MLB Player News

Abrams went 2-for-4 with a two-run single, a steal and a run scored during Tuesday's 9-5 win over Atlanta.

Abrams was scratched from Monday's lineup against Miami due to back tightness, but he was cleared to return to action for Tuesday's series opener. He got the Nationals on the board early in the second inning with a two-run single before being brought home later in the frame on a Brady House double. Abrams has an .852 OPS with 27 steals, 29 home runs and 94 RBI over 570 plate appearances this season.

Taylor went 1-for-2 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Tuesday's 9-4 loss to the Brewers.

Taylor followed up a three-RBI night with another two RBI in Tuesday's contest as the outfielder stayed hot at the plate. He's now batting .413 in 19 games with the Cubs, giving his new team a much -needed boost beyond his strong defense. Taylor is particularly good against lefties, as he's sporting a .942 OPS in those matchups this year, but he's been solid against righties too, which has given his fantasy value a boost.

House went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and three RBI during Tuesday's 9-5 win over Atlanta.

House gave Washington a 4-1 lead in the second inning with a two-run double before driving in another run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. House has logged at least one RBI in five of his last six games, going 7-for-18 (.389) with one home run, 10 RBI and four runs scored in that span.

Wood (oblique) is expected to be activated from the injured list Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Manager Blake Butera said that Wood's return is contingent on him feeling good when he wakes up Wednesday morning, but chances are that he returns to the Nationals' lineup for their series finale against Atlanta. The 23-year-old has slashed .265/.393/.535 across 535 plate appearances when healthy this season, though he owns just a .620 OPS in the 17 games he's played since the All-Star break.

The Nationals optioned Pinckney to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.

With James Wood (oblique) expected to return from the injured list Wednesday, the Nationals will send Pinckney down to Triple-A to free up a roster spot. The 25-year-old performed well during his first stint with the big club, going 6-for-22 with a homer, two RBI, six runs and a steal while appearing in 13 games.

Pauley went 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple, four RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Royals.

Recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday morning, Pauley drew the start at third base and made an immediate impact, launching a two-run homer off Randy Dobnak in his first plate appearance. He added a two-run triple in the seventh to establish a career high with four RBI. Pauley has struggled to find much consistency at the major-league level this season, as he is now slashing .205/.237/.357 with two homers across 47 games.

Lord will start Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Jackson Kent threw 106 pitches during his last appearance, so the Nationals will buy him and the team's other starters some extra rest by starting Lord in Wednesday's series finale. The 26-year-old righty will likely remain in the game for just a couple of innings after working less than three frames during each of the three starts he made in August.

Irvin allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five across four innings in a no-decision against Atlanta on Tuesday.

Irvin gave up a solo homer to Ozzie Albies in the second inning before yielding another run in the third. Irvin was pulled in the fifth inning after giving up back-to-back singles without recording an out, and it was a second consecutive outing in which he failed to complete five innings, finishing Tuesday's outing with 86 pitches (57 strikes) and nine whiffs. Irvin is 0-4 over his last seven starts with a 6.09 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 29:18 K:BB over 34 innings. He's lined up to face the Padres next week in what projects to be a two-start week for Irvin.

Morales went 3-for-5 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run scored during Washington's 9-5 win over Atlanta on Tuesday.

Morales was promoted from Triple-A Rochester ahead of Tuesday's game, when he served as the designated hitter. He struck out swinging in his first plate appearance in the opening frame, but he bounced back in the third, smacking the second pitch he saw from AJ Smith-Shawver deep to left-center field for a solo home run. It was an impressive big-league debut for Morales, who figures to see a fair amount of playing time the rest of this season at DH and at first and third base.

Phillips (4-6) earned the win Tuesday against the Royals, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out four over five scoreless innings.

Phillips surrendered a leadoff single to Carter Jensen in the first inning but held Kansas City without another knock the rest of the way. The one hit marked his fewest in any outing of at least five innings this season. The right-hander has now allowed two earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 appearances and will carry a 3.43 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 90:47 K:BB across 110.1 innings into his next scheduled start Sunday against the Cubs.