WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Erick Fedde - Picks up first win of season Fedde (1-0) collected the win Friday in a 7-2 victory over the Pirates, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.

Impact The right-hander needed 96 pitches (59 strikes) to get through the minimum five frames to qualify for a win, but that was about the only suspense on a night the Nationals never trailed. Fedde has had a solid start to the season, posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB through his first 10 innings, and he gets another favorable matchup in his next scheduled start Tuesday, at home against the Diamondbacks.

APRIL 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pittsburgh Pirates play the Washington Nationals Saturday

The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Washington Nationals on Saturday

APRIL 16, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bell is true ringer in heart of Nats' lineup PITTSBURGH -- The presence of Washington first baseman Josh Bell has drawn the attention of the crowd at PNC Park early in the Nationals’ se...

APRIL 16, 2022 • MLB.COM

Erick Fedde finds the right pitch mix to help Nationals beat Pirates The 29-year-old right-hander delivers his second straight strong start, varying his pitches and keeping the Pirates off-balance in a 7-2 win...

APRIL 16, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Bell, Cruz have 3 RBIs each, Nats beat Pirates 7-2

Nelson Cruz and Josh Bell drove in three runs each and Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2

APRIL 16, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nationals place Dee Strange-Gordon on IL as part of a series of moves The Nationals put the veteran utility player on the injured list for undisclosed reasons. The ripple effect was the addition of two players.

APRIL 15, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Victor Robles - Remains out of lineup Robles isn't starting Friday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Robles will be out of the lineup for a second straight day since he's been working extensively with hitting coach Darnell Coles recently to work through a tweak in his swing, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports. Manager Dave Martinez expects Robles to start Saturday and Sunday, but Lane Thomas will start in center field and bat eighth Friday.

APRIL 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Palacios - Claimed by Nationals Palacios was claimed off waivers by the Nationals on Friday.

Impact Palacios was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Monday, and he'll now land a spot in another organization. The 26-year-old hit .238 with two homers, five runs, four RBI and two stolen bases in six games at Triple-A Buffalo to begin the year, and he should now report to Triple-A Rochester.

APRIL 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Donovan Casey - Officially recalled by Nationals Casey was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Casey will provide outfield depth for the Nationals after Dee Strange-Gordon (illness) was placed on the injured list Friday. Casey hasn't yet made his big-league debut but has hit .250 with a home run, six RBI and four runs in six games with Rochester to begin the year.

APRIL 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dee Strange-Gordon - Placed on injured list Strange-Gordon (illness) was placed on the injured list Friday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Strange-Gordon was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to his illness, and he'll be forced to spend some time away from the team. If the 33-year-old was placed on the COVID-19 IL, he'll be eligible to return as soon as he tests negative. Victor Robles should have an even stronger grip on playing time in center field, while Donovan Casey was recalled from Triple-A Rochester.

APRIL 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Bell is back in a familiar place, as familiar questions about his future linger Bell's been the Nationals' most productive hitters so far this season.

APRIL 15, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Yadiel Hernandez - Three hits in Thursday's loss Hernandez went 3-for-4 with two RBI in Thursday's loss to the Pirates.

Impact The 34-year-old has started four of the last five games, going 7-for-14 over that stretch with a double, a run scored and Thursday's two RBI. With neither Lane Thomas nor Victor Robles doing much at the plate to begin the year, Hernandez will likely continue to see regular playing time as long as he's making a contribution, but from a fantasy perspective he's a better option in points leagues -- Hernandez is unlikely to make an impact in any roto category outside of batting average.

APRIL 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates play the Nationals after Vogelbach's 4-hit game

The Pittsburgh Pirates play the Washington Nationals after Daniel Vogelbach had four hits on Thursday in a 9-4 win over the Nationals

APRIL 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Prospect Adon has the stuff, but learning curve steep in Majors PITTSBURGH \-\- Washington rookie right-hander Joan Adon has the stuff to pitch in Major League Baseball, which is why the 23-year-old has b...

APRIL 15, 2022 • MLB.COM

Joan Adon - Another poor outing Adon (0-2) allowed six earned runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out five across 4.2 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Pirates.

Impact Adon was handed a three-run lead prior to taking the mound, but he was unable to maintain the advantage. He surrendered a pair of home runs that accounted for half of the damage against him, and he also struggled to get pitches in the zone. Across a pair of starts and a total of nine innings, Adon has allowed 10 earned runs and seven walks. Prior to earning a spot in the Nationals' rotation to open the campaign, Adon had thrown only 23.1 combined innings between the upper levels of the minors and the major leagues. That makes a demotion to Triple-A Rochester a realistic possibility if his struggles continue, but for now Adon is projected to start Tuesday against Arizona.

APRIL 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dee Strange-Gordon - Scratched due to illness Strange-Gordon was scratched from the lineup due to an illness Thursday against Pittsburgh, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Strange-Gordon was set to start in center field, though he was instead forced to stay at the team hotel. Manager Davey Martinez declined further comment but did say the team would make a decision about a potential roster move Friday. If Strange-Gordon were to remain sidelined moving forward, Victor Robles would likely have a more secure grip on playing time while Lucius Fox may also shift up the depth chart.

APRIL 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Reynolds, Vogelbach power Pirates to 9-4 win over Nationals

Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run home run after settling his arbitration case with $13.5 million, two-year contract, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates overcome a three-run deficit to beat...

APRIL 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Donovan Casey - Slated to join major-league club Casey will be recalled by the Nationals on Thursday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact It's not yet clear whether Casey will be able to join the team ahead of Thursday's game against the Pirates. However, he'll provide outfield depth for the major-league club after he hit .250 with a home run, two triples, two doubles, six RBI and four runs in six appearances at Triple-A Rochester to begin the year.

APRIL 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Lane Thomas - Added to Thursday's lineup Thomas has been added to the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Thomas was initially slated to sit Thursday, but he'll start in center field and bat eighth after Dee Strange-Gordon (undisclosed) was a late scratch. Thomas has gone 3-for-12 with a double, four RBI, a run and four strikeouts in his last three appearances.

APRIL 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dee Strange-Gordon - Late scratch Thursday Strange-Gordon was scratched from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates for an undisclosed reason.

Impact Strange-Gordon was initially slated to start in center field, but Lane Thomas will now bat eighth as the starting center fielder. It's not yet clear why Strange-Gordon was removed from the lineup or whether he'll be available off the bench.

APRIL 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yasel Antuna - Strong start at High-A Antuna is 5-for-13 (.385) with four walks and three strikeouts through four games at High-A Wilmington.

Impact Antuna is already on the 40-man roster, so he will likely get bumped up to Double-A in the next month or two if he continues to showcase a strong approach. A seven-figure international signee in 2016, Antuna has been delayed by injuries, most notably Tommy John surgery, and spent all of last season at the High-A level.

APRIL 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gerardo Carrillo - Working in relief at Double-A Carrillo has been working out of the bullpen at Double-A Harrisburg.

Impact A former pitching prospect, Carrillo has profiled better in relief for a couple years now and it seems the Nationals have made that transition official. He has logged two single-inning outings this season, giving up three earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three.

APRIL 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cesar Hernandez - Hitting well out of leadoff spot Hernandez will start at second base and serve as Washington's leadoff man in Thursday's game in Pittsburgh.

Impact He's been included in the lineup for each of Washington's first eight games, drawing all of his starts out of the leadoff spot. Lane Thomas finished the 2021 campaign as the Nationals' table setter, but he'll sit Thursday for the third time this season and doesn't seem to have much hope of reclaiming the job at this time. Hernandez is hitting a solid .276 to begin the season, but he's drawn just one walk and has yet to record an RBI or attempt a stolen base.

APRIL 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Lane Thomas - Not starting Thursday Thomas isn't starting Thursday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Thomas started in each of the last three games and went 3-for-12 with a double, four RBI, a run and four strikeouts. Yadiel Hernandez will start in left field and bat sixth Thursday.

APRIL 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Victor Robles - On bench Thursday Robles is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Washington manager Dave Martinez will move two of his everyday outfielders to the bench for the series opener in Pittsburgh, with both Robles and Lane Thomas getting the night off. Dee Strange-Gordon will step in as the center fielder in place of Robles, who is hitless with six strikeouts across his first 15 at-bats of the season.

APRIL 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE