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We saw this happen last year.
Everyone was panicking because Juan Soto’s overall offensive numbers weren’t up to his superstar standards about one-third of the way through the season. Then around mid-June, he started heating up at the plate and went into the All-Star break as one of the game’s hottest hitters.
People debated whether or not he should participate in the Home Run Derby, an event known for ruining hitters’ swings, after finally rediscovering his rhythm at the plate. But Soto did it anyway, hitting 46 home runs before being eliminated in the semifinals by eventual champion Pete Alonso.
“This is the time of year where I think he does start heating up,” Davey Martinez said of Soto. “I don't know why that is, because he always has his streaks in the beginning when he hits the ball really well. But he's swinging the bat really well right now.”
We’re now seeing almost the same story play out in 2022, which again brings up the question: Should Soto participate in the Home Run Derby?
ATLANTA – When it rains, it pours. An ironic use of that phrase on a beautiful day just outside downtown Atlanta.
But it’s true for the Nationals, who dropped their fourth straight game and were swept by the Braves with today’s 4-3 loss in 12 innings in front of 32,053 at Truist Park.
Jordan Weems, who pitched two impressive scoreless innings Friday night, was charged with the bottom of the 12th. The Nats intentionally walked Matt Olson to put two runners on for the right-hander. Austin Riley, who hit the tying home run in the eighth inning, stepped up to the plate and delivered the game-winning RBI single.
Tanner Rainey put up two zeros in the 10th and 11th innings, not without some tense moments, though.
Going back to the seventh, Davey Martinez brought in Kyle Finnegan to face the top of the Braves order and protect a 3-2 lead. Finnegan struck out the side easily, and since he last pitched Wednesday, he was plenty rested to go back out for a second inning.
ATLANTA – The rules say every team needs at least one representative in the All-Star Game, so despite a disappointing season, we knew there would be at least one Nationals player going to Los Angeles for this year’s Midsummer Classic.
That player is Juan Soto, announced on the “MLB All-Star Selection Show” on ESPN.
“It feels great to be part of it representing the Washington Nationals,” Soto said of his selection after today’s loss to the Braves. “It feels great to be out there and be on the list of all the All-Stars that the Washington Nationals have had in the past. And to be around those guys, it feels great.”
There was a lot of speculation as to whether Soto or Josh Bell or both would join Davey Martinez on Braves manager Brian Snitker’s National League team at Dodger Stadium. Now we know it will just be the left-handed slugging outfielder going to his second straight All-Star Game.
“It means a lot not only for me, but for the organization,” Soto said. “To represent the Washington Nationals out there and knowing that Davey is coming with me is gonna be great. We'll see how fun it's gonna be and how excited we will be.”
Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto has been selected to represent the Washington Nationals in the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It is his second consecutive All-Star selection. Soto was selected to the National League roster by Major League Baseball. The 2022 All-Star teams were unveiled earlier this evening during the “2022 Chevrolet MLB All-Star Selection Show” on ESPN.
Soto, 23, leads Major League Baseball in walks (73) and is second in the National League in on-base percentage (.398). Additionally, he entered the day ranked among National League outfielders in weighted on-base average (2nd, .381), weighted runs created plus (2nd, 145), OPS (3rd, .869) and home runs (T3rd, 17). All told, Soto hit .243 with 16 doubles, 17 homers, 37 RBI, 73 walks, five stolen bases and 52 runs scored in 85 games through Sunday’s action.
Soto has hit safely in 13 straight games, going 18-for-44 (.409) with four doubles, three homers, six RBI, 16 walks and 14 runs scored during the streak. He has reached base safely in 20 straight games, posting a .506 on-base percentage (20 H, 21 BB) along the way.
Joining Soto in Los Angeles will be Nationals Manager Dave Martinez who was named to National League Manager Brian Snitker’s staff for the 2022 All-Star Game. Martinez was unable to manage the 2020 National League All-Star team after winning the 2019 World Series after the cancellation of the game due of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the longest-tenured manager in Nationals History (2005-pres) and has the most managerial wins in Nationals history.
ATLANTA – Hunter Harvey was seen in the Nationals clubhouse this morning before the series finale against the Braves at Truist Park. His hair is hard to miss.
That meant a roster move was coming. When it became official about 30 minutes later, the Nats had reinstated Harvey, optioned Joan Adon to Triple-A Rochester and transferred Jackson Tetreault to the 60-day injured list.
“I've been feeling a lot better since the last time, so that's always a plus,” Harvey said at his locker of his recovery from a right pronator strain.
The Nationals placed him on the injured list on April 21 after he pitched only 2 ⅔ scoreless innings over four appearances. Now after missing 71 games, he’s finally back.
“It took a little bit longer than we wanted to,” Harvey said of his rehab. “I had a couple of setbacks, but we took a little bit extra time and made sure everything was OK, and now I feel a lot better than I did before.”
ATLANTA – The Nationals need a win today to salvage this three-game series against the Braves and end this mostly miserable road trip on a high note.
Paolo Espino will lead them on the mound as he makes his sixth consecutive start. The right-hander hasn’t posted similar numbers as a starter to those he did when he was strictly a reliever. In 20 appearances out of the bullpen, he had a 2.03 ERA over a mainly low-leverage 26 ⅔ innings. Since he joined the rotation on June 12, Espino is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 22 innings over five starts. He gave up three runs in one inning of relief against the Braves in his second outing of the season on April 12.
For the offense, Ian Anderson may present the best opportunity to do some damage off a Braves starter. The right-hander is 7-5 with a 5.09 ERA over his first 16 starts of the season. He gave up four runs on six hits and four walks in four innings plus three batters against the Nats on June 13. He has a 9.82 ERA in just 11 innings over his last three starts.
César Hernández is on the bench and not in his usual leadoff spot, with Luis García batting first instead. Manager Davey Martinez also has Juan Soto and Josh Bell swapping places in today's batting order.
All-Stars will be announced later today, so we’ll see soon who will be the Nationals’ representative in the Midsummer Classic.
The Washington Nationals returned from rehabilitation assignment and reinstated right-handed pitcher Hunter Harvey from the 60-day Injured List and optioned right-handed pitcher Joan Adon to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Nationals transferred right-handed pitcher Jackson Tetreault to the 60-day Injured List. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
Harvey, 27, appeared in three rehab outings between Triple-A Rochester and the Florida Complex League Nationals. He posted a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/2.2 IP) with four strikeouts and two walks in those three appearances. Prior to being placed on the Injured List on April 21, he appeared in four games out of Washington’s bullpen, tossing scoreless relief in 2.2 innings pitched.
Adon, 23, is 1-12 with a 7.10 ERA in 14 starts for the Nationals in 2022.
Please see attached documents for updated 26-man and 40-man rosters.
ATLANTA – There was reason for optimism heading into this Patrick Corbin start.
His overall numbers still weren’t great in the form of a 4-10 record and 5.68 ERA over his first 17 outings. But he had been really effective over his last two starts with a 1.20 ERA, 16 strikeouts and three walks over a combined 15 innings. He pitched eight innings of one-run ball and recorded a season-high 12 strikeouts on June 28 against the Pirates and then pitched another seven innings of one-run ball on Monday against the Marlins.
But the third time was not the charm for Corbin this afternoon at Truist Park, as he was charged with four runs over six innings in a 4-3 loss to the Braves before a crowd of 40,632 fans.
Like a lot of his outings, Corbin had his ups and downs throughout this start. He faced the minimum in four of his six innings, with 1-2-3 innings in the third and sixth, and double-play balls in the second and fifth. It was the first and fourth innings where he struggled.
In the bottom of the first, Corbin almost worked around a Ronald Acuña Jr. leadoff single as he retired the next two batters. But Austin Riley hit a slider over the plate into the left-field seats for a two-run homer and an early 2-0 Braves lead.
ATLANTA – The Nationals received an encouraging report on Aníbal Sánchez’s latest rehab start with Triple-A Rochester.
And with Monday’s off-day and the four-day All-Star break the following week, the Nats’ rotation could be in line to get some rest, a boost and a reset.
Sánchez completed 5 1/3 innings with four hits, two runs (one earned), three walks and three strikeouts in his fourth rehab start last night (third with Rochester). He threw 87 pitches, 54 for strikes, against the 23 batters he faced, a little more than the five innings and 75 pitches he was originally scheduled to throw.
“Yeah, he threw 5 1/3, 87 pitches. He threw the ball well,” Davey Martinez said during his pregame meeting with the media. “He had a couple of walks in there, but he felt good. So today he'll rest, he'll throw a bullpen, we'll see where he's at. And then we'll figure out what's next for him.”
Looking at the schedule, five days from yesterday would be Wednesday’s matinee finale against the Mariners. As the rotation currently stands, Josiah Gray would be in line to start Tuesday’s opener after Monday’s off-day, and Joan Adon’s spot would come up Wednesday.
ATLANTA – It’s a new day and the Nationals will be looking to get past last night’s disaster, which saw them lose 10-2 in the series opener with a 75-minute rain delay and another position player pitching.
They’ll turn to Patrick Corbin to set the tone for them on the mound this afternoon. Although the overall numbers still aren’t great (4-10 record and 5.68 ERA in 17 starts), the veteran lefty has been very impressive over his last two starts, pitching to a 1.20 ERA with 16 strikeouts and three walks over a combined 15 innings. He did, however, give up six runs in just 2 ⅔ innings here at Truist Park in his second start of the season. Here’s hoping things have changed since the last time Corbin faced the Braves.
After mustering only Juan Soto’s two-run home run off Charlie Morton last night, the Nats offense hopes to be more productive against Kyle Wright, who has been one of the more consistent starters in the league. The 26-year-old right-hander is 9-4 with a 2.91 ERA over 16 starts this season, and he should be plenty fresh after only pitching four innings and throwing 71 pitches (both season lows) in his last start against the Cardinals. (Manager Brian Snitker removed him as a precaution after the Braves jumped out to a 6-0 lead.)
Wright hasn’t faced the Nats since 2020, but is 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against Washington.
The weather here is once again not great for baseball. The light rain falling is supposed to clear around the scheduled 4:10 p.m. first pitch, but then it’s supposed to storm all night starting around 6-7 p.m.. They may be able to start this game. Whether or not they finish is a different story.
ATLANTA – Part of the rebuilding process, especially if you want to make it a quick turnaround back to contention, is finding diamonds in the rough. Whether that’s in the draft, international market or free agency, adding productive pieces that may have been overlooked by other teams is a good way to put together a contender.
It’s still early with a small sample size, but Jordan Weems is hoping to be one of those diamonds in the rough for the Nationals.
You may look at his overall numbers and think there’s no way. A 29-year-old right-handed reliever who has been cast off by three other teams? Who was drafted in 2011 but didn’t make his major league debut until 2020 as a 27-year-old? Who has a 6.53 ERA in only 25 big league outings? Who had a 7.27 ERA and 1.731 WHIP in just 8 ⅔ innings over eight appearances coming into Friday’s series opener in Atlanta?
How is that a diamond in the rough?
Well, if you take a look at Weems’ more recent numbers, you'll find there are some positive developments that suggest he’s perhaps turning a corner. At the very least, he’s turning himself into a reliable arm out of Davey Martinez’s bullpen.
ATLANTA – It’s been hit or miss for Erick Fedde this year. Really, it’s been hit or miss for Erick Fedde throughout his career. But he hasn’t been put under the microscope until these past two seasons as he has solidified himself in the Nationals rotation.
Sometimes he’s sharp and can use his arsenal effectively to turn in a quality (if not better) start, although he typically gets himself into high pitch counts.
Other times he’s flat and serves up easy pitches for the opponent to hit, which puts his team in a hole and also drives up his pitch count.
Tonight’s series opener against the Braves was the latter as a five-run second inning doomed Fedde and the Nats en route to a 12-2 loss in front of 41,725 fans at Truist Park.
Fedde put himself in a small deficit from the start. In the first inning, he served up a solo home run to Matt Olson on an inside and slightly elevated cutter. He needed 16 pitches to complete the first frame, a pretty standard start for the right-hander.
ATLANTA – Less than 24 hours after exiting Thursday’s series finale in Philadelphia, Luis García is back in the Nationals lineup for the series opener in Atlanta. A sigh of relief can be heard throughout the organization.
Ehire Adrianza replaced García at shortstop in the bottom of the seventh inning of the 5-3 loss to the Phillies after García grounded out to lead off the top of the sixth, clearly grimacing and holding his right side as he jogged back to the dugout. Manager Davey Martinez said after the game that the young shortstop was dealing with a "stomach issue.”
It must have been a quick bug, similar to what Nelson Cruz dealt with when Martinez scratched him from the lineup late Tuesday with an illness. García is feeling well enough to play tonight.
“He had an upset stomach yesterday,” Martinez said during his pregame session with the media. “He said he woke up, he felt a lot better. So I told him to make sure he drinks a lot of fluid. It's hot. So we'll keep an eye on him. He said he feels good.”
García felt something coming on before yesterday’s game, but told his manager he was good enough to play. He ended up getting worse as the game went on.
ATLANTA – Greetings from just outside downtown Atlanta, where the Nationals are making their second visit to Truist Park this year.
I can confirm the Nats won’t have to face Kyle Schwarber over this three-game series, but alas, another National League East opponent awaits in the Braves. The Nats are a woeful 7-30 on the season within the division and have won just two out of their last 21 games against their rivals. Although the Nats have played the Braves the least so far, they’ve had the most success against Atlanta, winning a three-game set here in early April despite getting swept at home over three games last month.
Erick Fedde will look to continue a strong stretch in which he’s pitched to a 2.82 ERA over his last four starts. That stretch started when he allowed three runs in 5 ⅓ innings against these Braves on June 15. The key for Fedde will be to, once again, get quick outs and not get himself into deep counts so as to keep his pitch count down and get deeper in the game.
Charlie Morton will take the mound for the Braves in tonight’s opener. The veteran right-hander is 4-3 with a 4.34 ERA over his first 16 starts, but like Fedde, he’s been pitching really well as of late. Over his last four starts, Morton has a 1.35 ERA with 35 strikeouts to just four walks. This will be his first time facing the Nats this season after having gone 4-6 with a 5.23 ERA over 13 career starts against Washington.
Luis García is in tonight’s lineup after leaving yesterday’s game in Philadelphia with a stomach illness.
The All-Star Game’s week-long festivities are not just to celebrate the best in today’s game. They are also to put the best of baseball’s future on the national stage. And we now know who will be representing the Nationals on that stage in just over a week.
Cade Cavalli and Darren Baker have been selected to represent the Nationals in the 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, Major League Baseball announced today on MLB Network’s “MLB Central.” The 23rd All-Star Futures Game features the top prospects across the minor leagues as they’ll compete as part of the first-ever All-Star Saturday on July 16.
Cavalli, 23, will be appearing in his second straight All-Star Futures Game after representing the Nats in Colorado last year. The 2020 first-round pick pitched a scoreless fifth inning for the National League side while matching his two walks with two strikeouts and touching 100 mph with his fastball three times.
Currently the Nats’ top prospect, according to both MLBPipeline.com and Baseball America, Cavalli is tied for third in the system with 68 strikeouts after being one of the strikeout leaders in all the minor leagues in 2021. In 14 starts for Triple-A Rochester, he is 4-3 with a 4.54 ERA and 9.1 K/9. But Cavalli has upped his game recently, going 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA, 41 strikeouts and a .182 batting average against over his last seven starts.
That includes last night, when the right-hander enjoyed one his most impressive outings to date, retiring the first 17 batters he faced en route to completing seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball at Lehigh Valley. He finished with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Washington Nationals infielder Darren Baker and right-handed pitcher Cade Cavalli have been selected to represent the organization in the 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. Major League Baseball made the announcement today on MLB Network’s “MLB Central.” The 23rd SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game features the top Minor League prospects competing as part of the first-ever All-Star Saturday.
Baker, 23, a 10th round pick by the Nationals in 2021 out of the University of California-Berkeley, is hitting .264 with 13 doubles, one triple, one home run, 20 RBI, 20 walks, 10 stolen bases and 36 runs scored in 55 games with High-A Wilmington. Baker hit safely in 33 of his first 39 games of the season, hitting .304 with a .351 on-base percentage and a .418 slugging percentage during this stretch.
In two Minor League seasons, Baker has hit .283 with 17 doubles, two triples, one homer, 26 RBI, 26 walks, 12 stolen bases and 41 runs scored in 77 professional games.
Cavalli, 23, ranks tied for third in Washington’s Minor League system with 68 strikeouts. He is 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA (10 ER/39.0 IP), 41 strikeouts and a .182 opponents’ batting average in his last seven starts. Most recently, Cavalli retired the first 17 batters he faced en route to 7.0 innings of two-hit, shutout ball on July 6 at Lehigh Valley. In that start, he struck out seven batters without issuing a walk. In 14 starts for Triple-A Rochester, Cavalli is 4-3 with a 4.54 ERA and 9.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings.
In his first full season at the Triple-A level, Cavalli is Washington’s top prospect according to Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com. He is rated by Baseball America as the No. 35 prospect and by MLBPipeline.com as the No. 48 prospect in all of baseball. He will be appearing in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game for the second time after representing the Nationals in Colorado in 2021.
The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Joan Adon and placed right-handed pitcher Reed Garrett on the 15-day Injured List (retroactive to July 6) with right biceps inflammation on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Adon, 23, will start Thursday for the Nationals. He last started for Triple-A Rochester on June 22 vs. Syracuse, tossing 5.0 innings of four-hit ball. He allowed one unearned run with three strikeouts and zero walks in that start.
Garrett, 29, pitched to an 8.22 ERA in six games out of Washington’s bullpen.
PHILADELPHIA – The Nationals’ 3-2 win over the Phillies on Wednesday was made possible by Josiah Gray’s six dominant innings (which included a career-high 11 strikeouts). It was made possible by Luis García’s clutch two-run double in the top of the seventh. And it was made possible by the lockdown work of the back end of the bullpen, most notably Tanner Rainey in the bottom of the ninth.
The beleaguered closer entered this game having just suffered through back-to-back ragged outings in D.C., blowing a save by surrendering a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth against the Marlins on Sunday, then taking the loss the following afternoon after serving up a 10th-inning two-run homer.
So when Rainey took the mound Wednesday night, tasked with protecting a one-run lead against a fearsome Phillies lineup, forgive anyone watching for having worst-case-scenario visions creeping into the mind.
No worries, though, because Rainey turned in his best performance in weeks, retiring the side to earn the save.
Things did get off to a shaky start. Rainey issued three straight balls to Darick Hall to open the ninth, forcing both Steve Cishek and Andres Machado to start warming in the Nats bullpen in a hurry. But once he responded with three straight strikes to Hall, the last of which notched his first strikeout of the inning, the right-hander was back on track.
PHILADELPHIA – Will Harris last pitched for the Nationals on May 22, 2021, when he surrendered hits to all three Orioles batters he faced. He wound up on the injured list after that, undergoing thoracic outlet surgery about a week later.
Harris reported for spring training this year optimistic about making the opening day roster. He then was shut down after struggling in an exhibition game appearance, underwent surgery to repair his pectoral muscle at the end of March and began another long rehab program.
Now, here was Harris on Tuesday, pitching off the bullpen mound at Citizens Bank Park, believing he’s about ready to face live hitters at last, then ultimately join the Nats’ active roster more than a year after he was first shut down.
“It’s definitely been a way longer process than I think I ever imagined it would be,” he said. “I’m just anxious to get back and start pitching again.”
Harris has been anxious for a long time to finally live up to the three-year, $24 million contract the Nationals gave him after the 2019 season, one in which he dominated for the Astros before surrendering Howie Kendrick’s World Series-winning homer in Game 7. He made 20 erratic appearances during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, then only eight in 2021 before he realized the numbness and swelling he was experiencing in his pitching hand had to be addressed.
Good morning from Nationals Park, which is something we can’t often say. We can say it today, though, because it’s July 4th, and that means morning baseball on South Capitol Street. As has been the case every year since 2012 (except for 2020) the Nats are playing an 11:05 a.m. home game on Independence Day, an annual tradition that has become quite popular with fans (if not necessarily players who don’t love having to report to the ballpark so early in the morning for the first time since spring training).
The Nationals desperately need a win right now. They’ve been ransacked by the Marlins, losing 10 of 11 to them this season, including the first three games of this series. They were one strike away from winning Sunday. They still managed to lose in extra innings.
Patrick Corbin gets the ball for his first July 4 assignment as a National. He’s coming off his best start of the season, probably his best start in three years, having notched 12 strikeouts over eight innings against the Pirates. The lefty has felt much better about the quality of his stuff in recent outings. Now he needs to prove he can be effective on a consistent basis again.
The Nats will be facing a lefty starter for the third time in four days, in this case Braxton Garrett. The 24-year-old has spent parts of the last three seasons in the big leagues. He’s made only one career appearance against the Nationals, getting roughed up for five runs in 2 2/3 innings in September 2020. He also has surrendered 16 hits over his last 9 1/3 innings, though he has struck out 12 during that same time.
MIAMI MARLINS vs. WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 11:05 a.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB Network (outside D.C. market), MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Sunny, 81 degrees, wind 4 mph in from center field
