WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Joe Ross - Increasing pitch count in sim game Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that Ross (elbow) will advance to a two-inning simulated game at the organization's spring training facility in Florida this week, Mark...

Impact Ross and Stephen Strasburg (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) both appear to be at the same stage in their respective recoveries from long-term injuries, as the two are scheduled to increase their pitch counts versus live hitters this week. Martinez said that he wants Ross to build up his workload beyond two innings before advancing to a minor-league rehab assignment, which is likely at least a week away.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Stephen Strasburg - Ready to pitch two innings Strasburg (neck) is scheduled to pitch a two-inning simulated game this week at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that he wants Strasburg to build up his pitch count a bit more before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment, so the 33-year-old seems likely to remain in Florida for at least another week. The Nationals have been bringing Strasburg along slowly as he works his way back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, which cut short his 2021 season. Since he'll presumably require multiple rehab starts before returning from the 10-day injured list, Strasburg appears unlikely to make his 2022 Nationals debut until June.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kyle Finnegan - Shakes off finger injury Finnegan (finger) appeared in relief in Thursday's 9-7 loss to the Rockies, striking out two over a 19-pitch inning while allowing one earned run on two hits.

Impact The appearance was Finnegan's first since he suffered a cut on one of his fingers in a May 1 outing against the Giants. Assuming Finnegan felt fine coming out of Thursday's appearance, he'll be available out of the bullpen for Sunday's series finale with the Angels.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Alonso 2 HRs in 2nd game, Mets split doubleheader with Phils

Pete Alonso homered twice, had three hits and drove in five runs to lead the New York Mets to a 6-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies and a doubleheader split

MAY 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Keibert Ruiz - Receives breather Sunday Ruiz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Ruiz started the past three games and will sit for Sunday's day game. Riley Adams will work behind the plate in his place, forming a battery with Erick Fedde.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Victor Robles - Not starting Sunday Robles is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Robles will receive a day off after starting the past nine games, and he had a .367/.412/.467 slash line with three doubles, six RBI and six runs during that stretch. Lane Thomas will start in center field Sunday.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kentucky Derby longshot helps Nats let loose, get win ANAHEIM -- Nearly every Nationals player and team personnel member huddled around a single television in the visiting clubhouse at Angel Sta...

MAY 8, 2022 • MLB.COM

Angels and Nationals meet with series tied 1-1

The Los Angeles Angels and Washington Nationals play on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game series

MAY 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yadiel Hernandez - Slugs second homer Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run in 7-3 win against the Angels on Saturday.

Impact Hernandez took Angels' starter Michael Lorenzen deep in the second inning and later tacked on a walk and run in the fourth. The 34-year-old has been scorching of late, going 13-for-25 with four doubles and a home run in his last six games, and is now slashing .371/.400/.557 on the season.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Bell - Launches home run, scores thrice. Bell went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two additional runs during Saturday's 7-3 victory against the Angels.

Impact Bell opened the scoring with a solo shot in the first inning, walked and scored in the fourth and singled and scored in the fifth. This is Bell's third instance reaching base three times in six games this month and he's still slashing a robust .351/.452/.546, all of which rank top 12 in MLB.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nelson Cruz - 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

Josiah Gray - Posts fourth win Gray (4-2) earned the win during Saturday's 7-3 victory over the Angels, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

Impact Gray was staked to an early 4-0 lead and almost gave it up in a three-run fourth inning but held on to record his fourth win in five starts. Excluding his first turn, Gray has permitted eight runs 27.1 innings -- good for a 2.63 ERA -- though he's already handed out 16 free passes. The 24-year-old will be in for a challenge as he's scheduled to face Houston next weekend.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals achieve elevated status with power surge in victory over Angels Hitting coach Darnell Coles's prescient pregame observation comes to fruition as Washington bashes three home runs in 7-3 win in Anaheim.

MAY 8, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Nationals go deep 3 times in 7-3 victory over Angels Josh Bell, Yadiel Hernandez and Nelson Cruz went deep, Maikel Franco drove in three runs and the Washington Nationals snapped a three-game l...

MAY 8, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Nationals go deep 3 times in 7-3 victory over Angels

Josh Bell, Yadiel Hernandez and Nelson Cruz went deep, Maikel Franco drove in three runs and the Washington Nationals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the...

MAY 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alcides Escobar - Not in lineup Escobar will sit Saturday against the Angels, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Impact Escobar has struggled at the plate this season, hitting 205/.271/.256, though he does have nine hits in his last six games. Dee Strange-Gordon will take over at shortstop Saturday.

MAY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Angels host the Nationals on 6-game home win streak

The Los Angeles Angels host the Washington Nationals looking to extend a six-game home winning streak

MAY 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Joan Adon - Drops third straight Adon (1-5) allowed three runs on three hits and five walks over five innings Friday, striking out six and taking a loss against the Angels.

Impact After an RBI groundout from Shohei Ohtani in the first inning, Adon turned in three scoreless frames. He then coughed up a two-run double to Mike Trout in the fifth. Both his six punchouts and five walks were the highest he's posted in a start this season. Adon will carry a 6.99 ERA into his projected home outing against the Mets next week.

MAY 7, 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

Yadiel Hernandez - Sitting Friday Hernandez is not in Friday's lineup against the Angels, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Hernandez has gone 12-for-22 (.545) with four doubles, four strikeouts, one walk and one steal over his last five games. Lane Thomas will get the start in left field with lefty Jhonathan Diaz on the mound for the opposition.

MAY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nelson Cruz - 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

Maikel Franco - Three hits in loss to Colorado Franco went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in Thursday's loss to the Rockies.

Impact The veteran third baseman is on a bit of a tear, posting five multi-hit performances over the last 12 games and slashing .306/.333/.449 with a homer, four doubles, four RBI and six runs. Franco has credited an improved offseason diet and routine for his rebound from a career-worst 2021 campaign, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports, and the 29-year-old has lost over 25 pounds from last year's playing weight. "I feel great about it," Franco said. "The way that I look, the way that I play is different. I feel like I always have more energy. It's been great so far."

MAY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Keibert Ruiz - Pops first homer of 2022 Ruiz went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBI in Thursday's loss to the Rockies.

Impact The backstop took Jhoulys Chacin deep in the sixth inning for a solo shot, Ruiz's first homer of the year. The 23-year-old has six hits in his last three games including two doubles, pushing his slash line on the season up to .275/.306/.388 with five runs and nine RBI through 21 contests.

MAY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Corbin may have a new regular catcher in Riley Adams Adams has caught three of Corbin's better starts this season, including an eight-inning complete game Wednesday.

MAY 6, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Angels take on the Nationals on home winning streak

The Los Angeles Angels host the Washington Nationals looking to continue a five-game home winning streak

MAY 6, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS