Nats plan to open with Castro at third, Harrison at second (updated)

Nats plan to open with Castro at third, Harrison at second (updated)
The Nationals intend to open the season with Starlin Castro as their everyday third baseman and Josh Harrison as their primary second baseman, manager Davey Martinez revealed today while discussing the horde of moves announced by the club Saturday that all but set the opening night roster. In deciding to option both Carter Kieboom and Luis García to their alternate training site in Fredericksburg, the Nats are left with nothing but veteran infielders on their projected 26-man roster. That...

Nats' minor league pitching depth still a position of strength

Nats' minor league pitching depth still a position of strength
The Nationals system is strong from a pitching standpoint, even with the recent trade of prospects Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean to the Pirates. The Nats' top 10 prospects were all pitchers prior to the move that acquired All-Star first baseman Josh Bell, so now it is top eight, according to MLBPipeline.com. Prospects Jackson Rutledge, Cade Cavalli and Cole Henry are the top three. All three were drafted in 2019 or 2020. No. 5 prospect Mason Denaburg was a 2018 top selection. Nats assistant general...

Barrett, Bourque placed on IL; Hernández, Espino join roster

Barrett, Bourque placed on IL; Hernández, Espino join roster
Aaron Barrett's latest return to the Nationals bullpen came to an abrupt halt due to another injury. And James Bourque's first opportunity to pitch regularly in the big leagues has also been cut short due to injury. Barrett, who made national headlines last season when he pitched in the majors three years after breaking his arm while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, was placed on the 10-day injured list today with a right triceps strain, one of a flurry of transactions announced by the...

Injury updates on Soto, Kendrick, García, Bacus

Injury updates on Soto, Kendrick, García, Bacus
Juan Soto is back in the Nationals lineup tonight, a welcome relief from a group that missed its best hitter for five games. But the club is still being cautious with Soto, who will be restricted to designated hitter duties tonight against the Rays while recovering from a sore left elbow. "We kind of want to keep him from throwing right now," manager Davey Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "He swung yesterday. I told him: 'Just see if you can hit. We'll let you...

Martinez on Kieboom and when Nats decide to call up pitchers

Martinez on Kieboom and when Nats decide to call up pitchers
Some fans have asked the question with the Nationals at 12-21 and in last place in the National League East: Why not just call up all the prospects and see what you have for 2021 and beyond? Manager Davey Martinez was asked about third baseman Carter Kieboom, who started the season with the Nationals but since Aug. 26 is back at the alternate training site working on his hitting and his approach at the plate. "When we assessed Carter at the time, he was trending downward," Martinez said...

Spirited rally can't make up for Voth's continued struggles (updated)

Spirited rally can't make up for Voth's continued struggles (updated)
That the Nationals stayed in the fight tonight and didn't roll over after trailing the Marlins by seven runs early is testament to their gumption - even in the middle of a crowd-less, disappointing-to-date 2020 season. But at the end of an 11-8 loss that saw the home team's spirited rally fall short, the most significant development of the night was the manner in which that early seven-run deficit came about. If these were normal times and they had one of baseball's best rotations, the...

Hudson on allowing walk-off homer: "It stinks"

Hudson on allowing walk-off homer: "It stinks"
The Nationals bullpen walked the tightrope all night long as it attempted to hold the lead and managed to find a way to get within one out of pulling it off. Until all that walking on a tightrope turned into a walk-off. Dansby Swanson delivered a dramatic two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off Nats closer Daniel Hudson, part of a four-run Braves rally that resulted in a stunning 7-6 loss. "They're really tough, man," Hudson said during a postgame Zoom video call. "They don't hurt...

Bacus on major league debut: "I really made it"

Bacus on major league debut: "I really made it"
BALTIMORE - In the suspended game that was completed Friday here at Camden Yards, 29-year-old Dakota Bacus made his major league debut for the Nationals. The right-handed reliever from Moline, Ill., fired two shutout innings, allowing no runs and no hits with one strikeout, finishing off a 6-2 loss to the Orioles. Bacus did his job. He struck out Austin Hays on a swinging strike three with an 87 mph slider. The Orioles were unable to hit the ball out of the infield in his two frames. Bacus...

Bats silent, Castro hurt as Nats lose suspended game (updated)

Bats silent, Castro hurt as Nats lose suspended game (updated)
BALTIMORE - The Nationals took the field late this afternoon at Camden Yards, the first team to take the field despite the fact this is not their home, and set about to correct what went wrong Sunday at Nationals Park, when a malfunctioning tarp forced the suspension of their game with the Orioles, who led 5-2 at the time. When this resumed game finally ended today, they had done nothing to correct their mistakes from Sunday. If anything, they raised more questions in this 6-2 loss that...

Bacus promoted, Harper optioned but could still pitch tonight

Bacus promoted, Harper optioned but could still pitch tonight
BALTIMORE - The Nationals made another change to their bullpen prior to today's resumption of Sunday's suspended game against the Orioles, promoting right-hander Dakota Bacus and optioning right-hander Ryne Harper to their alternate training site in Fredericksburg. But that doesn't necessarily mean Harper won't make an appearance at Camden Yards before the night is over. Because clubs are allowed to add a 29th man to their active roster for the regularly scheduled nine-inning game coming...

On Voth's velocity, a bullpen opening and Zimmerman's rehab

On Voth's velocity, a bullpen opening and Zimmerman's rehab
Some thoughts and observations to help get you through the Nationals' first day off in nearly two weeks before they return to action Tuesday night in Miami ... * The most significant development of Sunday's 10-inning loss to the Braves didn't occur in the late innings. It might well have happened in the first six, when Austin Voth authored by far the best outing of his brief major league career. Pressed into emergency starting duties to compensate for the pair of rainouts at the start of the...

Nats prospects spotlight: Bacus, Williams and Gushue

Nats prospects spotlight: Bacus, Williams and Gushue
We have more insight from Mesa Solar Sox pitching coach Michael Tejera on the battery of Nationals pitchers and catchers employed in the Arizona Fall League this season. Right-hander Dakota Bacus appeared in eight games and 10 1/3 innings for the Solar Sox. Although he logged a 5.23 ERA in Arizona, he had an amazing year through two levels for the Nationals. Bacus combined to go 2-2 with a 1.80 ERA with five saves between high Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg over 23 games. He struck...

Astros hurler Brad Peacock began career with Nats (plus AFL update)

Astros hurler Brad Peacock began career with Nats (plus AFL update)
Right-hander Brad Peacock made a big splash in the World Series in Game 3, recording a save with 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He also appeared in the dramatic Game 5 last night, allowing two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings. If the name sounded familiar, you are correct. Peacock was a 41st-round draft pick of the Nationals in 2006. He pitched for the Nats in 2011 and went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA. He has pitched 91 games with the Astros since 2013. Peacock remembered how the Nationals treated him...

Soto with big day, AFL roster set for Nats prospects

Soto with big day, AFL roster set for Nats prospects
Outfielder Juan Soto continued his rehab from hamate bone surgery with an outstanding performance with the Gulf Coast Nationals. Soto is a Top 100 prospect, and has put together his first professional five-hit performance by going 5-for-5 with a double, a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored in a game on September 2. Soto hit second and played right field in the GCL Nationals' 13-9 loss to GCL Cardinals. Soto is now considered the No. 2 overall prospect for the Nationals. Even with the loss,...

Kieboom, Bautista, Simms and Bacus shining in winter play

Kieboom, Bautista, Simms and Bacus shining in winter play
Right-hander Abel del los Santos took the loss in the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game on Saturday night as the West beat the East 8-3. With the game tied at 2-2 in the fifth inning,, de los Santos allowed a couple of hits, a wild pitch, a passed ball and a sacrifice fly. He did finish the inning, allowing only the one run. The Salt River Rafters (12-8) are one game back of Scottsdale for first place in the East Division as the second half begins in AFL play. The Rafters have lost two in a...

AFL update: Simms and Kieboom latest to shine for Salt River

AFL update: Simms and Kieboom latest to shine for Salt River
Right-hander John Simms had a very good start on Friday as Salt River defeated Mesa 5-1 in Arizona Fall League play. Simms went four innings, allowing only three hits and one run. He struck out four and walked one, surrendering just a solo homer to catcher Stephen McGee. Simms is now 2-0 and has a 2.57 ERA in two games and seven innings for Salt River. The 23-year-old out of Rice was an 11th-round selection by the Nationals in 2013. Salt River won its second straight over Mesa 5-4 on...

Pedro Severino to play winter ball; Vladimir Guerrero tips cap to the Nationals

Pedro Severino to play winter ball; Vladimir Guerrero tips cap to the Nationals
Salt River edged Surprise 2-1 on Monday in a pitchers' duel between left-hander Ian Clarkin, a Yankees prospect, and right-hander Jeremy Gabryszwski, a Blue Jays farmhand. Clarkin allowed one run in four innings and Gabryszwski gave up one run in three frames. Nationals prospect Spencer Kieboom caught for four pitchers, who allowed only one run. The Rafters relievers combined for six innings of shutout ball, allowing only three hits, striking out four and walking one. Kieboom also went...

Looking back on a wacky week (Suzuki trade official)

Looking back on a wacky week (Suzuki trade official)
The Kurt Suzuki trade is now official. The Nationals announce they've sent Suzuki to the Athletics for right-handed pitching prospect Dakota Bacus, who will report to low Single-A Hagerstown. Jhonatan Solano will join the Nats in Kansas City and become the new backup catcher to Wilson Ramos. What a wacky road trip this has already been for the Nationals. Three rain delays in seven days, including one that lasted a full two hours yesterday. Two games in a span of six days that lasted at...