MAIKEL FRANCO NEWS

Homers in victory Franco went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, two walks and a run in Sunday's 9-3 win over the Phillies.

Impact Franco recorded his second multi-hit performance in the last three games while also homering for the first time since June 10. The 29-year-old has struggled to produce runs recently, as he had just one RBI and no runs over the nine games leading up to Sunday's win. He's maintained consistent playing time, but Alcides Escobar (hamstring) will likely see some at-bats once he's ultimately cleared to return.

JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Soto's homer helps Nats slow Phillies, avoid 5-game sweep

Juan Soto hit a three-run homer and the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 to avoid a five-game sweep

JUNE 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gets Sunday off Franco will sit Sunday against the Brewers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Franco started the first 57 games of the season but has now been on the bench for two of the last five. He hasn't exactly hit like an everyday player, as his .264/.286/.394 slash line is poor for a corner infielder even in this year's lower-scoring environment. Ehire Adrianza will start at third base in his absence.

JUNE 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Swats fifth homer Franco went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's win over the Brewers.

Impact His fourth-inning blast off Aaron Ashby put the Nationals ahead for good on the night. Franco also committed two errors, giving him nine on the year, but in most fantasy formats his defensive lapses only matter when they impact his playing time. On the season, the 29-year-old is slashing .269/.291/.401 with five homers, 20 runs and 28 RBI through 59 games.

JUNE 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Wednesday Franco isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Marlins.

Impact Franco is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak in which he's hit .387 with a homer, a double, four runs and four RBI, but he'll rest during Wednesday's matchup. Ehire Adrianza will start at the hot corner and bat eighth.

JUNE 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Three doubles in doubleheader Franco went a combined 3-for-9 with three doubles, two RBI and a run during Saturday's doubleheader with the Rockies.

Impact After a recent 1-for-13 slide at the plate over his last four games, Franco got back on track Saturday with the trio of extra-base hits. He'll stick in the lineup for Sunday's series finale, batting sixth while manning third base.

MAY 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nats win 8-2; Brewers' Peralta exits with shoulder tightness

Lane Thomas hit two RBI doubles and the Washington Nationals broke out of their hitting slump in an 8-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers

MAY 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

In midst of four-game hit streak Franco will start at third base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Impact Franco will take a four-game hitting streak into the series finale in Milwaukee after going 1-for-4 with a single in Saturday's 5-1 loss. Through 18 games this month, Franco is hitting .239 with a home run, nine RBI and six runs.

MAY 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Astros push winning streak to 11, roll past Nationals 6-1

Jose Altuve drilled a home run on the first pitch of the game, Yordan Alvarez and Yuli Gurriel also homered, and the Houston Astros extended their winning streak to 11 games with a...

MAY 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Three hits in loss to Colorado Franco went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in Thursday's loss to the Rockies.

Impact The veteran third baseman is on a bit of a tear, posting five multi-hit performances over the last 12 games and slashing .306/.333/.449 with a homer, four doubles, four RBI and six runs. Franco has credited an improved offseason diet and routine for his rebound from a career-worst 2021 campaign, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports, and the 29-year-old has lost over 25 pounds from last year's playing weight. "I feel great about it," Franco said. "The way that I look, the way that I play is different. I feel like I always have more energy. It's been great so far."

MAY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Four hits, two doubles Franco went 4-for-6 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI in Friday's 14-4 win against San Francisco.

Impact Franco and the rest of Washington's offense was clicking Friday, with the 29-year-old doubling in the second and third innings and singling in the eighth and ninth. After a slow start to the season, Franco has pushed his line to .293/.322/.427.

APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Swats second homer Franco went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Giants.

Impact The veteran third baseman took Yunior Marte deep in the eighth inning for the Nationals' only run of the night. Franco has had a decent start to his tenure with Washington, slashing .263/.295/.421 through 16 games with two homers and 10 RBI.

APRIL 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Huge game in Monday's win Franco went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and five RBI in Monday's 11-2 rout of Atlanta.

Impact The veteran third baseman had the big blow in a five-run third inning for the Nationals with a two-run homer, but Franco's name was all over the box score Monday. The long ball was not only his first of the season, it was his first since last July, as he looks to shake off a rough 2021 campaign.

APRIL 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals take on the Braves after Franco's 4-hit game

The Washington Nationals play the Atlanta Braves after Maikel Franco's four-hit game on Monday

APRIL 12, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Franco has 4 hits, drives in 5 as Nats trounce Braves 11-2

Maikel Franco drove in five runs with four hits, including a two-run homer as the Washington Nationals beat Huascar Ynoa and the Atlanta Braves 11-2

APRIL 12, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

2019 World Series MVP Strasburg goes to 10-day IL for Nats

Stephen Strasburg has been put on the 10-day injured list as he continues his return from thoracic outlet surgery

APRIL 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Added to roster The Nationals selected Franco's contract ahead of Thursday's season opener versus the Mets.

Impact The transaction is merely procedural, as it became apparent Franco would begin the season as Washington's everyday third baseman early in spring training, when Carter Kieboom suffered a forearm injury that will likely sideline him for multiple months. Franco solidified the job by provided three extra-base hits -- including two home runs -- across 12 Grapefruit League games, and he could be a solid source of power while he's locked into a full-time role for the Nationals. The 29-year-old offers little fantasy appeal beyond his power numbers, however; he's a lifetime .246 hitter and has recorded four stolen bases over 820 career big-league games.

APRIL 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals sign third baseman Maikel Franco to a minor league deal Maikel Franco, 29, is coming off a down season with the Baltimore Orioles. He previously spent parts of six seasons in Philadelphia.

DECEMBER 12, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Signs with Nationals The Nationals signed Franco to a minor-league contract Sunday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Franco had most recently signed a minor-league deal with Atlanta in early September but never joined the MLB roster. He struggled considerably in 104 games with the Orioles in 2021, slashing .210/.253/.355 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI before being released in August. A productive spring training could earn Franco a spot on Washington's unremarkable infield depth chart.

DECEMBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Braves notes: On Adam Duvall's rousing return, Austin Riley's MVP case, the Maikel Franco signing Duvall needs just three home runs and 10 RBIs to surpass his career-best totals in both categories.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Links up with Atlanta Franco has signed a minor-league deal with Atlanta, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Impact Franco was released by the Orioles on Aug. 27 and didn't take long to latch on with a new organization. The 29-year-old hit .210/.253/.355 in 104 games before being let go by Baltimore, and he's unlikely to be anything more than organizational infield depth for Atlanta.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

McClanahan solid, Zunino homers as Rays beat Orioles 6-3

Shane McClanahan won his fifth consecutive start, Mike Zunino hit a three-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dan Connolly: The Orioles announced 3B Maikel Franco cleared... - The Athletic The Orioles announced 3B Maikel Franco cleared waivers and was granted his release Friday. Franco, who turned 29 on Thursday, was DFA’d earl...

AUGUST 27, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Released by Orioles Franco was released by the Orioles on Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Franco passed through waivers unclaimed after getting designated for assignment Monday, which suggests he'll be stuck searching for a minor-league deal on the open market. As a below-average defender at third base who owns a 65 wRC+ this season and an 88 wRC+ for his career, his lack of appeal is unsurprising.

AUGUST 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment Franco was designated for assignment by the Orioles on Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Franco was coming off a season in which he posted a respectable 106 wRC+ for the Royals, so there was reason to believe he'd be a decent option this year following his move to hitter-friendly Camden Yards. That hasn't been the case, as his .210/.253/.355 slash line was good for a wRC+ of just 65. He's now been below replacement level in three of the past five seasons, per FanGraphs, so his time as a regular starter could be coming to an end. Kelvin Gutierrez was recalled in a corresponding move and should see time at the hot corner down the stretch.

AUGUST 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE