Impact Cruz reached base three times in Saturday's game, but the veteran will get a chance to rest one day later. Luke Voit will serve as Washington's designated hitter Sunday.
AUGUST 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
NELSON CRUZ #32 - DESIGNATED HITTER - SAN DIEGO PADRES
5 HR •
23 RBI •
.245 AVG
5 HR
23 RBI
.245 AVG
Catches breather Sunday Cruz is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com.
2,000 hits later, Cruz remembers very first knock WASHINGTON -- Nelson Cruz bounced a double off Aaron Harang down the right-field line at Miller Park, slid head first into second base and d...
AUGUST 14, 2022 • MLB.COM
Blocking the plate call on review helps Nats top Padres 4-3
San Diego and new slugger Juan Soto repeatedly failed to come through in the clutch against his former club, and the last-place Washington Nationals beat the wild-card-chasing Padr...AUGUST 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Back in lineup Friday Cruz (shoulder) is starting at designated hitter and batting third in Friday's series opener versus the Padres.
Impact Cruz is ready to go Friday after missing Wednesday's loss to the Cubs with right shoulder soreness. The 42-year-old is currently in the middle of a power drought, failing to hit a homer over 112 at-bats in his last 33 games.
AUGUST 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Hoerner, Cubs top power-hitting rookie Meneses, Nationals
Nico Hoerner homered to ignite a four-run rally in the seventh inning that sent the Chicago Cubs over power-hitting rookie Joey Meneses and the Washington Nationals 4-2AUGUST 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Not starting Wednesday Cruz (shoulder) isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Impact Cruz exited Tuesday's win over the Cubs due to posterior right shoulder soreness and will be held out of the lineup a day later. It's not yet clear whether the 42-year-old will be available off the bench Wednesday, but Luke Voit will serve as the designated hitter while Joey Meneses starts at first base.
AUGUST 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Exits with shoulder soreness Cruz was removed from Tuesday's win over the Cubs with posterior right shoulder soreness, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Impact The veteran slugger went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before being lifted for a pinch hitter during the fifth inning. Cruz missed three games with neck stiffness last week and is now dealing with a shoulder injury. The 42-year-old should be considered day-to-day heading into Friday's series finale in Chicago.
AUGUST 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nationals bring road slide into matchup against the Cubs
The Washington Nationals will try to stop their six-game road losing streak in a matchup against the Chicago CubsAUGUST 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hoskins, streaking Phillies rout Nationals 11-5
Rhys Hoskins homered in the first inning for the third straight game _ the first Phillies player to do it since at least 1900 _ and the surging Philadelphia Phillies routed the Was...AUGUST 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Returns to lineup Cruz (neck) is back in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies.
Impact Neck stiffness cost Cruz a few starts, but he will return to the cleanup spot to face left-hander Ranger Suarez. Now 42 years old, Cruz's numbers have taken a dramatic turn for the worse. He's batting just .229/.333/.358 with the platoon edge this season.
AUGUST 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Still sitting Friday Cruz (neck) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies, Bobby Blanco of MASN Nationals reports.
Impact Cruz will take a seat for the third consecutive game as he continues to deal with neck stiffness. Luke Voit will serve as the designated hitter while Joey Meneses receives a start at first base.
AUGUST 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Syndergaard, Phillies beat Nationals in rain-shortened game
Noah Syndergaard won his Phillies debut despite giving up four runs, Alec Bohm hit a three-run home run and Philadelphia won a rain-shortened, five-inning game 5-4 over the Washing...AUGUST 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sitting due to stiff neck Cruz is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies due to a stiff neck, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Impact Though Cruz stayed put in Washington in the aftermath of Tuesday's trade deadline, he could be a candidate to see a downsized role in the final two months of the season while the 36-70 team looks to prioritize playing time for younger options. While Cruz was held out of Wednesday's 9-5 loss to the Mets in what was believed to be a maintenance day, the stiff neck explains why the 42-year-old is on the bench for a second straight contest. Yadiel Hernandez will get a turn as Washington's designated hitter in his stead, and though Cruz may still see his opportunities decrease down the stretch, he'll still be the top option on the depth chart once he moves past the neck issue.
AUGUST 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nationals take on the Phillies after Vargas' 4-hit game
The Washington Nationals take on the Philadelphia Phillies after Ildemaro Vargas had four hits on Wednesday in a 9-5 loss to the MetsAUGUST 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Resting Wednesday Cruz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.
Impact Cruz wasn't moved ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, but he'll take a seat for the day game after the night game while the Nationals deploy Yadiel Hernandez as their designated hitter. Though Cruz will likely handle a near-everyday role down the stretch for Washington, he could receive more frequent off days as the 36-69 Nationals make finding playing time more of a priority for some of their younger options.
AUGUST 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Bell hits 3-run HR to rally Nationals past Cardinals 7-6
Josh Bell hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Washington Nationals rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6JULY 31, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nationals take 3-game road win streak into matchup with the Dodgers
The Washington Nationals visit the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to extend a three-game road winning streakJULY 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nats beat NL West-leading Dodgers for 2nd straight night
Luis Garcia hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the last-place Washington Nationals rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-3 for their second straight win against the NL W...JULY 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Not starting Tuesday Cruz is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Dodgers,
Impact Cruz went 0-for-14 over his last four games, so he will get a mental break Tuesday. Yadiel Hernandez will serve as Washington's designated hitter, and Lane Thomas will take Hernandez's place in the outfield.
JULY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Old but gold: At 39, Verlander makes push for Cy Young award
Justin Verlander has a little more gray in his hair and stubble these daysJULY 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hit streak ends Friday Cruz (quadriceps) went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Friday's 10-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Impact The Nationals put only four runners on base Friday, and Cruz was not one of them. Prior to a two-game absence with the quad injury, the designated hitter had a six-game hitting streak. The poor return to action dropped his season slash line to .239/.320/.357 with eight home runs, 48 RBI, 39 runs scored and three stolen bases in 85 contests.
JULY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Ready to go for second half Cruz (quadriceps) is starting at designated hitter and batting fifth Friday versus the Diamondbacks.
Impact Cruz is back in the lineup after he missed the final two games before the All-Star break with a quadriceps issue. The 42-year-old currently owns a six game hit streak, going 7-for-22 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base over that stretch.
JULY 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Soto homers as Nationals end 9-game skid, defeat Braves 7-3
Juan Soto and Victor Robles homered, and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 7-3 to snap a nine-game losing streakJULY 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Not available for series finale Cruz (quadriceps) remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Impact The Nationals will have Cruz sit out for a second straight game to close out the team's first-half schedule while he contends with a quadriceps injury. Maikel Franco will step in as Washington's designated hitter in place of Cruz, who will likely be ready to play coming out of the All-Star break.
JULY 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Olson, Riley homer as Braves send Nats to 9th loss in a row
Matt Olson and freshly minted All-Star Austin Riley hit consecutive home runs in the third inning, and the Atlanta Braves rolled to a 6-3 victory and dealt the Washington Nationals...JULY 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
