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The Nats blanked Colorado 8-0 on Wednesday afternoon for a rare shutout in Coors Field.  Mark (From Denver) & Al convene following another road series win by Washington to finish their West Coast road trip at 4-2.

(04:00) Cade Cavalli tossed six shutout frames to drop his ERA to 3.58 for the season. Cavalli struck out eight Rockies and he has the 7th most Ks in the National League (127).

(12:10) Eddie Yean & Max Kranik combined to pitch the final three innings in the victory.  This was Yean's first appearance since getting called back up from Rochester.

(17:30) The Nationals broke the game wide open with six runs in the top of the 7th.  It was nightmare inning for the Rockies defense as they committed three errors in the frame.

(19:00) CJ Abrams gathered four hits to conclude his red hot road trip. Abrams is one of only six NL hitters with an OPS above .900.

(22:30) Luis Garcia Jr. homered for the 21st time to put the team up 5-0.  Al points out the unusual contractual quandary that Garcia Jr. is in as he is due to be a Free Agent following the 2027 season.

(28:00) Washington welcomes in Arizona on Friday evening to begin their six game home stand. The Diamondbacks are a game and a half ahead of the Nats for the final wild card slot. 

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The Nats were upended 8-7 by the Rockies on Tuesday night.  Mark (From Coors Field) & Al examine the seesaw affair that was tipped for good by Hunter Goodman's solo homer in the bottom of the 8th.

(03:00) Carson Palmquist tossed a scoreless 1st but allowed four runs in the bottom of the 2nd.

(05:00) Miles Mikolas immediately inherited a jam and ultimately gave up three runs in almost four innings of work. Mikolas' ERA is now up to 5.60 and his spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy as Jake Irvin rehabs his return.

(14:00) Clayton Beeter gave up the decisive homer in the bottom of the 8th.  Goodman is now up to 31 homers which is the 3rd most in the majors.

(16:10) Eddie Yean has been promoted from AAA and the initial expectation is that his stay in the Big Leagues will much longer this time.

(18:30) CJ Abrams homered twice and now is up to 24 homers for the season.  Abrams is tied for the most RBI in the majors with 76 through 102 games.

(22:15) Breaking down the failed contact plays that led to missed opportunities for the offense.

(28:00) Cade Cavalli will take the mound on Wednesday afternoon as the team sits at .500. Washington is a game and a half behind Pittsburgh (and a slew of other teams) for the final wild card spot.

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The Nats are back above .500 after Monday night's 7-3 win in Colorado. Mark (From Coors Field) & Al tip their caps to an unlikely bullpen trio that tossed almost five scoreless innings in the victory.  Riley Cornelio took over for Andrew Alvarez in the 5th, Matt Krook grabbed the baton in the 7th, and Tom Cosgrove notched a very efficient six-out save to close it out.

(09:30) Andres Chaparro homered for the third time on the road trip to put Washington up 3-0.  Chaparro later found himself in the middle of a silly brawl after Rockies starter Kyle Freeland took issue with how Chaparro returned to the dugout after flying out.

(16:15) Jacob Young went deep to put the Nationals up for good in the top of the 6th. CJ Abrams then homered in the next frame to give Washington some breathing room and a 6-3 lead.

(18:00) Curtis Mead recorded three hits and his OPS is up to .870.  How much does he factor into the organization's long-term plans?

(26:40) Andrew Alvarez allowed three runs off of six hits in his Monday night start.  Alvarez's ERA is at 4.22 through 14 appearances and his job is in jeopardy when Jake Irvin returns from the IL.  Irvin threw a scoreless rehab start for AA-Harrisburg on Sunday.

(30:00) Background on PJ Poulin's injury.

(33:00) Trevor Williams gave up three runs in Sunday's rehab start with High-A Wilmington. 

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The Nats beat the A's 5-2 on Sunday afternoon to capture weekend series in Sacramento.  Al & Tim open with Foster Griffin's 11th victory of the season as he only gave up one run in seven innings of work.  Griffin has not allowed multiple runs in eight consecutive outings and his ERA is now down to 2.68 this season.

(07:00) The Trade Deadline is Monday August 3rd at 6PM Eastern.

(12:45) Griffin's next start will come over the weekend at home vs. Arizona.

(18:00) PJ Poulin was placed on the 15-Day IL due to a left flexor strain; joining Brad Lord on that list.  

(24:00) Nasim Nuñez stole a pair of bases amid manufacturing the opening run of the game.  Nuñez comfortably leads the rest of Baseball with 37 stolen bases this season.

(26:00) Washington went back-to-back in the top of the 5th to break the game open (Abrams & Crews).

(28:00) The Nats look to go above .500 this week in Colorado with a three game series that begins on Monday night. 

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The Nats were pummeled 15-1 by the Athletics on Saturday night in Sacramento.  Al & Mark dig into offense not showing up just one day after scoring 23 runs.  They were being no-hit by J.T. Ginn until Keibert Ruiz broke up the bid with a single in the top of the 7th.

(08:00) The lineup was not identical to Friday night's offensive eruption.  Jose Tena went 0 for 3 as the DH in the 3rd spot in the order, but Andres Chaparro did not play after driving in eight runs in Friday's win. 

(12:00) Zack Littell started and it did not go well.  The Nats were immediately down 5-0 and Littell ultimately allowed eight runs in the loss. His ERA currently sits at 5.34 through 20 outings.

(18:20) Max Kranik's Nationals debut was a rough one as he gave up five runs in less than an inning of work.  Jorbit Vivas shockingly took the mound for the 2nd straight evening as both games this series have been blowouts.

(23:00) The series rubber match will be Sunday afternoon as Foster Griffin is next up in the rotation. 

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The Nats trampled the Athletics 23-4 on Friday night in Sacramento to open the 2nd Half of the season.  Mark & Al discuss the easy victory that saw Washington return its record to an even .500.

(07:00) Andres Chaparro drove in eight runs as part of his two homer evening.  Chaparro only had seven RBIs so far this season until gathering four hits on Friday night.

(12:00) Harry Ford homered in his Nationals debut. Ford was called up this week from AAA after fellow catcher Drew Millas was placed on the IL.  Ford came over to the organization after being traded for Jose A. Ferrer in the offseason.

(20:45) Daylen Lile went deep in the 9th to give the Nationals 23 runs.

(22:00) Curtis Mead doubled three times as part of his four-hit Friday night.  Mead's OPS now is up to an impressive .865.

(25:00) Cade Cavalli took the mound on Friday after closing out the 1st Half on Sunday. Cavalli struck out nine over the course of six innings of work.

(29:15) Riley Cornelio tossed two shutout innings and struck out five Athletics hitters.

(32:00) Robert Hassell III is now in the Pirates organization after being traded this week for cash considerations.

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The Nats limped their way into the All-Star Break with a 5-3 loss to the visiting Yankees on Sunday afternoon. Mark & Al convene after the New York sweep that put Washington a game below .500 through 97 games. All three losses included the Nationals fumbling away a lead that they took in the 7th inning stretch.

(08:00) Any chance the organization "rents" a reliever at the Trade Deadline?

(12:00) Analyzing if Dylan Crews could have made the catch when Ben Rice tripled in the go-ahead run in the top of the 8th off of Andrew Alvarez.

(17:30) Cade Cavalli returned from suspension and only allowed two runs in six innings of work Cavalli struck out five Yankees and he will enter the All-Star Break with a 3.83 ERA.

(21:20) James Wood led off the game yet again with a homer for the 10th time this season.  Wood is now up to 28 homers and last year he did not reach that stage until September 23rd.  Wood is ahead of Juan Soto for the highest OPS in the NL (.985).

(27:00) Abimelec Ortiz was called from AAA on Sunday and doubled while hitting in the 3rd spot. Ortiz was sent back down to Rochester after the game because the pitching staff was one man down on Sunday due to the impending pause in the schedule.  Ortiz was one of the players acquired in the MacKenzie Gore trade with Texas.

(29:15) James Wood will not participate in Monday's Home Run Derby in Philadelphia.  The Nationals resume play on Friday in Sacramento against the Athletics.

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The Nats coughed up another lead on Saturday due to the continued ineptitude of the bullpen. Mark & Al dig into the 4-2 loss to the visiting Yankees that served as the team's 27th blown save this season.  Washington led 2-0 entering the top of the 8th, but three Yankee homers later they trailed by two runs entering the bottom of the frame.

(07:00) The Nationals are now back at .500 after dropping these two games vs. New York.  What would the record be with a halfway decent bullpen?

(10:30) Blake Butera went with righty relievers this time against the lefty Yankee lineup and it not work out at all.  Orlando Ribalta and Clayton Beeter combined to allow four decisive runs in the 8th.

(22:00) PJ Poulin served as the Opener and pitched into the top of the 2nd.  Miles Mikolas then took over and tossed four shutout innings.  Mikolas' appeal has been heard and he will begin his five game suspension on Sunday afternoon.

(25:00) The offense slugged a pair of homers off of CY Young candidate Cam Schlittler.  James Wood homered on the first pitch he saw and Curtis Mead also went deep early in the affair.  Wood is now up to 27 homers on the year and nine of them have come in the lead-off spot.

(29:00) Sunday is the final game before the All-Star Break and it also will decide which side of .500 the Nats find themselves. Cade Cavalli is expected to take the mound fresh off of serving a five game suspension.

(31:00) Foster Griffin was a late addition to the NL Roster on Saturday evening.  Griffin's recognition is well deserved as his ERA is sub 3.00.

(33:30) Learn about Chris Hacopian, who the Nats selected at #11 overall from Texas A&M.  Hacopian grew up locally as a diehard Nationals fan before playing at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, MD.

(36:00) Checking in on last year's #1 pick Eli Willits.  He is currently in High-A Wilmington and is the 3rd ranked Prospect in the MLB Pipeline.  Willits is still only 18 year old and his stated goal is to be in the Big Leagues by the age of 20. 

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The Nats suffered a familiar gut punch on Friday night as the Yankes rallied with three runs in the top of the 9th.  Mark & Al examine the 5-3 defeat that was highlighted by a questionable pitching decision by first year Manager Blake Butera.

(05:00) Diving into the choice to replace Clayton Better with LHP Matt Krook in the 9th inning. It was only the 15th career appearance for Krook and his career ERA is a astronomical 16.62 with saves.

(08:00) Beeter retired the only batter he faced in the 8th after inheriting a jam. His ERA this season is just 2.96 and he has notched seven saves thus far.

(12:00) It is a new process in charting pitching matchups and scenarios for the organization.

(15:30) Why Krook instead of fellow southpaw PJ Poulin?

(22:00) Carson Palmquist was the Opener but stayed on the mound for three innings of work.  Littell then took the baton and struck out five Yankee hitters as he lasted for four innings.

(24:30) Keibert Ruiz and James Wood went back-to-back in the bottom of the 7th to take a 3-2 lead.  Wood now has 26 homers on the season and his OPS currently sits at .962.

(26:00) Brad Lord has been placed on the 15-Day IL due to left side tightness.

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The Nats took care of the Astros 8-2 in Wednesday night's rubber match. Mark & Al open with Foster Griffin's excellent outing where he only allowed one run while striking out nine Houston hitters in seven innings of work.  Griffin's All-Star snub is growing more stark as he will head into the break with 10 wins and a sub 3.00 ERA (2.77).

(07:30) The case for signing Griffin to an extension in the middle of the season before he reaches Free Agency.

(11:15) Luis Garcia Jr. & CJ Abrams each launched their 20th homer of the season in the win.  Garcia Jr. only had four homers at the end of May, then slugged 11 in June, and already has hit four home runs this month.

(16:00) The offense stunningly has three players with 20+ homers and 60+ RBIs (Abrams, Garcia Jr., & Wood).

(21:20) Daylen Lile had a RBI double and he has over 20 doubles this season with an OPS at .713.  How to evaluate his season thus far?

(24:00) The Nationals host the Yankees this weekend in a three game series. New York is eight games over .500, but is in 2nd place behind Tampa Bay.

(28:10) Jake Irvin is on track to make a few rehab starts as he works his back from the IL. 

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The Nats fell 6-3 on Tuesday night to the visiting Astros.  Al & Mark gather after Washington's 9th inning rally came up short with the bases loaded and Dylan Crews facing Josh Hader. Crews stuck out in a pinch-hit appearance as he stepped in for Keibert Ruiz.

(07:00) Nasim Nuñez was caught sealing for just the 4th time on the season, but it came in an inopportune spot to conclude the bottom of the 8th.

(14:00) James Wood led off with a homer for the 8th time this season.  Wood has the 2nd OPS in the NL and is now up to 25 home runs on the season. The franchise single-season record was set by Alfonso Soriano in 2006 with 46 homers.

(18:30) Andrew Alvarez only gave up four hits, but issued five walks in his outing.  Alvarez pitched into the 6th inning and ultimately allowed five runs while taking the loss.

(25:15) Blake Butera apologized pregame for sending Cole Henry out for a 2nd inning of work on Monday night.  Henry has since been optioned to AAA-Rochester.

(33:00) A few more pitchers were added to the All-Star Game, but Foster Griffin is not one of them.  

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The Nats rallied for a hectic 12-11 victory over visiting Houston on Monday evening.  Mark & Al dive into the comeback effort where Washington trailed by five runs in the bottom of the 3rd; yet were ahead by the bottom of the 5th after scoring eleven unanswered runs.

(05:30) The Nats hit three homers in the victory.  CJ Abrams' 3-run HR in the bottom of the 3rd tied the game and was part of a five run frame.  Abrams has 19 homers so far on the season.

(07:30) Curtis Mead's solo shot put Washington on top in the bottom of the 5th.

(10:00) James Wood changed the entire game with his Grand Slam to put his squad ahead 12-6.  Wood is up to 24 homers on the season and his .939 OPS is the 3rd highest in the NL.

(14:00) Miles Mikolas' appeal has not yet been ruled on and he took the mound on Monday night.  Mikolas earned the win despite allowing seven runs in his outing.  Mikolas likely will begin his suspension sometime later this week.

(19:30) Cade Cavalli's appeal was ruled on and his suspension was trimmed from seven to five games.  Cavalli began his suspension with Monday's game.

(24:45) Cole Henry returned to the team and tossed a perfect top of the 7th. He returned for the 8th and the Astros responded with four runs in the inning.  Henry was then replaced by Clayton Beeter.  

(34:00) Andrew Alvarez will pitch on Tuesday night vs. Houston as the Nats look to move to three games above .500. 

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The Nats were beaten 11-5 by the Pirates on Sunday afternoon in the series rubber match.  Al & Mark begin with Cade Cavalli's very brief outing on a very hot day in D.C. Cavalli was dealing with dehydration and dizziness while getting removed in the top of the 3rd.  Pittsburgh scored four runs off of Cavalli via six hits.

(10:15) Eddie Yean pitched well in his MLB debut after taking over for Cavalli.  Yean stuck out three Pirates during the stretch of the game where the Nationals battled back to take the lead in the middle innings.  Yan was optioned back to Rochester following the contest in favor of LHP Matt Krook.

(14:00) Brad Lord took the mound in the top of the 8th with a 5-4 lead, but allowed five Pirates runs in that frame. A few weeks ago Lord gave up six Phillies runs in a painful top of the 9th.

(17:00) Luis Garcia Jr. continued his red-hot summer with his19th homer of the season.  Could Garcia find his way to Philly for the All-Star Game? Garcia has already surpassed his previous career high for homers hit a few years ago.

(23:00) Robert Hassell III was designated for assignment in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Yean.  Hassell's OPS was just .593 this season in Rochester and it is clear that the franchise's outfield is filled with depth.

(30:00) Checking in on Brady House's situation as his OPS is currently .779 in Rochester. 

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The Nats were trounced by the Pirates 7-1 on July 4th in Washington D.C. Al & Mark dig into the defeat where the local holiday tradition continued of beginning the game at 11:05AM.

(04:30) Cade Cavalli & Miles Mikolas will flip their spots in the rotation as they await for their suspension appeals to be heard.  Cavalli originally was gong to the take the mound on Monday night, but now will pitch in Sunday's rubber match vs. Pittsburgh.

(10:00) James Wood hit another lead-off homer; his 23rd of the season. Wood reached the third deck and will get a future red seat in honor of the feat.  Wood's OPS is at .931 and that is the 3rd highest in all of the National League.

(15:00) Why did Andres Chaparro pinch-hit for Luis Garcia Jr. w/ runners on the corner in the bottom of the 7th?  The Nats trailed 5-1 at the time and Chaparro ultimately struck out swinging.

(20:10) Carson Palmquist flopped as the team's Opener on Saturday. Palmquist was charged with four runs as Zack Littell inherited a major mess in the top of the 2nd.

(27:00) Riley Cornelio gave up a pair of runs in two innings of work.  Cornelio has really struggled when pitching for Washington as his WHIP is up to 2.21 after five appearances.

(30:00) It was revealed on Saturday night that both James Wood & CJ Abrams will head to Philadelphia for this month's All-Star Game. Each of them have previously reached the Midsummer classic and Wood was noncommittal when asked about returning to the Home Run Derby.

(35:30) Will Foster Griffin be a late addition to the NL roster as other pitchers drop out?

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The Nats launched their own fireworks in Friday night's 9-5 win over visiting Pittsburgh.  Mark & Al discuss the Nationals five homer effort in the victory that puts the team at three games above .500 entering July 4th.

(05:30) Luis Garcia Jr. homered twice to continue his torrid summer. Garcia is now up to 18 homers this season and he has hit 13 of them within the past month.

(10:30) Daylen Lile also went deep twice on Friday evening.  Lile has now lifted his OPS to .730 on the season.

(12:30) Jose Tena lived up to the role as the DH in the 3rd spot in the order.  Tena crushed a 430 foot homer to put the Nationals up 4-1 in the bottom of the 3rd.

(19:00) Foster Griffin earned his 9th victory of the season after lasting five innings. Griffin only allowed one run and his ERA is down to 2.87.

(24:30) Zak Kent tossed a scoreless top of the 8th, but then he gave up four runs on five Pirates doubles in the top of the 9th.  Kent stayed in for the final out, but Riley Cornelio was forced to warm up in the bullpen as the game got tight.

(27:00) Reaction to the suspensions handed out to Cade Cavalli & Miles Mikolas this week after the benches clearing incident in Boston on Tuesday evening.

(47:00) The Nats & Orioles this week finally made a trade with another for the first time ever.

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Major League Baseball suspended four players in relation to Tuesday night's benches clearing at Fenway Park.  Tim provides a quick update to the situation as the Nats next take the field on Friday night vs. Pittsburgh.

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The Nats took the series in Boston with a 10-2 thrashing of the Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon. Mark (From Fenway Park) & Al dig into the victory that puts Washington at two games over .500 entering the upcoming homestand.

(05:30) The offense scored double digits despite CJ Abrams getting the day off.  Washington jumped out early on Boston starter Payton Tolle, who ended up being charged with six runs allowed.

(07:00) James Wood homered for the 22nd time to make it 10-0 in the top of the 7th. Wood broke out of his slump this series by hitting two homers, driving in six runs, and gathering 13 total bases.

(10:00) The Nats two other homers came from unlikely hitters as Andres Chaparro & Nasim Nuñez each went deep for the first time this season.  Chapparro's blast came in the 1st and it was well timed as there has been increased scrutiny into his playing time.

(16:30) Brad Lord served as Andrew Alvarez's Opener and it worked out just fine.  Lord pitched into the 3rd and then Alvarez took the baton through the 7th.  Alvarez inherited a jam in the 3rd but immediately induced an inning ending double play.

(23:30) Paul Toboni & Cade Cavalli each spoke to reporters at length prior to Wednesday's game. This was following the incident on Tuesday night involving Cavalli & Willson Contreras.

(36:00) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the Rochester Red Wings, gives an update from AAA.  Hear about Yo Yo Morales, Harry Ford, Brady House, and more. 

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The Nats beat the Red Sox 8-1 on Tuesday night in a game that will be best be remembered for a bench clearing brawl.  Mark (From Fenway Park) & Al hold an extended discussion about what happened in the bottom of the 4th in Boston. Cade Cavalli struck out Willson Contreras and then after some verbal exchanges, both teams ran onto the field.  Contreras was ejected, but not Cavalli.

(05:30) Cavalli was every bit the Ace in the win as he struck out 13 Red Sox hitters and lasted seven innings. He will enter July with a 3.69 ERA.

(08:00) Parsing through the kerfuffle and what led to it on Tuesday night.

(20:30) Miles Mikolas was the only National ejected during the skirmish even though he never played in this game.  Mikolas in the past was teammates with Contreras in St. Louis.

(25:00) James Wood had a trio of hits and knocked in a pair of runs. Wood's OPS currently sits at .898. The offense broke the game wide open with seven runs in the late innings.

(28:00) Luis Garcia Jr. drove in a staggering 27 runs in June. Garcia Jr. was recently recognized as the NL Player of the week for his stretch of six homers in six games.

(30:00) Andres Chaparro was 0 for 2 and his average is just .156.  Why has he been hitting 2nd in the order at times?

(35:20) Mitchell Parker is out for the year after spraining his UCL and he will likely need surgery. 

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The Nats lost 6-3 on Monday night to the streaking Red Sox.  Mark (From Fenway Park) & Al discuss the team getting a tour inside the Green Monster during the afternoon.  Nats Chat also has now broadcasted in every MLB Ballpark since we launched in 2021.

(05:30) James Wood led the game off with his 21st homer of the season. Wood has the 3rd most home runs in the NL; trailing only Kyle Schwarber & Hunter Goodman.

(08:45) Boston's winning pitcher was Ranger Suarez, who is performing well after signing a 5-year/ $130 Million deal.  This leads to a Foster Griffin conversation about his future past this season.

(15:00) Miles Mikolas gave up a pair of homers in the bottom of the 1st and the Nationals never overcame the deficit. Mikolas then did settle in a bit and lasted seven innings overall; including a stretch of retiring fourteen straight batters.

(20:00) Both Mitchell Parker & Richard Lovelady were both sent to the IL on Monday.  The two pitchers called up to take their roster spots are Riley Cornelio & Carson Palmquist.

(24:10) Paul Toboni met with reporters prior the game.  Toboni was mostly asked about the team's plans for the Trade Deadline,  Foster Griffin's future, CJ Abrams' situation, and more.

(28:00) The potentially tricky situation for Toboni at the August 3rd deadline.

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The Nats topped the Orioles 6-4 on Sunday afternoon to bounce back and win the weekend series. Mark (From Camden Yards) & Al throw all the flowers to Luis Garcia Jr., who has been red-hot lately.  Garcia went deep twice, roped a 2-run double, and collected 5 RBIs in the victory.  Washington is now back above .500 after winning both Saturday & Sunday.

(05:00) Garcia Jr. stunningly has homered six times in the last six days.  He has hit 10 home runs this month and his OPS in June is an astronomical 1.142.

(17:00) Revisiting Blake Butera's decision on Saturday night to lift James Wood late in the game for a Jacob Young defensive substitution.  The game extended intro extras and Young had to bat instead of Wood in a close affair.

(23:00) Zack Littell started and lasted five innings in earning the win.  He allowed a pair of runs and he will enter July with a 5.29 ERA.

(25:30) Mitchell Parker exited his relief appearance in pain and he possibly suffered an elbow injury.

(31:00) The Nats move their road trip to Fenway Park for a series that begins on Monday night. Washington currently trails St. Louis by two games for the final wildcard spot. 

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The Nats ended their four game losing streak with a 4-3 win on Saturday night in ten innings. Al recaps the Camden Yards victory over the Orioles that returns the Nationals to .500 in the standings.

(04:30) Foster Griffin was fantastic as he only gave up one unearned run in seven innings of work.  Griffin lasted 112 pitches and struck out nine Orioles in his outing. The lefty's ERA is at 2.93 and he is firmly in All-Star Game consideration.

(07:30) The bullpen followed its recent routine of blowing a late lead. Justin Lawrence however notched the save in the bottom of the 10th in his first appearance with the team.

(15:30) James Wood was curiously lifted late in the game in favor of Jacob Young's glove in the bottom of the 8th.  The slumping James Wood was went 0 for 4 w/ a trio of strikeouts.

(18:00) The red-hot Luis Garcia Jr. homered again and collected four hits in the win.  Garcia's OPS this month is a jaw dropping 1.045.

(27:10) Tim is joined by Doug Foster, a descendant of Rube Foster, who created the Negro Leagues.  Doug recently co-hosted a panel alongside Sean Gibson for Negro Leagues Night at Nationals Park.

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The Nats lost 3-1 on Friday night in Baltimore for their 4th consecutive loss.  Mark (From Camden Yards) & Al recap the defeat that dropped the Nationals to below the .500 mark through 83 games played.

(05:20) James Wood threw out a runner at 3rd base and made another highlight worthy catch.  Wood is currently slumping, but he did double on Friday evening. This leads to a discussion on the improved team outfield defense this season.

(11:40) Blake Butera has shown that he is willing to sacrifice defense for a shot at scoring runs. Jose Tena found himself in the outfield on Friday and Andres Chaparo took over at 3B.

(15:30) Andrew Alvarez was lifted in the 5th as he allowed two earned runs while issuing a trio of walks. Alvarez's ERA is currently at 3.44 after ten outings on the mound.

(20:20) Brad Lord bounced back a bit after Tuesday night's meltdown.  He recorded eight outs and only allowed one Baltimore run.

(22:00) Updates on Trevor Williams and Jake Irvin.

(25:00) Foster Griffin will take the mound on Saturday night. 

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The bullpen woes continued on Thursday night as an an early Nationals lead resulted in a 10-5 Phillies victory.  Mark & Al convene after the 3rd straight loss that saw a reliever implode in the top of the 9th every step of the way.  Washington is back to .500 through 82 games played this season.

(04:30) Blake Butera agreed with Mark's assessment that some relievers "pitched scared" while on the mound this week.

(07:00) Mitchell Parker gave up three runs while only recording one out.  Parker's ERA is now up to 6.39 on the season.

(09:30) Bryce Harper homered in the 9th and then motioned to the Tarp's Off crowd after crossing home plate.  Harper was adamant afterwards that it was his ring finger that he used to point to the crowd.

(18:00) The bullpen has given up the most homers in all of Baseball.  Will Paul Toboni try to make a trade in July as opposed to wait until the Trade Deadline on August 3rd?

(25:00) Cade Cavalli pitched well as he did not give up any runs until the 6th.  Butera afterwards told him that he looked like a #1 pitcher in the outing.

(28:00) The offense jumped all over Cy Young candidate Christophe Sanchez as they scored four runs in the bottom of the 1st.  Curtis Mead homered off of Sanchez and ironically those two were traded for each other in the past. 

(32:30) CJ Abrams still has a chance to start in next month's All-Star Game, but James Wood will only be able to make it as a reserved.  Abrams and Mookie Betts were the top two vote getting shortstops in Phase 1 of the fan voting.

(35:30) Daylen Lile performed while with both the bat and glove on Thursday.  Lile singled, doubled, and made a spectacular catch in LF.

(39:00) The Nationals visit the Orioles this weekend for a three game series.  Washington took off two of three against Baltimore last month. 

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The Nats suffered another gut punch loss from the Phillies despite being an out away from victory.  Al & Mark convene after the Nationals 5-4 loss on Wednesday night puts them at 41-40 overall. Derek Hill hit a 2-run shot off of Richard Lovelady in the top of the 9th to flip the lead.

(04:30) What are Paul Toboni's options (if any) in order to improve this bullpen?

(06:30) PJ Poulin did his job as he retired all four batters faced.

(12:00) Should Orlando Ribalta have intentionally walked Kyle Schwarber in the top of the 9th with first base open?  Schwarber ended up walking anyways.

(20:15) Carson Palmquist had a busy Wednesday as he was called up, tossed over three innings, and then demoted back to AAA after the game.

(25:30) The offense combined for a trio of homers in the defeat. Luis Garcia Jr. & Curtis Mead each now have hit 13 home runs this season and Jorbit Vivas has gone deep in two straight games. 

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The Nats were an out away from a pivotal win over the Phillies but instead it all fell apart in the 9th.  Mark & Al gather after the stunning 14-9 loss that saw Philadelphia score eight runs in the top of the 9th. Brad Lord struck out out the first two hitters of the frame, but then ten straight Phillies reached base.

(07:15) The staff needed eight pitchers to get through Tuesday night's game. Richard Lovelady began the top of the 8th but was ultimately charged with three runs after inheriting a 5-3 lead. Paxton Schultz took over for Lord in the 9th and was optioned to AAA after the game.

(12:45) The bullpen was charged with two blown saves and lead the majors in most homers allowed.

(17:30) Zack Littell relieved PJ Poulin after an inning and lasted four frames as the bulk starter.

(22:40) The offense jumped out to a 5-0 lead and homered twice in the loss.  Jorbit Vivas shockingly went deep in the bottom of the 8th to take back the lead for the time being and Luis Garcia Jr. had a pinch-hit solo homer in the 9th.

(27:00) Nasim Nuñez swiped a pair of bags and now leads MLB with 31 steals.  Nuñez is well on pace to break CJ Abrams Nationals record of 47 stolen bases from a few years ago.

(31:30) Miles Mikolas will take the mound as the Nationals trail Phillies by 2.5 games in the standings. 

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The Nats beat the Phillies 4-1 on Monday night and have guaranteed themselves a winning record at the upcoming midway point of the season. Mark & Al examine the victory that saw a pair of homers from the potent offense. Washington is currently 1.5 games back of Philadelphia for the 2nd wildcard spot.

(04:30) Luis Garcia Jr.'s solo homer put Washington ahead 2-1 in the 2nd. Curtis Mead later on hit a 2-run shot to give the Nats some breathing room.

(14:00) Dylan Crews began the scoring with a RBI single in the bottom of the 1st. Crews' OPS is now up to .625 after his recent surge.

(18:00) Nasim Nuñez made another great defensive play, but he also was charged with an error in a separate sequence.  Nuñez did steal his 29th bag of the season which leads all of the majors.

(20:45) Foster Griffin was excellent as he only allowed one run in 7.1 IP. Griffin's ERA is down to 3.15 and he is earning legit All-Star consideration.

(27:40) Clayton Beeter notched his 6th save of the season which is tied for the team lead along with Gus Varland.

(29:00) DJ Herz's rehab has been halted due to a right flexor muscle strain. Herz has not taken the Big League mound since 2024 and he had Tommy John Surgery in April of 2025. 

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The Nats lost a rare series as they came up short on Sunday with a 4-3 defeat at the Rays. Mark & Al begin with Daylen Lile getting caught stealing and how it put a dent in the 9th inning comeback effort.

(07:00) CJ Abrams homered every game this series and he now has the 3rd most RBI in all of MLB.

(11:00) A check in on the defense through the 1st Half of the season.

(16:45) Dylan Crews had a RBI double on Sunday and the extra base hits continue to pile up.

(19:45) Nasim Nuñez's OPS is over .900 this month and he was 2 for 3 on Sunday. Nuñez & Witt Jr. are tied with 28 steals which leads all of Baseball.

(21:15) Andrew Alvarez only lasted four innings and struck out six Rays. Alvarez is striking out hitters and his ERA currently sits at 3.34.

(26:00) Orlando Ribalta gave up the decisive 2-run HR to Johnny DeLuca in the bottom of the 7th.  Washington's bullpen has given up more homers than any other team.

(30:00) Philadelphia comes to Navy Yard on Monday for a pivotal four game series. Kyle Schwarber leads all of the majors in homers and Bryce Harper cycled over the weekend. 

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The Nats outlasted Tampa Bay 4-3 on Saturday afternoon in Florida.  Al & Tim dig into the team's 40th victory of the season and go over all the elements of adversity that Washington thwarted on their way to a win.

(05:00) Jacob Young exited early after slamming into the wall during a crucial catch in the bottom of the 8th.  Young not only made an incredible grab, but also had the presence of mind to toss the ball to his teammate while writhing in pain on the warning track.

(10:35) Young leaving the game forced Blake Butera to give up his DH.  James Wood took over in the outfield and in the top of the 9th Jorbit Vivas hit for the newly formed pitcher spot in the lineup.

(15:30) CJ Abrams homered for the 16th time this season and his 56 RBIs are the 4th most in MLB.

(16:30) Dylan Crews homered for the 4th time this month and the 9th inning solo shot served as a crucial insurance run.

(20:20) Cade Cavalli was pulled in the 3rd inning after his start was pushed back a day due to food poisoning.  Cavalli immediately registered a high pitch count before handing the ball off to Mitchell Parker.

(23:40) Brad Lord tossed three scoreless innings and his ERA is now down to 2.29.  Could Lord get All-Star consideration next month?

(27:00) The Nats look to win another series on Sunday afternoon as Andrew Alvarez toes the rubber.

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The Nats fell 5-2 at the Rays on Friday night. Al & Tim discuss Cade Cavalli being a late scratch for the affair due to food poisoning and how he was replaced by Miles Mikolas. Blake Butera after the game said Cavalli should be able to take the mound on Saturday afternoon.

(05:30) PJ Poulin served as the Opener and Mikolas took over in the bottom of the 3rd.  Mikolas gave up all five Tampa Bay runs, but his six innings of work kept the bullpen fresh going into the weekend.

(11:30) The offense only provided a pair of solo homers from CJ Abrams & Luis Garcia Jr.  Garcia's OPS is now up .758 and he is on pace to hit 20+ homers this season.

(18:20) Keibert Ruiz perfectly executed a back pick throw in order to nail Cedric Mullins while taking a lead at 3rd base.  The defense from Ruiz and the team has been better lately.

(23:00) The Nationals will wake up on Saturday in a tie for being just one game back of the final NL wildcard slot.  

(26:00) Tim spoke with Sean Gibson, Great-Grandson of the Hall of Famer Josh Gibson.  Sean was in town earlier this week to co-host the Negro Leagues Night Panel at Nationals Park on Tuesday evening. 

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The Nats yet again were unable to complete a sweep for the 6th consecutive opportunity. Mark & Al dive into Wednesday's 6-4 loss at the hands of the visiting Royals that snapped the four game win streak.

(07:00) Analysis of Dylan Crews' slide into 2nd base in the 6th and the ensuing review to see whether or not he was out.

(12:00) Zack Littell was hit hard as he allowed four homers off of seven hits in five innings of work.  Littell already has given up twenty homers; which tied for the most in the majors.

(18:00) Mitchell Parker continues to struggle as he allowed a pair of runs on Wednesday.  Parker has given up an earned run in eight of his past nine outings.

(22:00) Washington heads to Florida for three game this weekend at the Rays. The Nats are openly trying to emulate many principles that Tampa Bay has pioneered in the Front Office. Blake Butera worked for a long time in the Rays organization before getting hired as Nationals Manager.

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The Nats won their 4th game in a row on Tuesday night.  Mark & Al recap the 6-4 win over Kansas City as the team is currently in sole possession of the NL's 3rd wildcard spot.  The success is starting to become more believable as they have won nine of their past eleven series.

(08:30) Curtis Mead broke the tie with a 3-run HR in the bottom of the 7th. Mead is up to eleven homers so far this season which is far by his career high.

(14:00) Nasim Nuñez had an incredible all-around game.  He tripled twice, stole a base, scored three runs, and made a great play in the field.  Nuñez leads the NL in stolen bases with 26 so far this season.

(24:00) Foster Griffin did not earn the win, but tossed a solid six innings on Tuesday night. Griffin only gave up one run and struck out six Royals as his ERA is now at 3.32.

(28:00) Gus Varland recorded his 6th Save of the season, but did give up a 9th inning run. Varland escaped a jam in order to preserve the two-run lead. 

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The Nats won their 3rd straight on Monday night to move to 3 games over .500 for the first time since.... 2019. Mark & Al discuss the 7-3 victory that has Washington in a tie for the final wildcard spot through 73 games.

(08:15) Dylan Crews blasted a 3-run shot in the bottom of the 5th to put his team ahead by four runs. Crews has a had great homestand with both the bat and glove.

(16:30) An early look at the NL voting results thus far for CJ Abrams & James Wood. Abrams leads for shortstops but Wood is in 7th place among outfielders.

(23:00) Andrew Alvarez & Brad Lord teamed up for seven innings of work in the victory.  Alvarez struck out five Royals before Lord took over in the top of the 5th.

(31:10) Keibert Ruiz used up all of his team's ABS challenges in the top of the 1st.

(37:30) An update from the Voice of the AA-Harrisburg Senators, Frankie Vernouski.

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The Nats trounced the Mariners 10-1 on Sunday afternoon to take yet another series. Mark & Al wonder out loud if this 37-35 team is actually good as we are now in the middle of June.  Washington is currently just one game behind San Diego for the final NL wildcard spot.

(08:45) Seattle starter Emerson Hancock was tagged with six runs off of nine against this potent Nationals offense. The big inning came in the bottom of the 4th when the Nats plated five in the frame to go up 6-1.

(10:30) James Wood homered for the 20th time this season and Alfonso Soriano is getting nervous.

(16:00) Dylan Crews played well on Sunday as he doubled, knocked in a run, and made a leaping catch against the RF wall.

(23:00) Miles Mikolas unexpectedly threw seven shutout innings after taking over for PJ Poulin. Mikolas' ERA is down a bit to 5.29 so far this season.

(28:45) The Royals come to town on Monday night for a three game series. Kansas City is in last place in the AL Central and they are tied with the Angels for the worst record in the American League. 

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The Nats are back above .500 after Saturday's 8-3 victory over the Mariners. Al recaps the win that saw Luis Garcia Jr break the tie with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 5th.

(04:00) Blake Butera credited the "Tarp's Off" crowd in RF for their energy.  The official attendance was just over 30,000 on Saturday.

(06:30) Daylen Lile had a RBI triple on his Bobblehead Day.  His hometown Louisville defeated the DC Defenders on the other side of South Capitol Street in UFL action on Saturday.

(09:00) Cade Cavalli was cruising until he reached the top of the 5th.  He gave up a pair of homers in the frame while not getting a lot help from his defense behind him. Cavalli's outing now sits at 3.98 and he is in 11th place for the lead in NL strikeouts.

(12:15) The bullpen tossed four scoreless frames in the victory. PJ Poulin was very effective in his return from AAA and Brad Lord recorded the final six outs.

(16:00) Dylan Crews knocked in a run as part of the 3-run bottom of the 1st.

(20:00) Ben Raby's award winning feature for WTOP on Alexander Ovechkin passing Wayne Gretzky for most goals scored in NHL history. Ben is a radio veteran and a prominent Nats Chat listener. 

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The Nats were routed 10-2 on Friday night by visiting Seattle for their 2nd straight loss. Mark & Al note how the M's were able to hold onto their 9-1 entering the bottom of the 8th; unlike the Nationals on Wednesday in San Francisco.

(07:00) Zack Littell was very ineffective as he was pulled in the top of the 5th.  Littell allowed five Mariner runs and his ERA is up to 5.32.

(11:15) Riley Cornelio came in for long relief and lasted over for over four innings. Cornelio was optioned back to AAA after the loss; just like what happened to him after making his debut vs. the White Sox in April. Mitchell Parker is still on the roster and many suspect that the corresponding move on Saturday will PJ Poulin.

(18:45) James Wood slugged his 19th homer of the season which is 3rd most in the NL. Wood has put himself into the fringe of the early MVP discussion.

(21:00) Dylan Crews homered in the bottom of the 8th for his 3rd of the season.

(25:20) The game did not begin until 8:55pm due to a 2 hour plus rain delay. Al offers how he would prefer weather forecasts be taken into account for logistical purposes.

(34:00) A scouting report on Justin Lebron, Alabama Shortstop, by Jim Callis.  Lebron is likely the only possible selection for the Nats at #11 among the players participating in this week's College World Series. 

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The Nats were on their way to a sweep of the Giants on Wednesday afternoon before it began to unravel in the 8th. Mark (From San Francisco) & Al react to the gut punch 11-10 loss that concluded on a walk-off Grand Slam.  Washington led 9-1 entering the bottom of the 8th before allowing five runs in each of the final two frames.

(07:00) Mitchell Parker was given the ball in the bottom of the 9th and did not retire either batter that he faced.  Parker gave up the Grand Slam to Bryce Eldridge, a native of Vienna, VA.  Blake Butera said afterwards that Richard Lovelady was not available, so Parker was the only available lefty option in that moment.

(16:00) Blake Butera said it was the worst loss of the season and that this one stings.

(20:45) Foster Griffin only allowed one run in six innings before the bullpen fumbled away the lead. Griffin struck out five Giants and his ERA is now down to 3.46 through fourteen starts.

(24:00) The offense had a major day despite the loss as they hit two homers, scored ten runs, and collectively stole five bases. Nasim Nuñez swiped his 25th bag of the season; which is the most in all of Baseball. James Wood hit his 18th home run; which is tied for 3rd most in the National League.

(28:30) CJ Abrams was given the day off ahead of Thursday's off day. Nuñez took over at SS and Jorbit Vivas got the start at 2B on Wednesday.

(31:15) The Nationals open a six game home stand on Friday night.  Seattle is in town for the first three games and then Kansas City takes over the visiting clubhouse on Monday.

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The Nats are now two games above .500 after Tuesday night's 6-3 win over the Giants. Mark (From San Francisco) & Al begin with a rarity on this podcast; a wildcard standings update.  Washington is now in a 3-way tie for the final wildcard spot; something that was unfathomable a few months ago.

(7:15) Luis Garcia Jr. hit a 2-run HR to continue the team's recent pattern of scoring in the 1st inning. It was the 3rd time on this road trip that the Nationals went up 2-0 right away.

(12:00) Wood bolstered his MVP campaign by gathering three hits, scoring two runs, stealing a base, and knocking in a run.  Wood singled in the top of the 1st before Garcia Jr. brought him with a homer.

(20:00) Andrew Alvarez escaped jams all night in his four innings of scoreless work.  Brad Lord took over for Alvarez and pitched into the 7th without giving up a run. Lord's ERA is now down to 2.30.

(24:30) Nationals go for the sweep on Wednesday afternoon with Foster Griffin on the mound.

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The Nats rallied with a 3-run 9th inning on their way to a 4-3 victory on Monday evening over the Giants.  Mark (From San Francisco) recap the win that returns Washington to being above .500 through 67 games played.

(04:30) CJ Abrams' finger prints were all over the top of the 9th as he came up to bat down two runs.  Abrams then came through with a 2-run single, stole second base, and then scored the go-ahead run on Daylen Lile's single. It was a surprise that the Giants did not intentional  walk Abrams when given the initial chance.

(14:00) James Wood scored the first run of the game on an awkward yet effective slide into home. Wood stole second base and then came into score on Luis Garcia Jr.'s RBI single.

(17:30) An eventful catch and collision between Dylan Crews & Daylen Lile. Both stayed in the game after running into each other in the bottom of the 4th.

(20:00 ) Richard Lovelady was the Opener before handing the ball to Miles Mikolas.  The veteran righty almost lasted five innings, but Mitchell Parker did not do a good job in relief of Mikolas.

(22:00) Gus Varland notched his 5th save of the season which leads the team. Varland has been in the majors since 2023; yet had another recorded a save until this year. 

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The Nats lost 5-1 on Sunday afternoon to return to .500 through 66 games played.  Mark (From Arizona) & Al recap the defeat at the hands of Michael Soroka, who pitched for the Nationals last season before being dealt at the Trade Deadline.  Soroka lasted seven innings; something he never accomplished last year.

(06:00) CJ Abrams homered for the 14th time this season in the top of the 2nd. His OPS currently sits at .914 and that is the 7th best in the NL.

(10:00) James Wood was moved from the OF to DH before the game.

(14:00) Cade Cavalli did not have his best outing as he allowed four runs in just five innings of work.  Cavalli gave up a pair of homers and only recorded two strikeouts in the loss.

(19:30) Riley Cornelio was called back up from AAA and tossed a pair of innings on Sunday. Cornelio issued three walks and gave up a run in the afternoon. Cornelio's only previous Big League experience came in late April when the Nats were at the White Sox.

(25:00) Eli Willits is being promoted to High-A Wilmington.  Willits was the #1 overall pick last Spring and his OPS this year in Fredericksburg is .918. 

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The Nats beat the Diamondbacks 6-1 on Saturday afternoon to move back above .500 through 65 games played. Mark (From Arizona ) & Al start with the offense; that jumped out 2-0 right away for the second straight day. Curtis Mead hit a 2-run HR in the top of the 1st with James Wood on base.

(08:45) Dylan Crews homered in the 7th to put Washington ahead 3-1.  Crews was 1 for his last 17 entering that at bat.

(14:45) Nasim Nuñez knocked in a pair of runs and stole his 23rd base of the season. Nuñez is tied for the MLB lead along with Jose Ramirez & Bobby Witt Jr.

(17:40) Zack Littell had another good outing as his dismal April is becoming more and more of a distant memory. Littell lasted five innings and his ERA has dropped to 4.76. Has he pitched his way into being on the Nationals in 2027?

(25:00) Brad Lord tossed the final two innings and is yet another reliever to have notched a Save this season for the Nationals.

(30:00) Cole Henry was optioned to AAA after the win.

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The Nats pounded the Diamondbacks 14-1 after hitting five homers on Friday night. Mark & Al open with Luis Garcia Jr. who went deep twice; including a Grand Slam to make the game a rout. Garcia's OPS is .745 with seven homers on the season.

(10:00) James Wood homered for the 17th time this year which is tied for 2nd most in the NL.

(12:00) Jorbit Vivas ended his RISP woes w/ a pair of hits.  Vivas got the nod at 3B and made a nice defensive play in the win.

(17:00) TGIF - Foster Griffin earned the victory by only allowing one run in five innings of work.  Griffin was removed due to back tightness, but Blake Butera did note that the large lead played a role in the decision.

(24:45) Updates on injured pitchers DJ Herz & Jake Irvin.

(28:00) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the Rochester Red Wings, gives a report from AAA. Hear the latest on Yo Yo Morales, Brady House, and Abimelec Ortiz.

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The Nats lost 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon and it completed a three game sweep for the Marlins.  Mark & Al convene after the Nationals dropped to 1-5 on the season vs. Miami and are now back to one game below .500 overall.

(07:00) The offense was little match for Miami starter Max Meyer as he only allowed one run in seven innings of work. The Nationals only scored seven total runs during this series in Navy Yard.

(08:30) Dylan Crews drove in the only run with a RBI fielder's choice in the bottom of the 3rd. Crews' OPS is just at .547 through 48 Big League at bats this season.

(11:15) Keibert Ruiz started behind the plate and Drew Millas did not play on Wednesday.  Millas exited Tuesday night after lacerating his lip on a slide into 3rd base.

(13:30) Nasim Nuñez made a great defensive play off a hard hit ground ball in the top of the 5th.  Nuñez has made many impressive plays in the field so far this season at 2B.

(18:00) The bullpen struggled as five relievers combined to allow three runs in just over four innings of work.  Clayton Better gave up the pivotal 2-run single to Joe Mack in the top of the 8th that put the Marlins up 3-1.

(23:00) Andrew Alvarez only allowed a solo homer as he pitched into the 5th.  Alvarez's ERA sits at 3.54 through six Major League appearances this season.

(26:10) Who are the top pitchers behind Alvarez in the minor league pipeline?

(31:30) The Nats finished the home stand at 2-4 and head to Arizona on Friday to begin a six game road trip. 

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The Nats lost 7-3 for the second straight night against visiting Miami.  Mark & Al discuss the defeat that included the Marlins hitting three straight homers in the top of the 5th and some questionable decisions by Manager Blake Butera along the way.

(04:30) Richard Lovelady had an adventurous scoreless outing.  Lovelady issued three walks, but worked around the trouble in two frames on the mound.

(06:00) Miles Mikolas then took over and allowed three straight homers in the top of the 5th. Mikolas settled down, but surprisingly began to top of the 97 MPH on the radar. Amazingly, Mikolas threw harder on Tuesday night than he had in years.

(10:30) Mitchell Parker relieved Mikolas in the 9th and the Marlins lead ballooned to four runs. Parker did not help himself as he threw to 1st base instead of home on a squeeze bunt with runners on the corners.

(17:30) Drew Millas exited after suffering a "lip laceration" while sliding into 3rd base and Keibert Ruiz came in to replace him.

(24:00) A breakdown of Butera's decision to pinch hit Jose Tena for Jacob Young. Tena did not get a hit and he then played in RF for the rest of the game.

(32:00) Washington looks to avoid the sweep on Wednesday afternoon as Andrew Alvarez will take the mound at some point.  The Nats are just 1-4 against the hapless Marlins so far this season.

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The Nats lost 7-3 to Miami on Monday night in Navy Yard. Mark & Al note that the Nationals are now just 1-3 so far this season against the underwhelming Marlins.

(04:30) Cade Cavalli threw another good outing as he struck out six Marlins in five plus innings on the mound. Cavalli is tied for the 8th most strikeouts in the National League.

(12:20) The bullpen did not fare well on Monday evening.  Richard Lovelady allowed a game tying 2-run HR to the first batter he saw in the top of the 6th. Paxton Schultz stepped up with a scoreless outing , but Cole Henry let the game get a bit out of hand in the 9th.

(19:30) What is Cole Henry's future in the organization? His ERA thus far is 7.30 in nine appearances this year.

(22:00) Jacob Young homered for the 8th time this season and is tied for 3rd for the most on the team.

(25:45) Nasim Nuñez was thrown out in a steal attempt with two outs and James Wood at bat in the bottom of the 5th.  Nuñez is now 22 for 25 on stolen base attempts this season.

(29:00) An update on Jake Irvin and how he has not yet resumed throwing.

(31:30) Dylan Crews is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday after sitting out a few games due to being hit in the ribs.

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The Nats topped the Padres 4-2 to take the weekend series and return to two games above .500. Al solo hosts and begins with Blake Butera's early case for NL Manager of the Year as the team went 16-12 in the month of May.

(07:00) James Wood slugged his 16th homer of the season which is tied for the 2nd most in the NL. Luis Garcia Jr. also went deep for his 5th homer of the season.

(09:00) Keibert Ruiz had a great month of May; both at the plate and behind it. Is Ruiz a legit All - Star candidate?

(11:30) Zack Littell pitched into the 7th inning and this start was another indication of his in-season improvement.

(13:40) Orlando Ribalta & Clayton Beeter comined for the final nine outs and Beeter notched his 4th save of the season.

(16:50) The Nationals host the Marlins for three games beginning on Monday.

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(19:00) Tim is joined by Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports to discuss the Wizards holding the #1 pick in this summer's NBA Draft.

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The Nats offense exploded for six runs in the 7th inning in their 9-4 victory over the Padres.  Mark & Al run through the hectic frame, that began with a 3-1 San Diego lead. Washington scored in many unconventional ways and Craig Stammen was ejected for the first time as Padres skipper in the process.

(07:00) San Diego starter Michael King was cruising through six innings, but the 7th inning avalanche caused him to be charged with five runs.

(09:00) Curtis Mead didn't start, yet drove in three runs on Saturday.  Mead was purposely used a pinch hitter when the moment called for a right handed hitter.

(12:40) Dylan Crews helped ignite the rally, but continues to have trouble hitting the ball in the air.  Crews hard slide into 2nd base in the 7th led to the Stammen ejection.

(16:45) The "Tarp's Off" phenomenon came to Nationals Park on Saturday.

(18:30) Foster Griffin allowed three solo homers in five innings of work. His ERA sits at 3.76 after a dozen starts.

(23:30) Clayton Beeter notched a four-out save despite issuing two walks.  Better escaped a jam in the 8th to keep the big lead intact.

(26:00) The Nationals have won 15 games so far in May with one more game remaining in the month. 

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The Nats lost their homestand opener 7-5 on Friday night. Mark & Al examine the 7-5 loss to the Padres that put the team back at .500 after two consecutive defeats.

(04:45) Paxton Schultz surprisingly was used as the Opener and his 26 pitch 1st inning set a tone for a pitch inefficient evening on the mound for Washington.

(06:00) Andrew Alvarez only lasted three innings as the Bulk starter. Alvarez gave up a trio of runs off of five hits and two walks were issued.

(09:30) Could Clayton Better be used as an Opener against right-hand heavy lineups?

(11:20) Mitchell Parker gave up the 7th inning homer to Jackson Merrill that put the Padres up for good in the 7th.  Blake Butera had interesting comments on the lefty afterwards as he allowed three runs in only two innings on the mound. Parker's ERA has risen to 5.28 through 13 appearances.

(18:00) Curtis Mead & Keibert Ruiz each homered in the loss.

(22:30) Luis Garcia Jr. flew out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th.  Garcia was facing Mason Miller, who might be the best reliever in all of MLB right now.

(29:30) The Padres have a coaching staff that knows their way around Navy Yard. Craig Stammen, former Nats reliever, is the new San Diego manager and his staff includes Bobby Henley, Randy Knorr, and Steven Sousa Jr. 

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The Nats lost to the Guardians 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon to snap their four game win streak.  Mark & Al take stock in the 4-2 road trip where the Nationals only played 1st place teams.  The team went 10-6 during a sixteen day stretch without a day off.

(05:30) The offense was only 1 for 8 w/ RISP, but the big stars each doubled.  CJ Abrams doubled Wood into score in the 3rd and his 47 RBIs are the second most in all of Baseball.

(12:00) PJ Poulin tossed a scoreless 1st and then handed it off to Miles Mikolas.  The Guardians scored all of their runs in the bottom of the 5th and two of those runs were charged against Mikolas.

(16:00) Six pitchers were used and after the game Poulin was optioned to AAA.

(20:15) Andrew Alvarez will take the mound on Friday to begin the six game homestand.  San Diego is in town for the first three and then Miami comes to D.C. on Monday night.

(24:20) When will Yohandy "Yo Yo" Morales get called up to Washington? Morales' OPS is currently at 1.018, but there are questions as to where he fits in defensively. 

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The Nats doubled up the Guardians 6-3 on Wednesday night to go two games above .500.  Al & Tim discuss the longest win streak thus far for the Nationals as all four victories have come on the road.

(04:30) This is the highest point for the franchise since the Trade Deadline in 2021.

(06:30) Cade Cavalli struck out out seven Guardians in six innings of work. Cavalli escaped a jam in the 5th to maintain a comfortable lead.

(11:20) Mitchell Parker took the baton from Cavalli and pitched the final three innings.  Parker struck out the side in the 8th and it seems that he is taking on a role similar to Brad Lord on this pitching staff.

(14:40) Washington scored four runs in the top of the 2nd to go ahead for the rest of the night. Wood homered for the 15th time this season and his OPS is now .964.

(21:10) Miles Mikolas will take the mound at some point on Wednesday afternoon as the Nats look to not only sweep Cleveland, but also finish a 5-1 road trip.

**Audio courtesy of the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network 

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The Nats slugged their way to a 10-2 romp on Memorial Day in Cleveland.  Al & Mark begin with the fact that the Nationals are above .500; the latest point in the season that they have a winning record since July 1st, 2021.

(10:00) Washington crushed six homers in Monday night's win.  They began the hit parade immediately as James Wood led off the game with a solo shot and two batters later Carlos Mead made it 3-0.

(11:35) Mead and his .844 OPS went deep twice in the win as he is making a case to be the everyday 3B.  Mead was acquired from the White Sox in late March in exchange for Boston Smith, who is currently in High-A Ball.

(15:30) Jacob Young homered for the fifth time in the past seventeen games to put the Nats up 4-0.

(18:20) Zack Littell took over for PJ Poulin the bottom of the 3rd and took it home the rest of the way.  Littell & Miles Mikolas' improved performance have been crucial as of late.

(24:00) Would the Nats be buyers at the Trade Deadline if they are still in the playoff hunt? (Let's have some fun)

(29:05) Updated conversation on CJ Abrams' future with the organization. 

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