This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Crews went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 3-2 loss to Arizona.
Crews was responsible for both of the Nationals' runs Friday, which came on a two-run home run off Eduardo Rodriguez in the fourth inning. It was the eighth home run of the season for Crews, three of which have come over his last 13 games. He has a .667 OPS with six steals, 23 RBI and 14 extra-base hits across 217 plate appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Zack Littell: Takes loss as bulk reliever
Rotowire
Littell (7-8) was tagged with the loss in Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out five across five innings.
Carson Palmquist opened Friday's game and was tagged for two runs in the second inning, which both came after he was replaced by Littell. It ended up being Littell who took the loss after giving up the game-deciding run on a sacrifice fly from Gabriel Moreno in the seventh. Despite the loss, it was a nice bounce-back performance from Littell after he gave up eight runs in a loss to the Athletics this past Saturday. His next outing is slated for next week at home against the Blue Jays, though it's unclear whether he'll piggyback off an opener or start.
Lord (side) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Lord is nearly ready to face hitters after missing the past two-plus weeks with left side tightness. He could be ready for a rehab appearance after that. Lord is tracking toward a return in early August if all goes well.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Idle Friday
Rotowire
Ruiz is out of the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Diamondbacks.
Ruiz will ride the bench despite the Nationals having an off day Thursday. Harry Ford will be behind the plate and batting seventh for Washington.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Zack Littell: Set to work in bulk relief Friday
Rotowire
Littell is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Carson Palmquist in Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Littell served as a traditional starter in his last appearance Saturday in Sacramento, but he was blasted for eight runs on eight hits and four walks across six innings in a loss to the Athletics. The Nationals will look to coax better results from Littell by deploying him out of the bullpen, with the right-hander likely to take over once Palmquist covers the first inning or two. Littell has submitted a 2.94 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 11.3 K-BB% in 33.2 innings over seven bulk-relief outings this season.
Palmquist will serve as the Nationals' opening pitcher for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.
Palmquist gave up four earned runs in 1.2 innings the last time he served as an opener Tuesday against the Rockies, but the Nationals will give him another chance to handle the opening frame or two during Friday's contest. Zack Littell is in line to pitch in bulk relief once Palmquist exits the game.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Justin Lawrence: Outrighted to Rochester
Rotowire
Lawrence cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Rochester.
Lawrence had the right to elect free agency, but he will instead accept the assignment and remain in the organization as bullpen depth at Rochester. The 31-year-old has struggled mightily in the majors this season, posting a 7.34 ERA and 1.95 WHIP over 34.1 innings between Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Washington. He will likely need to show drastic improvement in the minors before getting another opportunity to work out of the Nationals' bullpen.
Cavalli (7-4) earned the win Wednesday over the Rockies, allowing four hits and two walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out eight.
Cavalli was excellent Wednesday as he logged his fifth quality start in his last six outings -- he's gone 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA and a stellar 47:6 K:BB across 33.1 innings in that span. With his recent success, Cavalli has lowered his ERA to 3.58 on the season with a 1.29 WHIP and 127:34 K:BB across 22 starts (110.2 innings). Cavalli will look to keep rolling in his next outing, tentatively scheduled to come at home next week against the Blue Jays.
Mead is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Colorado.
Mead picked up three hits in Monday's win over the Rockies but then went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Tuesday. Jorbit Vivas will cover third base while Mead rests in the series finale.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Jacob Young: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Young is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Colorado.
Young will get a day off after starting the first two games of the series. Jose Tena is drawing a start in Young's place, as he will serve as the designated hitter while Daylen Lile, Dylan Crews and James Wood patrol the outfield.
Nationals' CJ Abrams: Remains red hot with two homers
Rotowire
Abrams went 2-for-3 with two home runs, a walk and four total RBI in a loss to the Rockies on Tuesday.
Abrams slugged a two-run shot to center field in the first inning and added another two-run blast in the third. The All-Star shortstop has homered in three straight games, producing four long balls and eight RBI over that stretch. The power surge has lifted Abrams to 24 home runs on the campaign, tied for ninth in the majors with fellow shortstop Colson Montgomery. Abrams is also tied for the league lead with 76 RBI and ranks 12th with an .892 OPS.
... See More... See Less
Nationals' Miles Mikolas: Ineffective as bulk reliever
Rotowire
Mikolas allowed three runs on six hits and no walks while striking out one batter over 3.2 relief innings in a no-decision against Colorado on Tuesday.
Mikolas inherited a 4-2 deficit when he entered with two outs and a runner on first base in the second inning. The right-hander got out of that frame without allowing the inherited runner to cross the plate, but Washington scored in three of the remaining four innings in which he appeared. Mikolas has been better this season as a bulk reliever than as a traditional starter, but his overall 5.60 ERA and 4.7 K/9 make him an unappealing fantasy asset in all but the deepest of leagues. He's projected to make his next appearance -- either as a starter or in bulk relief -- at home versus Toronto.
0:42
1:29
1:49
10:35
11:04
0:52
0:48
1:18
1:24
1:58
0:36
1:05
1:25
0:39
0:52
1:04
0:20
1:25
7:12
0:53
