JON LESTER NEWS

Solid in season debut Lester pitched five scoreless innings, allowing five hits with two walks and one strikeout in a no-decision versus Miami on Friday.

Impact Lester's first start of the year went fairly well. He only threw 70 pitches (46 strikes) after reaching 90 pitches in a simulated game Sunday. The 37-year-old southpaw struggled in 2020 with a 5.16 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 42:17 K:BB across 61 innings with the Cubs. He should slot into the Nationals' rotation now, and he projects to face Atlanta next week.

MAY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jon Lester reinstated from COVID-19 list, at last ready to debut for Washington - The Boston Globe The 37-year-old will begin his 16th MLB season tonight for the Nationals, more than three weeks after he was among nine from the team to be...

APRIL 30, 2021 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

Lester reinstated, set to make Nationals debut against Miami

Jon Lester has been reinstated from the injured list

APRIL 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Activated ahead of season debut Lester was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday ahead of his season debut against the Marlins.

Impact Lester missed almost the entirety of the first month of the season but is finally ready to make his first appearance for his new team. He reached 90 pitches in his most recent simulated game, so he shouldn't be on a pitch count Friday. Exactly what the 37-year-old southpaw has left in the tank remains to be seen, as he stumbled to a 5.16 ERA in 12 starts for the Cubs last year.

APRIL 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

On track to start Friday Lester (COVID-19 injured list) is expected to be activated to start Friday against the Marlins, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The 37-year-old has lined up to start Friday since completing a 90-pitch simulated game Sunday and following with a bullpen session Tuesday, and it appears the Nationals are finalizing to moves to officially activate him from the IL. Lester has spent the first month of the season on the COVID-19 IL, but he shouldn't face significant limitations in his debut since he's been building up his arm over the past three weeks after clearing league protocols.

APRIL 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Fedde, Harrison lift Nats over Jays in Springer's debut

Erick Fedde went six strong innings, Josh Harrison hit a three-run homer and the Washington Nationals beat Toronto 8-2 in George Springer’s Blue Jays debut

APRIL 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Guerrero hits 3 HRs, slam off Scherzer, Jays beat Nats

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit three home runs, including a grand slam and solo shot off Washington ace Max Scherzer, and had seven RBIs as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Nationals 9-5

APRIL 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Throws bullpen session Lester (COVID-19 injured list) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Lester threw 90 pitches in a simulated game Sunday. That leaves him on schedule to start Friday against the Marlins, though the Nationals have yet to commit to him returning on that date, as he may still pitch in another simulated game.

APRIL 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Walker gets 1st win for Mets, who take 2 of 3 from Nationals

Taijuan Walker pitched three-hit ball over seven innings in his first win for the Mets, J

APRIL 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ross leads Nationals to 7-1 win over Mets

Joe Ross tossed six solid innings and helped himself with an RBI single as the Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 7-1

APRIL 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

DeGrom's 15 strikeouts, 2-hitter lead Mets over Nats 6-0

Jacob deGrom struck out a career-high 15, pitched a two-hitter and boosted the Mets' sagging offense with a go-ahead double from the No. 8 spot in the batting order, leading New Yo...

APRIL 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Notes: Lester's progress; Espino's role The Nationals will continue with a four-man rotation in the short term, sending Max Scherzer to the mound on Tuesday against the Blue Jays....

APRIL 23, 2021 • MLB.COM

Minus Soto, Strasburg, Nats start to win before facing Mets

Things have hardly gone to plan for the Washington Nationals in 2021

APRIL 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scherzer's 9 K's, Avila RBI double lift Nats past Cards 1-0

Max Scherzer struck out nine in six scoreless innings to move up to No. 21 on the career K's leaderboard, and Alex Avila drove in the game’s lone run with one of his two doubles, h...

APRIL 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slated to throw another sim game Lester (COVID-19 injured list) will throw a five-inning, 90-pitch simulated game Sunday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Lester threw 80 pitches in a sim game Tuesday, but manager Dave Martinez revealed that the left-hander will throw at least one more simulated game prior to making his first regular-season start. Lester should be in line to handle near a full workload following Sunday's throwing session. The southpaw could line up to make his 2021 debut at home against the Marlins on April 30.

APRIL 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

LEADING OFF: Padres' Lamet set for return, Nats without Soto

Dinelson Lamet is set for his season debut with the Padres after working back from elbow discomfort that caused him to miss the end of the 2020 season, including the playoffs

APRIL 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEADING OFF: Padres' Lamet set for return, Nats without Soto

Dinelson Lamet is set for his season debut with the Padres after working back from elbow discomfort that caused him to miss the end of the 2020 season, including the playoffs

APRIL 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nationals put Juan Soto on IL with strained left shoulder

Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left shoulder

APRIL 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bumgarner back on track as Arizona beats Washington 5-2

Madison Bumgarner had his best outing of the season, allowing a run over five innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Washington 5-2 after Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg was...

APRIL 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Another sim game scheduled Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Lester (COVID-19 injured list) is scheduled to throw a five-inning, 80-pitch simulated game Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Rather than inserting Lester into the rotation early during the upcoming week, the Nationals will have get a little more stretched out before he makes his 2021 and team debut. Assuming he feels fine physically following his simulated game, Lester could make his first start for Washington as soon as April 25 against the Mets.

APRIL 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kyle Schwarber homer lifts Nationals over Diamondbacks 1-0

Kyle Schwarber hit a game-ending homer in the ninth inning, helping the Washington Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0 after Max Scherzer passed Cy Young on baseball’s care...

APRIL 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Notes: Lester update; roster moves WASHINGTON -- Southpaw starter Jon Lester threw 49 pitches over three innings in a sim game on Thursday as he builds his way toward his 2021...

APRIL 16, 2021 • MLB.COM

Sim game on tap Lester (COVID-19 protocols) will throw a simulated game at the Nationals' alternate training site Thursday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Lester began the season on the COVID-19 injured list but has been cleared to rejoin the team. However, he's still working on building up at the alternate camp. It's not yet clear when the left-hander could make his Nationals debut, but Erick Fedde will continue to serve as a starter while Lester builds up.

APRIL 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals hammer Strasburg, rout Nats 14-3, end 3-game skid

Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt and Matt Carpenter all homered off Stephen Strasburg and the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Washington Nationals 14-3

APRIL 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Schwarber debuts, leads Nats over Cardinals 5-2

Kyle Schwarber doubled in a run in his delayed Nationals debut, Andrew Stevenson had a pinch-hit homer and Washington beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2

APRIL 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS