams continued his excellent start to the season as he struck out eight O's in his 5 IP. His ERA is 1.96 after seven starts in 2024 and Williams has not surrendered a homer.(12:45) Four relievers combined to only give up one hit in the final four frames of the victory. Robert Garcia, fresh off the IL, threw a 1-2-3 top of the 6th. Kyle Finnegan notched his 12th save of the season, which leads all of baseball.(18:00) The Nats drew six walks and collected six hits in the victory. What stood out the most on Tuesday was that they stole four bases and three of them came against Baltimore starter Corbin Burnes.(24:10) Victor Robles returned to the active roster, but Jacob Young got the start in CF. Davey Martinez mentioned that Robles might see action in RF as Young has played well this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats beat the Blue Jays 11-8 in a wild affair to capture the weekend series on a Sunday afternoon in Navy Yard after trailing 6-1 early in the game. Mark & Al have a lot to get to, but begin with Luis Garcia who had three crucial hits and knocked in four runs. Garcia homered twice in the series and is now hitting .337 so far this season.(12:00) Jesse Winker slugged a 3 run HR to put Washington ahead 7-6 in the bottom of the 4th. Winker also doubled on Sunday for his first multi hit game since April 27th.(15:00) Eddie Rosario had his biggest hit yet since joining the team as he clubbed a 2 run HR to break the 8-8 tie and put the Nationals up for good. Rosario's averaged is now .117 and raised 34 points over the weekend series.(22:00) Davey Martinez used six relievers on Sunday as the team finally have an off day coming up. The final seven outs came from the trusty duo of Hunter Harvey and Kyle Finnegan.(25:00) MacKenzie Gore only lasted three innings and committed one of the three errors charged to the team. Gore needed 76 pitches to get his nine outs as he gave up six runs, including a grand slam to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.(33:00) The Orioles come to D.C. on Tuesday for a quick two game series. Baltimore has the AL's best record and the Nats will have another opportunity to get back over .500. 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 6-3 to visiting Toronto on a soggy Saturday afternoon. Al recaps the defeat as the Nationals yet again miss an opportunity to move above .500. The defense was bad as they committed four errors and all four runs that Jake Irvin allowed were unearned. Nick Senzel had two throwing errors in the loss and Trey Lipscomb also struggled at 1B.(10:00) Tanner Rainey tossed a scoreless top of the 9th inning. It ends a string of three consecutive outings of giving up at least one run.(13:10) A consolation prize for the offense on Saturday was that they drew five walks. Al notes the increase in walk percentage for this franchise this season.(16:00) Eddie Rosario earned his first hit at Nationals Park this season and his batting average is now up to .096.(19:00) MacKenzie Gore takes the mound on Sunday afternoon in the series rubber match, weather permitting. 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 visiting Blue Jays 9-3 on Friday night after initially trailing 3-0 in the 2nd inning. Al & Mark begin with Luis Garcia Jr., who did not start but flipped the game with a pinch hit 3 run HR in the bottom of the 7th to grab the lead. Garcia has been platooned as of late, but he is hitting .300 on the season.(13:30) Jacob Young exited the evening early due to back spasms. Young hit lead-off as Davey Martinez decided to tinker the lineup after the series loss in Texas.(18:45) CJ Abrams had an excellent game in the field as he made multiple highlight plays. Mark notes his defensive progress over the past year.(27:45) Hunter Harvey tossed a scoreless top of the 8th and Al points out that it is already his 15th appearance of the season as the Nationals have only played 32 games.(33:00) Weather permitting, Washington on Saturday afternoon will attempt to go over .500 for the first time since July 1st, 2021. Jake Irvin is slated to oppose fellow right hander Kevin Gausman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats were shutout 6-0 in Thursday afternoon's rubber match in Arlington to return to a game under .500. Mark (From Texas) & Al discuss the Nationals bats staying cold as they only scored two runs in the entire series. The offense collected just four hits in the loss and Eddie Rosario (.086) was one of the starters that did not get one.(17:00) Mitchell Parker took his first MLB loss as he gave up three runs off of six hits in 5.1 IP. Mark explains that Parker did not get all the help possible from his defense early on in the outing.(21:00) The game was 3-0 until the bottom of the 8th when Matt Barnes allowed three runs and his ERA currently sits at 6.75.(24:30) Victor Robles has played CF in AAA-Rochester for the past few days and tripled. Might he be called up for this weekend vs. Toronto?(25:30) This week the Nats faced Wyatt Langford, who the Rangers selected one pick after Dylan Crews last summer. This leads to a discussion about Crews' MLB timetable as he has been OK so far this season with AA-Harrisburg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats blanked the Rangers 1-0 on Tuesday night to return to .500 through 30 games. Mark (Live from Texas) & Al start with Trevor Williams, who is now 3-0 on the season in six outings. Williams lasted 5 IP and did not allow a run despite loading the bases in multiple innings.(12:30) The bullpen tossed four scoreless innings and it included Dylan Floro taking the mound in the 7th. Is he the new 7th inning guy in the "A Bullpen?". Kyle Finnegan notched his tenth save of the season, which is tied for the MLB lead.(16:30) Alex Call had the game's lone RBI and it was his first in the majors this season. The offense had five hits on the night and has not yet drawn a walk in this series.(19:30) Jacob Young was barely thrown out trying to steal 2nd and it ends his streak of 25 consecutive successful stolen bases to begin his career.(25:40) It is the Nationals first 1-0 victory on the road since.... 2017! 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 four game win streak came to a halt on Tuesday night in Arlington as they fell 7-1 at the Rangers. Mark (From Texas) & Al begin with the slumping Eddie Rosario, who went 0 for 3 in the loss and is hitting just .088 so far this season. Rosario was signed during Spring Training to a minor league deal after playing the past few years in Atlanta.(9:30) Keibert Ruiz also went 0 for 3 and is hitting .143 so far. Ruiz does not have a hit since returning the lineup last Thursday vs. the Dodgers.(14:00) MacKenzie Gore gave up two runs in 5 IP and struck out seven Rangers. Gore has only allowed two runs or fewer in four of his six starts so far this season.(20:00) Tanner Rainey really struggled again as he gave up three runs in the bottom of the 8th. His ERA is at 9.32 and his velocity is noticeably lower than it used to be. As hard as it is to say to this 2019 contributor, will he be DFA'd soon?(25:00) April is over and the Nationals came very close to finishing over .500 as they sit at 14-15. Mark gives his observations from the opening month of the season.(30:00) Owen Ranger, who covers the Harrisburg Senators for "Nats Report", gives an update on the team's prospects in AA. 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 7-2 on Monday night to complete the four game sweep on the road and they are now exactly at .500 for the season. Mark and Al begin with CJ Abrams who slugged his 7th homer of the year, rare territory for this franchise. This leads to a conversation on whether or not a long term extension with the shortstop is in the works.(15:30) The Nats had a trio of doubles and Nick Senzel was one of them as he continued his scorching stretch. He came very close to going deep again and his slugging percentage is at .641.(18:15) Jacob Young had an incredible series as he scored nine runs and stole six bases in Miami. He is the first player to accomplish that feat in over 100 years!(22:45) Jake Irvin earned the win as he pitched six frames and only allowed a pair of runs. This was nice bounce back outing for Irvin after he gave up a dozen hits to the Dodgers last week.(30:30) Washington moves their road trip to Texas as they face the defending World Series champions. A victory on Tuesday would give the Nats their first winning April in the Davey Martinez Era. 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 12-9 on Sunday afternoon after falling behind 6-0 in the 1st inning. Al & Tim recap the big comeback on what is fittingly the ninth anniversary of the famous "Dan Uggla Game", one of the more memorable rallies in team history. It was the Nationals third straight victory and they go for the sweep on Monday night.(05:00) The scoring for Washington began in the 4th and that is when Nick Senzel hit the first of his two homers in the game. Senzel has homered four times in the team's past four games.(08:00) Jacob Young had another excellent game as he had three hits, stole two bases, and scored two runs while playing CF.(16:30) Alex Call had another a very impactful game just one day after getting promoted from Rochester. Call scored three times and had an outfield assist. Hear why Tim refers to him as a "AAAAA Player".(19:30) Patrick Corbin allowed seven runs and saw Miami bat around in the opening inning. Will this be the season that he loses his spot in the rotation?(28:00) Hunter Harvey recorded a five out hold and Kyle Finnegan notched his 9th save of the season. Derek Law struck out three Marlins in two innings of work. 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 trounced Miami 11-4 on Saturday afternoon for their second consecutive win over the Marlins. Al recaps the easy road victory as the offense totaled 11 hits and slugged a trio of homers.(03:00) Jesse Winker hit a grand slam that gave Washington a 6-1 edge in the middle of the game. He also had an infield single that brought in Jacob Young, who scored four runs on Saturday while also stealing a pair of bases.(11:00) Mitchell Parker had a short outing as he only lasted four frames. He gave up six hits, but only allowed one run that came in on a wild pitch. He threw 82 pitches in the afternoon, which is the most he's thrown yet with the Nationals in three starts.(14:00) The bullpen initially combined for four scoreless frames, but the bottom of the 9th did not go well for Tanner Rainey in mop up duty. He gave up three runs and has struggled mightily this season.(15:30) Joey Gallo was placed on the IL due to a AC sprain in his left shoulder. Alex Call takes his roster spot and it was another time that the franchise decided not to bring up James Wood.(22:00) Tim is joined by the President of "Expos Fest", Perry Giannias for an explanation of what the annual event is as they held it last weekend. Many Expos alumni were in attendance including Pedro Martinez and Moises Alou. Expos Fest supports a wonderful charitable cause and and one can visit exposfest.com to learn more information. 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 3-1 on Friday night in Miami to end their three game skid. Al & Mark have another episode of praise for Trevor Williams as he only allowed one run in five innings of work. He has not had a bad outing in his five starts so far this season.(11:40) The bullpen used three pitchers and threw four shutout frames while issuing zero walks. Derek Law did the bulk of the work as he tossed a pair of innings and came away with the win.(15:45) All eight of the Nationals hits were singles and the biggest came from Joey Meneses as his 2 run single in the top of the 8th broke the tie. Meneses has eleven hits in the last week an his average has gone from .192 up to .256.(22:00) Joey Gallo struck out three times and has done so in three consecutive games. He leads MLB in strikeouts and only has three homers on the season.(27:15) Cade Cavalli drove to Miami from his rehab in West Palm and revealed that he is hoping to return to the mound in mid May in the minor leagues. He has been out since Spring Training last year after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats were swept by the visiting Dodgers on Thursday afternoon as they came up on the wrong side of a pitcher's duel. Mark & Al begin with MacKenzie Gore's noble effort in defeat as his only blemish was allowing an early Solo HR. Gore also threw over 100 pitches, a rarity for him thus far. L.A.'s starter however, the highly paid Yoshinobu Yamamoto tossed six shutout frames.(12:00) The offense could only muster one run and it came on a Joey Meneses RBI single in the bottom of the 8th. Among those struggling at the plate, Joey Gallo is hitting just .129 this season. Eddie Rosario is also well below the "Mendoza Line" so far this year. The good news though is that Meneses had a trio of hits in this game and his first extra base hit since the second game of the season.(19:10) Keibert Ruiz was reinstated from the IL and played for the first time since April 8th. Davey Martinez did praise Riley Adams for how well he played while Ruiz was out of the lineup for an extended time.(25:00) Mark gives an update on Dylan Crews, who has not been in Harrisburg's lineup for over a week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats were clobbered 11-2 by the visiting Dodgers on Wednesday evening. Mark & Al examine the rough start by Jake Irvin as he allowed a dozen hits and six runs in 4.2 IP. This came a week after he tossed six shutout frames against this same lineup at Dodger Stadium.(11:00) It was another night that needed five bullpen arms and the final two did not perform well. Tanner Rainey and Jacob Barnes combined to give up five runs in the final two innings to put the game completely out of reach. This resurfaces the conversation on the need for a long man in the 'pen.(20:00) Lane Thomas was placed on the 10-day IL with a sprain of the left MCL. His roster replacement was Trey Lipscomb, who was called back up less than ten days after being sent down to AAA. Lipscomb played 1B on Wednesday and that sent Joey Gallo to the outfield.(28:00) The Nationals had very good injury luck last season, but that does not seem to be repeating itself in 2024. We close with a conversation on James Wood and comparing him to the situation with the scuffling Jackson Holliday in Baltimore. 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 4-1 to the Dodgers on Tuesday night in D.C. Al & Mark open with the multiple costly base running miscues that Washington committed, especially the instance that came in the bottom of the 9th. Did third base coach Ricky Gutierrez throw up the "stop sign" too late for Luis Garcia Jr.?(09:00) Lane Thomas injured his leg on a stolen base attempt in the bottom of the 5th. He initially stayed in the game and a few innings he was removed. Thomas will get a MRI on Wednesday morning....... could this lead to James Wood getting called up to fill the likely vacant roster spot?(18:30) The bullpen allowed all four runs in just four innings of work. Five more arms took the mound out of the 'pen in this game, in what seems to be the norm for the team this season. Hunter Harvey ceded a pair of runs and was tagged with the loss.(25:20) Patrick Corbin tossed a scoreless outing in 5.1 and only allowed three hits.(30:00) Mark gives an update on both Keibert Ruiz and Josiah Gray. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats shutout Houston 6-0 on Sunday afternoon to capture the series. Mark & Al sing the praises of Mitchell Parker, who tossed seven shutout frames in just his 2nd career start. Have they found a "Diamond in the Rough"?(15:30) The offense came through with 11 hits and immediately scored three runs off of Hunter Brown. Luis Garcia Jr. continued his strong April as he had a trio of hits and knocked in two runs.(20:40) Keibert Ruiz will likely make a rehab appearance with AA Harrisburg on Tuesday as he hopes to return soon from an extended absence due to influenza. The last game he appeared in was April 8th in San Francisco.(24:30) A look at the upcoming schedule as the Dodgers come to D.C. on Tuesday. The hosts note how few divisional games are upcoming as they don't face the Braves until late May and no Mets 'til early June. 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 Astros 5-4 in 10 innings on Saturday afternoon in D.C.. Mark relays to Al what the atmosphere was like at Nationals Park as this was centerpiece of the 2019 World Series Anniversary Weekend.(05:00) Joey Meneses had three hits and most importantly came through with a RBI single to end the game while DHing. His batting average went up from .182 to .217 due to Saturday's performance.(10:30) Jesse Winker tied up the game with a 2 run single in the bottom of the 9th. One of the runners that it brought in was CJ Abrams, who homered in the bottom of the 1st as he returned to the lead-off spot.(15:30) Lane Thomas had a outfield assist to throw out Jose Altuve at home to conclude the top of the 10th. Mark gives a detailed an in person perspective of the crucial defensive play.(18:00) It was another strong outing for Trevor Williams who is sporting an ERA below 3.00 through four starts this season. If you look at the numbers, he has been Washington's best pitcher thus far. Veteran listeners won't be surprised what suggestion Al has for the franchise regarding Williams.(26:00) A round-up of the bullpen from the victory as five arms were utilized. Tanner Rainey threw a scoreless top of the 9th as he pitched for the second straight day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 5-3 to the Astros on Friday evening in D.C. Al & Tim discuss MacKenzie Gore only lasting four innings as he needed thirty-seven pitches to get out of the top of the 2nd.(09:00) Riley Adams homered and has continued to produce at the plate while Keibert Ruiz has been out due to the flu. Will Adams see more time at DH when Ruiz returns?(14:30) Davey Martinez was ejected in after the 8th inning following Ildemaro Vargas getting caught stealing. Martinez felt there was obstruction by Houston's Jeremy Pena, but that particular call at 2nd base can not be challenged. This came with CJ Abrams up at the plate and two outs while trailing by three runs.(19:00) Joey Meneses is hitting .182 and only has one extra base hit. Is he in danger of getting sent down?(25:00) This was the beginning of the World Series anniversary weekend and Tim relays his observations of the scene at the stadium. Spotted at the ballpark on Friday night behind home plate were Anibal Sanchez, Kurt Suzuki, and Brian Dozier.(35:00) The Voice of the Harrisburg Senators Terry Byrom gives an update on Dylan Crews and the rest of team in AA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats blanked the Dodgers 2-0 on Wednesday afternoon to finish their road trip out West with a winning record. Mark (From LA) & Al recap Jake Irvin's excellent outing as he tossed six shutout frames in the victory. One lingering question after his start though was should he have returned for the 7th, given that he only threw 73 pitches?(10:00) Three members of the bullpen combined to preserve the shutout. Kyle Finnegan notched his 7th save of the season while throwing a 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th and he is tied for the MLB lead in the saves category.(14:00) CJ Abrams led the game off with his 5th homer of the season while facing a pitcher making his MLB debut (Landon Lack). More than half of Abrams' hits so far this season are extra base ones ( 10 out of 18).(22:00) The victory gave Davey Martinez his 400th win as Nationals manager.(25:00) Brian Dozier told "The Sports Junkies" on 106.7 The Fan that he believes Stephen Strasburg will be in attendance for this weekend's 5th World Series anniversary festivities. Does Dozier have the scoop or is he mistaken? 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 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium as Mookie Betts went 5 for 5 against Patrick Corbin and the bullpen. Mark (From LA) & Al discuss Corbin starting the season at 0-3 as he gave up nine hits and five runs in 6.1 IP. This leads to a discussion on the chances of Corbin losing his rotation spot at some point during the season.(10:30) The only runs Washington scored came off of Jesse Winker's 2 run HR. Winker is currently 3rd in the NL in OPS, only trailing Betts and Atlanta's Marcell Ozuna. He also leads all of MLB in On Base Percentage (.500). Winker has struggled the past few seasons, but in 2021 he hit .305 /w a OPS of .949.(18:45) Joey Meneses was not in the lineup for another day. Meneses has struggled so far this season as he is hitting .204 w/ an OPS of .522.(20:30) Jacob Young started again and stole a base. He is a startling 19 for 19 on stolen bases to begin his career.(27:00) The Nationals announced on Tuesday the members of the 2019 World Series roster who will be part of the festivities at this weekend's 5th Anniversary celebration with the Astros in town. The hosts react to Stephen Strasburg not being listed among the attendees despite his recent official retirement. 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 bounced back with a 6-4 series opening victory on Monday night at Dodger Stadium on Jackie Robinson Day. Mark (From LA) & Al begin with praise for Mitchell Parker, who won his MLB debut while facing the loaded Dodgers lineup. It is shockingly the first Nationals pitcher to win his debut since Stephen Strasburg back in 2010. Mark runs through the laundry list of past pitchers who could not pull off the feat in the past 14 years.(09:00) Four bullpen arms were used and no walks were issued. Kyle Finnegan threw a clean bottom of the 9th to notch his 6th save of the season.(14:00) CJ Abrams went deep and he is blossoming into a star. His OPS currently stands at 1.004 and he has nine extra base hits so far this season.(17:30) Luis Garcia Jr. hit a crucial three run HR to extend the Nats lead to 6-2 in the victory. So far this year he is hitting .318 and his strong offensive production has been one of the pleasant 2024 surprises thus far.(23:30) There were a flurry of roster moves before the game and it included the reinstatement of Nick Senzel and Trey Lipscomb being sent down to AAA. Mark points all the factors that led to the roster crunch that resulted in Lipscomb returning to Rochester. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats led 6-1 in Oakland but it all fell apart in the 6th inning and they ultimately lost 7-6. Mark (Live from the Oakland Coliseum) & Al recap the disappointing series finale.(04:36) Derek Law gave up four runs despite retiring the first batter he faced in the bottom of the 6th. This blighted Trevor Williams' final line as two of the three runs he ceded came with Law on the mound. This was another game with many bullpen arms used, as the team sent out 13 relievers collectively over the weekend.(12:00) Riley Adams caught every game this series as Keibert Ruiz remains out to illness. This hosts note that it turned out to be a mistake in not keeping Drew Millas on the roster as his replacement Amos Willingham never took the mound.(17:20) The lineup was shuffled and Lane Thomas came through by homering, part of his 3 hits and 3 RBIs on the afternoon while hitting 5th. Jacob Young occupied the lead off spot and delivered with a pair of hits. This leads to Mark giving an update on Victor Robles and hamstring strain.(23:00) Mitchell Parker will make his MLB debut on the mound on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Parker was a 5th round pick from the 2020 Draft. He has made one start this year for Rochester and was promoted to AAA in mid September in last season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats beat the Athletics 3-1 in California on Saturday afternoon as MacKenzie Gore tied a career high with 11 strikeouts. Mark (Live from Oakland Coliseum) & Al discuss the southpaw's sterling outing that saw five shutout innings on 90 pitches.(08:45) CJ Abrams had a pair of hits including a RBI triple and Al notes that it seems like the team's success is directly correlated to Abrams' performance. The triple scored Jacob Young and Mark points out how just how lighting quick both of them are when running the bases.(13:40) Luis Garcia Jr. also had two hits, one of which was a RBI double to give Washington a 2-0 lead and also flashed leather in the bottom of the 9th. Garcia is hitting .333 so far on the young season and it is to his benefit as Nick Senzel might return to the roster in the near future.(16:05) Riley Adams had the rare assignment of catching a day game after a night affair as Keibert Ruiz remains out of the lineup due to illness. If Ruiz is sick, why is he in the clubhouse and dugout around the team as opposed to his hotel room?(21:00) Five relievers combined to give up just one run in four frames and they totaled seven strikeouts. Robert Garcia led the way with a trio of Ks in one inning of work.(25:30) Who will start on Monday night at Dodger Stadium in place of Josiah Gray? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 2-1 in Oakland on Friday evening in 10 innings of play. Mark (Live from Oakland Coliseum) & Al begin by noting that this is the final season in this particular stadium as the team will temporarily relocate to Sacramento next year, before ultimately settling in Las Vegas.(04:40) Jake Irvin only allowed a solo homer in 6 IP on just 74 pitches for his best start of the season thus far.(08:00) Jesse Winker went 4 for 4 and was the lone source of offense as he clubbed a solo homer to tie up the game in the top of the 9th. Winker was signed to a minor league deal, but so far has been the team's best outfielder.(15:00) Trey Lipscomb made a base running error to begin the top of the 10th thus nullifying the ghost runner.(21:30) Keibert Ruiz missed another game due to illness (flu like symptoms) as Riley Adams starting behind the plate on Friday night. Drew Millas was called up on for Wednesday in San Francisco, but was sent back down afterwards because it was originally thought that Ruiz would be ready for the opener in Oakland.(24:00) Prior to the game Davey Martinez gave an update on Josiah Gray, that he has full range of motion and will start rehabbing soon. Mark adds who who might possibly take Gray's spot in the rotation when the Nationals play at Dodger Stadium in a few days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 7-1 on Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco, ending their three game win streak. Al & Mark (Live from Oracle Park) recap a quiet day for the bats as they only mustered four hits in defeat. The only run came from Joey Gallo, who now has a trio of homers on the young season.(05:30) Catcher Drew Millas was called up and started behind the plate, replacing Joan Adon on the roster. Millas stepped in for Keibert Ruiz who wasn't feel well, but immediately was sent back down to the minors after the game. Since Adon is not with the Nats, who will take that rotation spot on this road trip?(13:00) Patrick Corbin took the loss as he allowed seven runs off 11 hits. Corbin's ERA after three outings is 8.44.(20:00) A discussion on how the bullpen hierarchy is shaping up through a dozen games.(24:00) As the Orioles have called up heralded prospect Jackson Holliday, will James Wood get promoted to Washington in the near future? We do the best we can to explain the complicated wrinkles involved in the decision and a summation of the Player Prospect Incentive (PPI).(30:20) Yohandy "Yo Yo" Morales has moved into the top 10 rankings on MLB Pipeline. Morales is an infielder who currently is at AA-Harrisburg and was drafted in the 2nd round last summer out of the University of Miami (FL). Due to Brady House at 3B, Morales very well could end up playing 1B for the franchise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats held on 5-3 in San Francisco on Tuesday night for their 3rd straight victory. Mark (Live from SF) & Al though begin with the news from pregame that Josiah Gray is headed to the 15 day IL with a right elbow/ forearm flexor strain. Despite the news, there were some positive indications from both Gray and Davey Martinez that this does not necessarily mean season ending surgery or anything of that magnitude.(11:45) Taking Gray's place in the rotation was Joan Adon who serviceable in his four innings of work. Mark explains why Adon was called up from AAA-Rochester instead of Jackson Rutledge.(16:00) Kyle Finnegan recorded a four out save, but sure made it interesting in the 9th inning as he loaded up the bases with no outs. Finnegan ultimately escaped by inducing a game ending double play to preserve the Nationals win.(23:00) CJ Abrams returned to the lineup after missing the past three games and certainly delivered. He homered and knocked in a trio of runs on his two hit evening. The hosts take this is opportunity to note how Abrams is truly blossoming into a star.(27:00) Jacob Young continues to impress while filing in for Victor Robles as he stole three bases and also connected with a pair of hits. A startling stat in the early season is that four Nationals have already stolen three bases in a single game and they have only played 11 games thus far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats cruised to an 8-1 victory on Monday night in San Francisco to begin their west coast road trip. Mark (Live from Oracle Park) & Al begin with the Nationals offense knocking Blake Snell out of the affair after just three innings of work with his new team. The reigning NL Cy Young winner did not sign with the Giants until mid March and therefore missed the bulk of Spring Training.(05:00) CJ Abrams missed a third straight game, but Mark notes that he did take infield practice in pregame. Abrams has a bone bruise in his pinky finger which likely came on a slide on Friday evening.(06:30) Trey Lipscomb had the best game of his young career as he had not only had three hits, but also stole three bases, one of which was a steal of home on an impromptu double steal. This was well timed for Lipscomb after struggling in his first home stand.(11:30) Lane Thomas continued his surge as he clubbed his first homer of the season, part of his three hit evening. Thomas is 7 for his past 11 after scuffling to begin the season.(14:50) Ildemaro Vargas drew a trio of walks while filling in again for Abrams at SS. The hosts point out how the veteran consistently steps up when given the opportunity.(19:30) Trevor Williams is 2-0 to begin his season as he only allowed one run in 5 IP on 81 pitches. Last season Williams did not record his 2nd victory until late May in what was a rough season for the right hander.(23:30) Matt Barnes pitched the final three outs in poetic fashion as he is a UConn alum, shortly after the Huskies defeated Purdue to capture the Men's Basketball National Title. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats ended their three game skid with a 3-2 victory over the visiting Phillies on Sunday afternoon. Al & Tim start with MacKenzie Gore's solid performance as earned his first win of 2024 in 5.2 IP of work. A trio of bullpen pitchers (Weems, Harvey, and Finnegan) then combined for ten scoreless outs.(11:15) Lane Thomas had his best game of the season as he had a pair of hits, stole three bases, and scored the final two runs. The negative for the offense was that CJ Abrams missed a second straight game to a bone bruise in his pinky finger, which is believed to have happened on a Friday night slide.(16:00) Jesse Winker had an excellent catch in the top of the 9th to avoid a lead-off double in what has been a strong start to his time in Washington. Luis Garcia Jr. had a RBI double and is hitting .333 thus far on the season after being sent down to the minors for portion of 2023.(25:00) On Sunday Nationals ownership released a statement about the retirement of Stephen Strasburg, which became official on Saturday. Strasburg himself released a statement and Mike Rizzo also met with reporters before the game. Al & Tim then wonder if he is the biggest "Star" in franchise history? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 5-2 to the Phillies but afterwards in a very subtle manner, it came across the MLB.com's transactions log that Stephen Strasburg is retiring. Mark & Al react to the news that the Strasburg saga has finally been wrapped up. The next homestand will serve as the 5th anniversary celebration of the World Series title as Houston will be in town and they wonder if the timing of that weekend played a role in the eventual resolution.(15:40) CJ Abrams was a late scratch due to a bone bruise in his pinky finger. Lane Thomas was moved up to the lead-off spot and responded with his first multi hit game of the season.(20:00) Joey Gallo homered for the 2nd time this week and it is the 200th of his career.(22:00) Nick Senzel seems to be on track to return to action quicker than initially expected. If Senzel returns to Washington, what will happen to Trey Lipscomb?(29:00) Jake Irvin gave up four runs in 6 IP and took the loss. Irvin's outing was part of a troubling trend by the Nats starters who do not seem to be taking advantage of the cold weather, which typically leads more dominant pitching. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On a chilly night in the District, the Nats were blanked 4-0 by the Phillies. Mark & Al start with the struggling offense as they only totaled two hits on the evening. One of those was squandered by poor base running as CJ Abrams tried to stretch an early single into a double.(06:25) Lane Thomas was hitless and is mightily slumping this season. So far he is just 2 for 28 at the plate and has not had a hit since the home opener.(10:00) Trey Lipscomb was charged with his 2nd throwing error of the year after airmailing a throw way over 1B. He also has skipped a few throws thus far and has at times been bailed out by Joey Gallo's glove work. During pregame workouts, Lipscomb was also seen getting reps in the outfield. What to make of it?(15:00) Patrick Corbin's pitching line: 6 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K on 93 pitches. He had the unusual modern feat of facing the top of the Phillies order for the fourth time. The bullpen followed up with three scoreless innings despite combining to issue six walks.(24:30) A listener submitted email asking about the scarcity of consistently great relief pitchers.(31:00) We conclude with a discussion to an article in the Ringer about the rising injury rates for pitchers: https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2024/4/2/24118963/pitcher-injuries-crisis-mlb-study-tommy-john-ucl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 7-4 to Pittsburgh in D.C. to drop a 2nd straight rubber match as they are now 2-4 on the season. Al & Mark recap another bad outing by Josiah Gray as he gave up four runs in the opening inning. His ERA so far this season after a pair of starts is 14.04.(14:00) The offense totaled eight hits after trying to dig themselves out from the early deficit. Lane Thomas was for 0 for 4 and so far he is hitting just .179 on the young season.(18:00) Joey Gallo doubled and drew a walk in what ended up being a solid series for the new National. Jacob Young started in CF shortly after being called up from Rochester as earlier in the day Victor Robles was placed on the IL due to a hamstring strain.(20:20) A recap of the bullpen's performance and five arms were needed on Thursday. Tanner Rainey allowed two hits but didn't give up any runs for the first time this season in three appearances.(31:00) The Phillies come to town this weekend and the hosts ends the show by noting how mediocre the division has been thus far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Wednesday was filled with rain in the DMV, but the skies were clear enough in the early evening for a 5-3 Nationals victory over Pittsburgh. Mark & Al start with Joey Gallo as his first hit with the franchise was fittingly a solo HR. He then later added two more hits after beginning the season 0 for 12.(08:00) Luis Garcia Jr. doubled three times and knocked in a run. It is the first time in Garcia's career that he pulled off that feat.(11:40) CJ Abrams had another impressive performance as he had a pair of hits and knocked in two runs. His RBI single was the capper to the four runs that Washington scored in the bottom of the 2nd.(14:30) Victor Robles exited the game early due to a left hamstring injury and will receive a MRI on Thursday. If he lands on the IL, this would mean the team needs to likely call up another outfielder to fill his spot.(20:15) Trevor Williams threw the best outing of any Nats starting pitcher so far this season and was rewarded with a victory. He allowed two runs in 5.1 IP and it is his first victory since August 20th of last season.(24:30) A very encouraging sign was how effective Hunter Harvey and Kyle Finnegan were in preserving the victory after some rough moments so far this season. Finnegan impressed many with his new "sweeper" pitch while notching the Save.(30:30) The series wraps up on Thursday afternoon as Josiah Gray will take mound. Gray did not pitch well on Opening Day in Cincinnati as the Nationals seek their first series victory of the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats lost 8-3 to the Pirates in their sold out home opener to begin the season 1-3 for the sixth consecutive year. Mark & Al recap a second straight day filled with bullpen struggles as the game was tied at 4 entering the top of the 8th. Matt Barnes and Tanner Rainey shared responsibility for the four late Pirates runs and overall the quartet of Nats relievers gave up ten hits in the afternoon.(12:00) MacKenzie Gore threw a so-so start as he gave up a trio of runs in 5.1 IP on 101 pitches. His pitch count was immediately high as it took over 40 pitches to get through the first two innings. Thus far this season, it seems like the Nationals starters are having sluggish beginnings to their outings.(17:20) The offense overcame a slow start and their performance was highlighted by Riley Adams' longest HR of his career. Adams got the start behind the plate as Keibert Ruiz served as the DH.(21:40) Victor Robles drew a pair of walks and also stole two bases on Monday. It is the first time that Robles has walked more than once in a game since April 26th last season. The hosts then explain where Robles is fitting into the organization's long term plans.(26:00) It was Michael A. Taylor's first game at Nationals Park since the World Series believe or not. He played well for Pittsburgh in their win and received a strong ovation from the crowd during introductions and before his initial at bat.(29:00) What to expect from attendance at Nationals Park this season? The listed crowd was over 40K for Opening Day in D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats came one out shy of winning the opening series of the season as they lost 6-5 on Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. Mark (Live from Cincy) & Al recap the loss where a 5-3 lead with two outs in the 9th quickly turned into a Reds walk-off HR given up by Kyle Finnegan.(07:30) Trey Lipscomb homered in just his 2nd career game and continues to impress at 3B.(11:00) CJ Abrams also homered on Sunday, but Al takes issue with a decision for him to attempt a sacrifice bunt despite it working out.(20:00) Jake Irvin allowed 3 runs in 5 IP in his first start of the season. This leads to a discussion of what to expect from the rotation in early April.(25:00) The weather forecast this week in D.C. is not great for Opening Day and Monday could potentially be a long one at the ballpark if Tuesday's forecast does not improve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats scored 3 runs in the 9th to escape with a 7-6 victory on Saturday afternoon. Mark (From Cincinnati) & Al discuss the comeback, which involved a lot of "Small Ball". Keibert Ruiz tied the game by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Eddie Rosario continued his strong start to the season with the go ahead sacrifice fly. CJ Abrams had a excellent game as he scored a trio of runs and also stole 3 bases in the win.(11:00) Trey Lipscomb made his Major League debut as the starting 3B and came through with his first career single and flashed the leather too. Lipscomb is the first prospect from the next wave to join the Big League team and was called up after Nick Senzel's Opening Day injury.(16:00) Jesse Winker had a productive Saturday as the #3 hitter, coming through with a pair of hits, a run scored, and an outfield assist to throw out a runner at the plate.(23:20) Patrick Corbin lasted 4.1 IP in allowing 4 runs and 7 hits in the final season of his long term contract. His outing began with 3 scoreless outings before the Reds offense awoke. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats were routed 8-2 on Opening Day on Thursday afternoon in Cincinnati . Mark (Live from Cincy) & Al recap the defeat that got off to an immediate negative tone as third baseman Nick Senzel broke his thumb while fielding a ground ball in warmups. Then Josiah Gray allowed seven runs before the 3rd inning was over, including allowing a pair of HRs to Nick Martini, who entered the game with only 8 career HRs.(16:20) The offense was very ineffective as only one runner reached scoring position and zero walks were drawn. The only source of offense came from Eddie Rosario who hit a 2 run HR while starting in CF.(23:00) It didn't take long for our first "TOOTBLAN" on the season as it came in the top of the 1st.(29:10) Stephen Strasburg was officially placed on the 60-day IL on Thursday. Any update on a potential resolution? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

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

Opening Day is under a month away as Mark & Al convene to discuss the latest with the Nationals. James Wood has been the star of Spring Training and that is where the conversation begins. What are the chances the 21-year-old will be with the Nats on March 28th in Cincinnati?(08:30) An update on how Dylan Crews and Robert Hassell III have looked during Grapefruit League play.(11:30) An explanation of the complicated Prospect Promotion Initiative (PPI) that factors into the decision of whether or not to put a highly regarded prospect on the Opening Day roster.(14:45) A look at the starting rotation and who stacks up where in the pecking order.(25:35) There have been rave reviews for Sean Doolittle in his new role as pitching strategist, a position he was hired for in mid January. Hear a brief explanation of what his duties entail.(30:00) Then we turn our focus to what the bullpen looks like this year. Unfortunately there will not be Mason Thompson in 2024 as he will undergo Tommy Johnson surgery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Nats have played a pair of Grapefruit League games and James Wood homered in each one. Mark & Al begin by discussing the team's #2 ranked prospect's mammoth shots in West Palm and Jupiter over the weekend. Wood is 21 years old spent the bulk of 2023 with Double-A Harrisburg. Meanwhile, Robert Hassell III tripled on Saturday night and Dylan Crews already came through with a diving catch.(11:45) Keibert Ruiz's had a rough start to Spring as he was charged with two catcher interference calls and a passed ball. Mark explains what Keibert is working on in camp after his sub standard 2023 behind the plate.(16:45) The Lerners have told the Washington Post that they are no longer exploring a sale of the Nats. How much does the timing of this announcement have to do with the specifics of the Orioles sale?(31:35) Saturday was the deadline for all players to report to Spring Training and Stephen Strasburg was not among them. At the beginning of camp Mike Rizzo indicated he expected Strasburg to be in West Palm by February 24th. Mark explains the latest regarding the situation.(40:00) Ryan Zimmerman meanwhile is helping out down in Florida. Al wonders what the future holds for "Mr. National".(47:35) Tim Shovers speaks with Gary Sarnoff about his new book on the 1924 World Champion Washington Senators, "Team of Destiny: Walter Johnson, Clark Griffith, Bucky Harris, and the 1924 Washington Senators". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

Al & Mark are back in 2024 in what continues to be a very sleepy offseason for the Nationals. The episode begins with an exciting podcast announcement as it relates to the NL East.(12:25) We are joined by two important new additions to the organization who just came over from Baltimore. Brad Ciolek, Senior Director Amateur Scouting, and Danny Haas, VP of Amateur Scouting. A true "Inside Baseball" segment as they give a peek into the world of scouting and the exhaustive preparation head of this summer's Draft.(37:00) Should MLB allow teams to trade Draft picks, like other sports do? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Winter Meetings wrapped up with a flurry of news as Mark has returned home from Nashville. He and Al begin by evaluating the Nick Senzel signing to a one year deal. If he primarily plays 3B, what does mean for Brady House's timeline? This comes as Jeimer Candelario agreed to terms with Cincinnati where Senzel played last season.(10:15) The Nats acquired Nasim Nunez from the Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft. Get to learn about the young shortstop.(19:00) Juan Soto has been traded again and he is now a New York Yankee. Nats Chat unpacks all the layers of interest as it relates to his original organization. Oh by the way, he and Trent Grisham forever remain associated together as Grisham is also on the move from San Diego to the Yanks.(36:20) A forecast of what's coming up next for the team. Will there be any moves before Christmas? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.