NELSON CRUZ NEWS

Swipes bag in Tuesday's loss Cruz went 3-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 9-4 loss to the Dodgers.

Impact The 41-year-old stole his first base of the season while extending his modest hit streak to five games, a stretch during which Cruz is batting .474 (9-for-19). He has only one extra-base hit, a double, among those knocks however, and his .092 ISO on the season is 200 points lower than the mark he posted in 2020.

MAY 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Anderson stymies Nationals as Dodgers cruise to 10-1 victory

Tyler Anderson pitched eight shutout innings, Trea Turner had three RBIs in his first game against his former team and the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Washington Nationals 10-1

MAY 24, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

In Monday's lineup Cruz (ankle) will bat cleanup as the designated hitter Monday against the Dodgers, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Cruz exited Sunday's game against the Brewers with a sprained ankle, but manager Dave Martinez indicated that no trip to the injured list was expected. The sprain is evidently a particularly light one, as Cruz will return without missing a single game.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Suffers sprained ankle Cruz sustained a sprained ankle in the fourth inning of Sunday's win over the Brewers, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Cruz suffered his injury while sliding into second base in the top of the fourth inning Sunday, but he remained in the game. However, he later felt uncomfortable while trying to hit and was ultimately replaced by a pinch hitter. The 41-year-old will be reevaluated Monday, but manager Dave Martinez said after the game that he didn't think Cruz would require an IL stint.

MAY 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Back in action Cruz (illness) will bat cleanup and serve as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Marlins.

Impact Cruz was scratched from Monday's lineup due to an illness, but that was evidently merely a one-day problem. He'll return to his regular role Tuesday and will look to build on a run which has seen him hit .333/.405/.545 with a pair of homers over his last nine games.

MAY 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Alcantara retires last 20 batters, Marlins beat Nats 8-2

Sandy Alcantara retired his last 20 batters, pitching three-hit ball over eight innings to lead Miami over the Washington Nationals 8-2 and give the Marlins just their fourth win i...

MAY 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Albert Pujols on the mound: Position players we want to see pitch

After Albert Pujols' debut on the mound, Jordan Shusterman dreams up a list of MLB position players he'd like to see pitch.

MAY 17, 2022

Scratched from Monday's lineup Cruz was scratched from Monday's lineup against the Marlins due to an illness, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Cruz was initially slated to serve as the designated hitter and bat fourth Monday, but he didn't feel well after arriving at the ballpark and was ultimately sent home. Yadiel Hernandez will shift to the DH spot while Lane Thomas enters the lineup in left field.

MAY 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Clubs fourth homer Cruz went 1-for-3 with a walk, a three-run home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Mets.

Impact His second-inning blast off Tylor Megill actually wrapped up the scoring on the night. Cruz appears to be shaking off his early-season slump -- the veteran slugger has hit safely in five straight games with two of his four homers coming during that stretch, but the hot streak has only boosted his slash line to .174/.266/.284.

MAY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

On base three times Sunday Cruz went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in Sunday's loss to the Angels.

Impact The 41-year-old slugger has had a rough start to the season, but Cruz might be coming around. Since sitting out two games with back stiffness, he's hit safely in three straight while adding his third homer of the year to Sunday's free passes. Cruz still sports a woeful .157/.250/.245 slash line through 27 contests, but if he's healthy he's capable of heating up quickly.

MAY 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ohtani, Rendon rally Angels past Nationals 5-4 in 9th

Shohei Ohtani hit a tying, two-run double in the ninth inning, Anthony Rendon followed with a game-ending single against his former team and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Washing...

MAY 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bashes home run Cruz went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in a 7-3 win against the Angels on Saturday.

Impact Cruz provided valuable insurance with his fifth inning shot off Los Angeles reliever Elvis Peguero, though he failed to produce in his other four at-bats. The 40-year-old is hitting a lackluster .150 this season, going 3-for-31 over his last eight games, with three home runs accounting for all of his extra-base hits.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Trout, Díaz send Angels past Nats 3-0 for 3rd straight win

The surging Los Angeles Angels earned a 3-0 victory over the Washington Nationals

MAY 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Back in action Friday Cruz (back) is hitting cleanup and starting at designated hitter Friday against the Angels, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Cruz has gotten off to a rough start, hitting .143 through 103 plate appearances. He is striking out at a career-best 17.3 percent clip, but his 55.4 percent groundball rate is cause for concern.

MAY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Hampson, Rodgers, Grichuk hit HRs, Rockies beat Nats 9-7

Garrett Hampson and Brendan Rodgers each hit three-run home runs for the Colorado Rockies in a 9-7 win over the Washington Nationals

MAY 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

DH Nelson Cruz Out of Nationals Lineup Thursday vs. Rockies It's the second straight day on the bench for Cruz after he was held out of yesterday's 5-2 loss with stiffness in his lower back.

MAY 5, 2022 • NESN.COM

Available to pinch hit Cruz (back) is available off the bench Thursday against the Rockies, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact Cruz will sit for the second straight game with a stiff back, but the fact that he's available off the bench suggests he could return soon. The Nationals will be looking for much more from the 41-year-old once he returns in full, as he owns a very poor .143/.233/.209 slash line through his first 24 games for the team.

MAY 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out of lineup Cruz (back) isn't starting Thursday against the Rockies, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Cruz was removed from Tuesday's game against Colorado with back stiffness, and he'll be out of the lineup for a second straight matchup. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench, but Yadiel Hernandez will serve as the designated hitter while Dee Strange-Gordon starts in left field.

MAY 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out Wednesday Cruz (back) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Impact The veteran slugger exited Tuesday's contest with back stiffness and will be sidelined for at least one game. Yadiel Hernandez will serve as the designated hitter with Cruz out while Lane Thomas starts in left field.

MAY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with back stiffness Cruz was removed from Tuesday's win over the Rockies due to back stiffness, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Cruz went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before being lifted for a pinch hitter during the seventh inning. The veteran slugger has a horrid 1.43/.233/.209 slash line through 24 games this season, so a couple days off could prove beneficial regardless of the back issue. Cruz will be re-evaluated ahead of Wednesday's matchup with Colorado.

MAY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

2 Nats runners thrown out at plate in 5-2 loss to Marlins

Miami outfielders Jesús Sánchez and Avisaíl García each threw out a runner at the plate in the fourth inning, and Joey Wendle hit a three-run shot that helped the Marlins beat the...

APRIL 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cabrera could be the last for a while to reach 3,000 hits

Miguel Cabrera reached the 3,000-hit mark on a weekend afternoon in front of an adoring crowd at his home ballpark

APRIL 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Belts second homer in loss Cruz went 1-of-4 with a hime run, two walks and two RBI in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Nationals.

Impact Cruz went yard for the second time this season but his numbers during the series with the Diamondbacks have been less than stellar, going only 3-for-13 over the four-game stint.

APRIL 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drives in three Friday Cruz went 2-for-4 with a walk and three RBI in Friday's 7-2 win over the Pirates.

Impact The 41-year-old has driven in six runs through his fist eight games with the Nationals. but they've come in a pair of three-RBI performances. Cruz has overall had a sluggish start to the season, slashing .219/.306/.313 with one homer, but slotting between Juan Soto and Josh Bell in the batting order should provide him with plenty of hittable pitches.

APRIL 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Back in lineup Wednesday Cruz (groin) is starting at designated hitter and batting third in Wednesday's contest against the Braves, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Cruz was a late scratch from Tuesday's lineup while dealing with groin tightness, but he'll limit his absence to just one contest and be back in the lineup Wednesday. The 41-year-old has started off the season 4-for-20 from the plate, but he has gone 3-for-8 with a homer, three RBI and two walks in his last two games.

APRIL 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE