New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals - News - August 03, 2022

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Dominic Smith - Rehab assignment begins ThursdaySmith (ankle) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

ImpactSmith has been sidelined with a right ankle sprain since mid-July but has now been cleared to return to game action with the minor-league club. The Mets recently acquired Daniel Vogelbach and Tyler Naquin, so it's not yet clear whether Smith will have a role with the big-league squad once he's deemed fully healthy.

AUGUST 4, 2022•ROTOWIRE

Philadelphia Phillies vs Washington Nationals Box Score - August 04, 2022 - The AthleticGet real-time MLB coverage and scores as the Philadelphia Phillies take on the Washington Nationals at 11:05pm UTC on August 04, 2022. The Athletic brings you the latest stats, sco...

AUGUST 4, 2022•THEATHLETIC.COM

Josh Palacios - Garners third straight startPalacios will start in right field and bat seventh in Thursday's game against the Phillies.

ImpactPalacios will pick up his third start in as many games and looks bound to receive the first chance to replace the departed Juan Soto as the Nationals' everyday right fielder following Tuesday's trade that sent the superstar to San Diego. After striking out twice in three at-bats in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Mets, Palacios singled twice and scored in Wednesday's 9-5 loss in the series finale.

AUGUST 4, 2022•ROTOWIRE

Joey Meneses - Retreats to benchMeneses is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.

ImpactMeneses started at first base in the final two games of the Nationals' series with the Mets and went 1-for-8 with a solo home run, but he was merely keeping a seat warm in the lineup for Luke Voit, who was acquired in Tuesday's blockbuster deal that saw Juan Soto and Josh Bell go to San Diego. Voit has joined the Nationals in Philadelphia and will make his team debut Thursday at first base, taking over the everyday role that had belonged to Meneses. Unless Nelson Cruz's neck issue forces him to the injured list and the Nationals are in need of a new designated hitter, Meneses doesn't look like he'll have a path to playing regularly in Washington.

AUGUST 4, 2022•ROTOWIRE

Luke Voit - Making debut, will play regularlyVoit will start at first base and bat third in Thursday's game against the Phillies.

ImpactThe lone veteran the Nationals took back as part of the six-player haul they received Tuesday in the deal that sent Juan Soto and Josh Bell to the Padres, Voit will be making his Washington debut Thursday. Though he's 31 years old and doesn't necessarily fit in with the 36-70 Nationals' long-term rebuilding plan, Voit is under club control through 2024 and is expected to be a key cog in the lineup for the time being. Manager Dave Martinez confirmed Wednesday that Voit will be the Nationals' first baseman or designated hitter for the rest of the season while slotting into the heart of the order, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com.

AUGUST 4, 2022•ROTOWIRE

Nelson Cruz - Sitting due to stiff neckCruz is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies due to a stiff neck, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

ImpactThough 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

Tomás Nido - Moves into timeshareNido is on the bench for Thursday's game against Atlanta.

ImpactWith the Mets activating James McCann (oblique) from the injured list Thursday and inserting into the lineup, Nido's reign as the team's No. 1 catcher will come to an end. Though McCann has operated as the Mets' top option behind the plate when healthy during his two seasons with the team, manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday that McCann and Nido are likely to be used in a near-50/50 timeshare at catcher in the short-term future, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Once McCann's oblique injury is further behind him, however, expect him to eventually get the lion's share of the starts.

AUGUST 4, 2022•ROTOWIRE

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New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals - News: Aug 3, 2022

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