WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Alcides Escobar - Heads to bench Tuesday Escobar is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Dodgers.

Impact Escobar still looks to have the edge on Dee Strange-Gordon for the everyday shortstop role, but the former may found himself on the bench more frequently in the past couple weeks while he's dealt with minor injuries. The 35-year-old's lack of productivity at the plate has also been a factor; Escobar is getting on base at a .257 clip and has mustered only four extra-base hits through 109 plate appearances this season. Strange-Gordon (.422 OPS in 38 plate appearances) hasn't been any more productive, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the Nationals looked to the minor-league ranks or outside the organization at some point in search of an upgrade at the position.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Victor Robles - Not starting Tuesday Robles (calf) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Robles will be on the bench after exiting Monday's 10-1 loss with a right calf cramp. Even before the early exit Monday, the 25-year-old appeared to have lost hold of the everyday center-field job to Lane Thomas, as Robles has made just one start in the Nationals' last five games. However, with flyball pitcher Josiah Gray on the mound Tuesday, the Nationals may have preferred to have the rangier Robles patrolling center field.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ehire Adrianza - Kicking off rehab assignment Adrianza (quadriceps) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Since Adrianza was moved to the 60-day injured list in late April and won't be eligible to join the Nationals until early June, he'll likely remain on his rehab assignment for the next two weeks, with a move to Triple-A Rochester expected to come at some point. For now, Adrianza will start out at Harrisburg, where he'll be able to pick up regular at-bats and prove he's recovered from the left quad strain by playing multiple spots in the field. Once he's cleared to return from the 60-day IL, Adrianza will likely displace Dee Strange-Gordon as the Nationals' top utility man.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Joan Adon - Rocked by Dodgers Adon (1-8) took the loss in Monday's 10-1 rout at the hands of the Dodgers, surrendering six runs on seven hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.

Impact It was another rough outing for the 23-year-old, who tossed 58 of 92 pitches for strikes before getting the hook. Adon's eight losses lead the majors, and his 6.97 ERA and 1.72 WHIP make him a prime candidate to lose his rotation spot once one of Joe Ross (elbow) or Stephen Strasburg (neck) rejoin the roster in June.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers bring 1-0 series advantage over Nationals into game 2

The Los Angeles Dodgers face the Washington Nationals with a 1-0 series lead

MAY 24, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Next step in Adon's progress? Finishing off innings WASHINGTON -- Joan Adon had thrown a total of 5 1/3 innings in one Major League start last season before earning a spot in the Nationals’ 20...

MAY 24, 2022 • MLB.COM

Victor Robles - Exits with calf cramp Robles exited Monday's game against the Dodgers with a calf cramp, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Robles wasn't in the starting lineup, but he entered the game for Juan Soto in the midst of a blowout loss. Assuming the issue is limited to a cramp, Robles will likely be able to avoid a stint on the injured list and should be considered day-to-day.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

The Nationals stick to the script in a 10-1 loss to Trea Turner's Dodgers In their former shortstop's return, the Nationals fell behind early and didn't manage a base runner until the sixth inning.

MAY 24, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

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

What questions do you have about the Nationals? Ask The Post. Barry Svrluga and Jesse Dougherty answer your questions about the Washington Nationals' struggles and the MLB season thus far.

MAY 24, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Brewers place Peralta on IL, Hader on family emergency list

The Milwaukee Brewers have placed right-hander Freddy Peralta on the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain and put closer Josh Hader on the family medical emergency list

MAY 23, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alcides Escobar - Returns to lineup Escobar (undisclosed) is back in action Monday against the Dodgers, batting ninth and playing shortstop, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Escobar was scratched Saturday for undisclosed reasons and remained on the bench Sunday, but whatever he was dealing with evidently wasn't a major issue. He'll return to his starting role, but he's still unlikely to be of much use to fantasy teams, as he's hitting .202/.255/.253 on the year.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nelson Cruz - 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

Lane Thomas - Two doubles against Brewers Thomas went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Brewers.

Impact Getting another start in center field and batting eighth, Thomas opened the scoring in the second inning with an RBI two-bagger before adding another in the fourth. The 26-year-old has started four straight games and eight of the last 10, and while his numbers over that stretch aren't particularly impressive (.258/.303/.484 in 33 plate appearances with four extra-base hits, including a homer), Victor Robles' continued struggles have left the starting job in center wide open.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

César Hernández - On base three times Sunday Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI in Sunday's win over the Brewers.

Impact He also had a strong day in the field, helping to turn three double plays. Hernandez has been giving the Nationals strong numbers from the top of the batting order for the last month, slashing .314/.374/.390 over the last 26 games with two steals, seven RBI and 14 runs.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Joe Ross - On track for early June return Ross (elbow) is expected to need at least three rehab starts before rejoining the Nationals' rotation, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The right-hander will begin his rehab stint at Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday with a target workload of four innings and 60 pitches. Manager Dave Martinez indicated Sunday that the team wants Ross to comfortably be able to throw at least six innings and 90 pitches before being activated, and making three rehab starts would put the 29-year-old on track to make his season debut June 8 in Miami. Ross is coming off a 2021 campaign that showed a hint of promise thanks to a career-best 23.7 percent strikeout rate over 108 innings.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Stephen Strasburg - At least three rehab starts ahead Strasburg (neck) is expected to need at least three rehab starts before rejoining the Nationals' rotation, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The right-hander will make the first of those starts Tuesday at Single-A Fredericksburg, where he'll have a target workload of four innings and 60 pitches. Manager Dave Martinez indicated Sunday that the team wants Strasburg to comfortably be able to throw at least six innings and 90 pitches before being activated, and given his long layoff and thoracic outlet surgery last summer, it's possible he could need more than three rehab outings to prove to the organization he's ready. Strasburg threw only 26.2 big-league innings over the prior two seasons and still has four years and $140 million remaining on his current contract, so don't expect the Nationals to push him too hard in 2022.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals begin 3-game series against the Dodgers

The Washington Nationals start a three-game series at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday

MAY 23, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Aaron Sanchez - Tallies third win Sanchez (3-3) earned the win during Sunday's 8-2 victory over Milwaukee, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout in five innings.

Impact Sanchez was staked to an eight-run lead early and kept Milwaukee off the board until the fifth inning, when Tyrone Taylor tagged him for a two-run home run. The 29-year-old topped out at 89 pitches but hasn't missed many bats with no more than four strikeouts in any of his six starts and has now alternated decisions in every turn. He'll carry a 7.16 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 13 strikeouts into a start slated to come against Colorado next weekend.

MAY 22, 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

Nelson Cruz - 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

Muncy's error allows Phillies to rally past Dodgers

Max Muncy’s two-run fielding error in the bottom of the 10th capped a wild late-inning sequence and allowed the Philadelphia Phillies to post a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers

MAY 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Stephen Strasburg - Ready for rehab assignment Strasburg (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at Double-A Harrisburg, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact The Nationals are targeting around four innings and 60 pitches Tuesday for Strasburg, who is making his first appearance in affiliated ball since June 1 of last year. Due to his lengthy layoff following the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent last July, Washington will presumably want to see Strasburg build up his pitch count over at least two starts in the minors before activating him from the 10-day injured list. The Nationals' decision not to place Strasburg on the 60-day IL would seem to imply that the team has hopes of him potentially joining the big-league rotation at some point during the first week of June.

MAY 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Joe Ross - Set for rehab assignment Ross (elbow) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at Double-A Harrisburg, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact The Nationals are targeting around four innings and 60 pitches Tuesday for Ross, who is making his 2022 debut in affiliated ball after he had been sidelined since undergoing surgery in early March to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. Washington will presumably want to see Ross build up his pitch count over at least two or three starts in the minors before integrating him in the rotation in the early portion of June.

MAY 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Bell - Carries slump into series finale Bell will start at first base and bat fifth Sunday against the Brewers.

Impact He'll look to get back on track in the series finale in Milwaukee after going 0-for-14 with a walk and an RBI in the Nationals' last four games. Due to the ongoing slump, Bell's season-long batting average has dropped from .333 to .301.

MAY 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE