STARLIN CASTRO NEWS

Bases-loaded walk in 8th lifts Nationals past Cardinals 3-2

Washington’s Yan Gomes drew a four-pitch walk from Giovanny Gallegos to force in the go-ahead run in an odd eighth inning that also featured St. Louis deploying a five-man infield,...

APRIL 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Drives in two Castro went 0-for-3 with two RBI in Monday's 12-5 loss to the Cardinals.

Impact Castro did not register a hit Monday, but still managed to lead his team in RBI. A sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and an RBI groundout in the sixth inning would be the only marks on the scorecard for Castro. The Nationals' second baseman has only drawn a single walk across 56 plate appearances this year and maintains one of the lowest OBP in the league with .286. However, Castro is batting a solid .283 with 11 RBI through 14 games.

APRIL 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gomes ends Locastro's steal streak, homers, Nats top D'backs

Yan Gomes homered and added an RBI single to help the Washington Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 for their first back-to-back wins this season

APRIL 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slams first home run Castro went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in the 11-6 loss Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Castro's first home run of the season got the Nationals on the board with two outs in the first inning. The third baseman has quietly recorded at least one hit in five of his last six games. Besides last year when he only played 16 games, Castro has reached double digit home runs in every year except his rookie season. Castro's ability to play multiple positions helps him get daily at-bats in the starting lineup.

APRIL 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Young's slam off Corbin helps D'backs top booed Nats 11-6

Andrew Young hit a grand slam for one of Arizona's three homers off Washington starter Patrick Corbin, and the Diamondbacks beat the struggling Nationals 11-6

APRIL 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Records two RBI Monday Castro went 1-for-3 with two RBI in Monday's win over the Cardinals.

Impact The veteran shortstop plated two of Washington's five runs, and he drove Josh Bell in both times -- first with a sac fly in the sixth and then with an RBI single in the eighth. Castro has hit safely in each of his last three games while racking up three RBI and two strikeouts in that span.

APRIL 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

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

Taylor's homer propels Dodgers to 9-5 win over Nationals

Chris Taylor hit a three-run homer and Zach McKinstry made big plays with his bat and arm as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals 9-5

APRIL 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Drives in three runs in matinee Castro went 3-for-7 with a double and three RBI during Wednesday's doubleheader against Atlanta.

Impact The 31-year-old started at the hot corner in both contests and collected all three hits during Game 1. Castro is 4-for-11 with one double and three RBI to open the season for Washington.

APRIL 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Panda! Sandoval helps Braves sweep doubleheader against Nats

Atlanta pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval drove a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark off a Washington reliever who took over after Stephen Strasburg’s six scoreless inning...

APRIL 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

In Tuesday's lineup Castro (hamstring) will bat fifth and play third base Tuesday against Atlanta.

Impact Castro was sidelined with a mild left hamstring strain in late March. He already seemed to have a good shot to start on Opening Day, and the Nationals' delayed start due to their coronavirus has bought him a few extra days to fully recover.

APRIL 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

LEADING OFF: Nats set to start short-handed vs Braves

The Washington Nationals are finally set to start their season, hosting Atlanta after their three-game series against the New York Mets was postponed by a coronavirus outbreak

APRIL 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEADING OFF: Nats set to start short-handed vs Braves

The Washington Nationals are finally set to start their season, hosting the Atlanta Braves after their three-game series against the New York Mets was postponed by a coronavirus ou...

APRIL 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scherzer, COVID-depleted Nats finally set to play vs. Braves

The Washington Nationals have held a workout at their stadium as they prepare to finally start their season

APRIL 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Plays in simulated game Castro (hamstring) took five at-bats in a simulated game Monday, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

Impact Castro has been out since Tuesday with a strained left hamstring, but he got through Monday's game without issues. He's expected to be ready to play on Opening Day and will spend the day at third base, as Carter Kieboom's poor spring saw him fail to break camp with the team. Castro was strictly a second baseman last year but should add third-base eligibility early in the season in most formats, giving him the ability to fill in as both a middle and a corner infielder.

MARCH 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Set to start at third base Manager Dave Martinez announced Sunday that Castro (hamstring) will begin the season as the starter at third base, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact The 31-year-old started getting work at the hot corner late in spring training due to the struggles of Carter Kieboom, and Kieboom's demotion Saturday clears the path to a starting role. Castro is recovering from a mild left hamstring strain, but the team expects him to be good to go by Opening Day on Thursday. He will participate in a simulated game Monday as he moves closer to full clearance.

MARCH 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals send projected starting 3B Kieboom to minors

Carter Kieboom, the expected starting third baseman for the Washington Nationals, is headed for the minor leagues

MARCH 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Diagnosed with mild strain Castro was diagnosed with a very mild strain of his left hamstring Thursday and is considered day-to-day, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Castro left Tuesday's game against St. Louis with the injury. It sounds as though he still has a good chance to avoid a trip to the injured list. If he suffers a setback, Luis Garcia or Josh Harrison could fill in for him at second base.

MARCH 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Slated for MRI Castro (hamstring) will undergo an MRI on Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Castro was initially scheduled to return to third base for Wednesday's spring game against the Astros, but he'll be held out after his hamstring cramped Tuesday. Manager Dave Martinez didn't sound too concerned about the issue but said Castro will undergo additional imaging to make sure that he's not dealing with anything serious. As the spring has unfolded, the Nationals have become more open to the idea of Castro beginning the season as the team's primary option at the hot corner, but his injury could pave the way for the struggling Carter Kieboom to solidify his spot atop the depth chart at third base while also opening up second base for Luis Garcia.

MARCH 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Padres star Tatis has shoulder problem, to be re-evaluated

The flash and dash of Fernando Tatis Jr. came to a sudden halt Tuesday when the star San Diego Padres shortstop slowly walked off the field after making an awkward throw in an exhi...

MARCH 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not worried about hamstring issue Castro left Tuesday's game against the Cardinals with a hamstring cramp but isn't particularly worried, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Castro exited after pulling up with the issue while running the bases. He'll test his hamstring out Wednesday but doesn't seem to be worried about a potential trip to the injured list.

MARCH 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Exits with apparent injury Castro left Tuesday's game against the Cardinals with an apparent injury, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Castro appeared to pull up while running the bases and left the game soon after. The nature and severity of his injury is not yet clear. If he's forced to miss time, Carter Kieboom's shaky hold on the third base job would get a lot firmer, while Luis Garcia could earn starts at second base.

MARCH 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Starlin Castro playing third raises questions about Carter Kieboom’s immediate future Starlin Castro started against the Cardinals on Tuesday. Carter Kieboom's status is up in the air.

MARCH 23, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Getting start at third base Castro will start at third base for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Impact The Nationals have stood by Carter Kieboom as their Opening Day third baseman all spring despite his struggles at the plate, but all of a sudden, the youngster's starting job doesn't seem so secure. One game at the hot corner for Castro doesn't necessarily mean that he's more than a contingency plan at third, but if the team does decide Kieboom is better off regaining his confidence at the alternate training site (and eventually Triple-A) to begin the season, Castro could move to third base on a more permanent basis, making room for Luis Garcia at second base. Either way, the 30-year-old infielder is locked into a starting spot, and Castro has enjoyed a strong spring with a .333/.375/.567 slash line over 32 plate appearances.

MARCH 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Swinging hot bat this spring Castro has gone 8-for-23 (.348) with a double, a triple and a home run through nine Grapefruit League games this spring.

Impact The veteran infielder has also put together a solid 2:4 BB:K. Castro is slotted in as the Nats' starting second baseman this season after his 2020 campaign was cut short due to a wrist injury, and while he'll likely spend most of his time hitting in the bottom half of the order, he should be a useful stat compiler for fantasy purposes.

MARCH 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE