ILDEMARO VARGAS NEWS

Nationals' Trevor Williams, four relievers combine to blank Rangers 1-0

Trevor Williams escaped two bases-loaded, none-out jams while pitching five scoreless innings, four relievers finished off Washington’s shutout and Alex Call singled home the game’...

MAY 2 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

CJ Abrams homers as Nationals complete 4-game sweep of NL-worst Marlins with 7-2 win

CJ Abrams hit a two-run homer and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 7-2, completing a four-game sweep of the NL’s worst club in front of a season-low 6,376 fans at lo...

APRIL 30 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tough night on basepaths Vargas went 2-for-3 with an RBI but was caught stealing twice in Friday's loss to the Astros.

Impact Starting at third base and batting ninth, Vargas had another good showing at the plate, but it was his misadventures on the basepaths that stood out in a 5-3 loss. He was picked off at second base by Justin Verlander and caught in a rundown in the third inning, then was thrown out trying to steal second base in the eighth. Vargas is batting .323 (10-for-31) with a 5:3 BB:K through 11 games and has been seeing semi-regular playing time around the infield, but Friday's performance won't endear him to manager Dave Martinez.

APRIL 20 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Verlander allows 2 runs over 6 innings in season debut for Astros in 5-3 win over Nats

Justin Verlander allowed two runs and four hits over six innings to win his season debut for the Houston Astros 5-3 over the Washington Nationals

APRIL 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Justin Verlander allows 2 runs over 6 innings in season debut for Astros

Justin Verlander allowed two runs and four hits over six innings in the three-time Cy Young Award winner’s season debut for the Houston Astros, a 5-3 win over the Washington Nation...

APRIL 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

On base four times Monday Vargas went 1-for-2 with three walks, a double, a run scored and two RBI in Monday's win over the Giants.

Impact Getting the start at shortstop with CJ Abrams (finger) sidelined, Vargas continued a hot start to the season that has seen him go 7-for-20 (.350) with three doubles, three RBI, three runs, a stolen base and an impressive 5:2 BB:K. The 32-year-old utility player has already seen action at four different positions this season -- four games at second base, three at shortstop, and one each at third base and left field -- and even once Abrams returns to the lineup, Vargas might see more playing time than expected as long as he's contributing at the plate.

APRIL 9 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel fractures thumb before opener, expected to miss 3 to 4 weeks

Washington Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel was scratched from the opening-day lineup after breaking a thumb during batting practice

MARCH 29 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sitting again Saturday Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Saturday against Atlanta, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Vargas will remain on the bench for the second straight game Saturday after going hitless in his last two contests. Carter Kieboom will once again start at third base and bat seventh.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of Friday's lineup Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against Atlanta.

Impact After putting together a four-game hitting streak, Vargas has since gone 0-for-6 with three strikeouts over his last two games. He'll get a day off Friday with Carter Kieboom starting at third and batting sixth.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Avoids arbitration with Nationals Vargas and the Nationals avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract for 2024.

Impact Vargas is making $975,000 this season and should get a little salary bump for 2024. The 32-year-old utility player has a career-high 280 plate appearances with the Nats in 2023, producing a .245/.299/.354 batting line with four home runs. Vargas does not have options left, so he figures to head into next season in a reserve role for the Nationals.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Game 1 Vargas is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader versus Atlanta, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Vargas has an .821 OPS through 14 games in September and will take a seat for Sunday's matinee. Carter Kieboom is starting at the hot corner and batting seventh.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Resting Thursday Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Thursday against Atlanta, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Although the switch-hitting Vargas holds a .773 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season, he'll get a day off against Max Fried on Thursday. Carter Kieboom will start at third base instead while batting fifth.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Sunday Vargas is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact The Nationals have been running a three-headed timeshare at third base of late, with Vargas, Carter Kieboom and Jake Alu having now made two starts apiece at the position over the past six games. Alu seems to have the most stable playing-time outlook of the three, as he'll now make his third straight start in left field in place of the slumping Travis Blankenhorn. The lack of consistent at-bats for either Vargas or Kieboom makes both players tough to rely upon, even in NL-only leagues.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting third straight Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Saturday against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Vargas has now missed three consecutive starts for the Nationals after starting nearly every game in August. Jake Alu will start again at second base, and Travis Blankenhorn will man left field.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits again Friday Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Vargas will take a seat for the second straight game Friday after being an everyday part of the Nats' lineup for most of August. Jake Alu will fill in at second base, allowing Travis Blankenhorn to start in left field.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Thursday Vargas isn't in the Nationals' lineup Thursday against Miami, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Although Vargas is slashing .268/.294/.476 against left-handed pitchers this season, he'll retreat to the bench against Braxton Garrett and the Marlins on Thursday. Michael Chavis will fill in at the keystone and bat seventh.

AUGUST 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Belts fourth homer Vargas went 2-for-4 with a home run and

Impact The veteran utility man tied his career high in RBI with the performance, which was highlighted by a three-run homer off Sam Long in the seventh inning -- Vargas' fourth homer of the year. The 32-year-old switch hitter has emerged as the Nationals' starting third baseman in the wake of the Jeimer Candelario trade, and he's been surprisingly productive in the role. Vargas is batting just .250 (8-for-32) so far in August, but he has nine RBI and a .531 SLG thanks to three doubles and two homers.

AUGUST 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets third straight start Vargas will start at third base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Reds, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Impact He'll be manning the hot corner for the third consecutive game and looks like he'll settle in as the Nationals' top option at the position in the wake of Jeimer Candelario being traded to the Cubs. Jake Alu appeared set to get the first chance to replace Candelario, but he's now picked up two straight starts at second base and should serve as the Nationals' primary option at the keystone after the struggling Luis Garcia was demoted to Triple-A Rochester.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits after three straight starts Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Vargas started in all of the Nationals' last three games and produced exactly one base hit in each of those contests to bring his hitting streak up to six games. The Nationals faced left-handed starting pitchers in each of those last three contests, but Vargas will find himself on the bench Sunday versus Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning. Vargas looks as though he'll be limited to a short-side platoon role for the foreseeable future.

JULY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats second homer Vargas went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run in Sunday's loss to the Phillies.

Impact He took Connor Brodgon deep in the ninth inning for a somewhat meaningless blow in an 11-3 rout. Vargas continues to be used sparingly and has only 52 plate appearances on the season, but the veteran utility player has produced a .320/.333/.540 slash line with two homers, nine runs and 10 RBI when he's gotten into the lineup.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pops second homer Vargas went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the Tigers.

Impact Getting a rare start at shortstop and batting seventh, Vargas took Joey Wentz deep in the third inning for his second homer of the year. The 31-year-old utility player has been productive when called upon -- he's made seven appearances in May and produced four multi-hit performances, batting .458 (11-for-24) on the month with seven RBI.

MAY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns from IL The Nationals activated Vargas (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Vargas went on the injured list April 11 after going 1-for-12 to begin the season. A depth infielder, the 31-year-old will likely need to improve drastically before receiving regular playing time.

MAY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Beginning rehab assignment Vargas (shoulder) joined Triple-A Rochester on Thursday to begin a rehab assignment, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Vargas has been on the injured list for over two weeks due to a strained left shoulder. It's unclear how many games Vargas will play in the minors, but the goal is to get him plenty of at-bats and starts at shortstop. Once he's feeling better, he'll likely return to his role as a depth piece for Washington.

APRIL 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on injured list Vargas was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left shoulder strain retroactive to April 10, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Vargas was reportedly dealing with shoulder stiffness Monday, and now will officially be out for at least 10 days with a strained left shoulder. With Luis Garcia still day-to-day with a hamstring injury, Michael Chavis or the newly-recalled Jeter Downs will fill in at second base for the time being.

APRIL 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with stiff shoulder Vargas is currently dealing with a stiff shoulder and is scheduled to be checked out by trainers Monday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The Nationals are also without Luis Garcia (hamstring), so while Vargas would seem like a natural replacement for the infielder, he's sitting with the shoulder problems while Michael Chavis handles second base. Vargas should be considered day-to-day until the Nationals determine the next step for the 31-year-old veteran.

APRIL 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE