APRIL 1, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM
WASHINGTON NATIONALS 71-91 · 4TH IN NL EAST
71-91 · 4TH IN NL EAST
Victor Robles gets another chance to spark his career in center field Robles finished last season with the Class AAA Rochester Red Wings, complicating his future with the club.
Keibert Ruiz - Scuffling this spring Ruiz is hitting .125 (2-for-16) so far in Grapefruit League action with one double and a 1:2 BB:K.
Impact The contact is nice to see, but it's not a surprise after Ruiz posted a 9.4 percent strikeout rate in 96 big-league plate appearances between the Dodgers and Nationals last season. The 23-year-old is being counted on to seize the top catching job in Washington this season, and a handful of spring at-bats won't jeopardize his spot on the depth chart after he slashed .310/.377/.616 with 21 homers and a 30:33 BB:K across 72 games at Triple-A in 2021.
APRIL 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Riley Adams - Seems set as No. 2 catcher Adams should open the season as the Nationals' backup catcher behind Keibert Ruiz, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Impact Acquired from Toronto last season in a trade for Brad Hand, Adams posted an .887 OPS in 90 plate appearances with Washington after slashing .239/.371/.487 with seven homers in 35 games for Triple-A Buffalo last year prior to the trade. The 25-year-old's power and patience profile could give him some modest fantasy value in deep NL-only formats.
APRIL 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Canó holds down first; Walker blanks Nats PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Mets infielder Robinson Canó started Thursday’s game at first base during a 7-3 loss to the Nationals at Clover Park...
APRIL 1, 2022 • MLB.COM
Ehire Adrianza - Suffers quad injury Adrianza injured his left quad running the bases Thursday against the Mets, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Impact The severity of the injury is unknown, though manager Davey Martinez suggested the team would know more Friday. The issue puts Adrianza's availability for Opening Day in question. Though Maikel Franco has emerged as the favorite to start at third base, Adrianza is capable of playing nearly every position on the diamond so his absence would cost the Nationals some depth.
APRIL 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nationals 7, Mets 3
APRIL 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Victor Robles - Likely locked in as starter in CF Nationals manager Dave Martinez acknowledged Thursday that Robles will likely open the season as the team's everyday center fielder, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Impact Robles' 2021 season came to an end at Triple-A Rochester, as he was demoted to the affiliate Aug. 31 after slashing a miserable .203/.310/.295 in 369 plate appearances. The 24-year-old arrived at spring training with something to prove, and though he's gone just 2-for-15 at the dish through his first seven Grapefruit League games, Martinez said that the Nationals are banking on a swing change to yield better production for Robles once the regular season gets underway. At this stage, Robles' defensive abilities seem to be the main reason why he'll enter the season with a starting role, and he's likely to bat either eighth or ninth in the order until he shows notable improvement as a hitter.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Erick Fedde - Slated for MRI Fedde will undergo an MRI on his right side after being scratched from Thursday's Grapefruit League start, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Impact The Nationals aren't too concerned about Fedde's side issue, but he'll still undergo further examination as a precaution. As long as his MRI comes back clean, he could throw a live BP within the next few days and make another appearance in an exhibition game prior to the end of spring training.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Erick Fedde - Scratched from Thursday's start Fedde was scratched from Thursday's scheduled start against the Mets after experiencing tightness in his right side, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Impact Fedde has had a strong start to camp, as he tossed 4.2 scoreless innings across his first two Grapefruit League starts of the year. Josh Rogers will take his place as the starter in Thursday's matchup, and it's not yet clear how long Fedde will be sidelined or whether he'll make another spring appearance prior to the start of the regular season.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Francisco Perez - Optioned to Triple-A Perez was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Thursday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.
Impact Perez was claimed off waivers by the Nationals in early November, though he failed to land a spot on the Opening Day roster after giving up eight runs in three innings across four relief appearances this spring. He'll begin the year in the minors but will be in the mix to provide bullpen depth at some point.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Maikel Franco - Favorite to start at third Franco is the favorite to start at third base Opening Day for the Nationals, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.
Impact Franco is one of only six infielders remaining in big-league camp after Washington's latest round of spring cuts, putting him in line to begin the season in a starting role at the hot corner. The 29-year-old is in camp as a non-roster invitee and has yet to be added to the 40-man roster, but the injury to Carter Kieboom (forearm) opened his path to a starting spot. Franco appeared in 104 games for Baltimore last season and hit. 210/.253/.355 with 11 home runs, 22 doubles and 47 RBI.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nationals allow 29 runs in spring game vs Cardinals
Washington Nationals fans have reasons to doubt 2022 will be their year, and they got 29 more WednesdayMARCH 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Where will Michael Conforto play baseball in 2022?
With Opening Day almost here, Michael Conforto still needs a team for 2022. Jordan Shusterman ponders where he could end up.MARCH 30, 2022
Cardinals 29, Nationals 8
MARCH 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyle Finnegan - Attempting to get on track in camp Finnegan threw a scoreless two-thirds of an inning with one hit allowed in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
Impact Even so, Finnegan sits with a 12.27 ERA this spring. He was knocked around for five runs in his first three Grapefruit League appearances, and while he's turned in a pair of scoreless appearances since, he hasn't fanned a single batter his last couple times out. By no means does that negate Finnegan's strong 2021 body of work, but manager Dave Martinez seemed to prefer Tanner Rainey as his closer entering camp and Finnegan has done little so far to close the gap.
MARCH 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Paolo Espino - Likely to begin season in bullpen Espino threw a simulated game Wednesday and has been stretching out for starting duty this spring, but he's expected to open the season as a long reliever for Washington, Mark Zuck...
Impact Washington is expected to be without Stephen Strasburg (neck) and Joe Ross (elbow) to begin the season, but unless the team loses any other projected rotation members to injury in the final week of spring training, Espino likely won't be in line for a starting role. When the Nationals' starting depth was challenged in 2021, Espino stepped in admirably and produced a 4.50 ERA over 86 innings in his 19 starts, but as a 35-year-old with a limited big-league track record prior to last year, he's not a high priority for Washington.
MARCH 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Perspective ' Livan Hernandez is a living, breathing piece of Washington Nationals history Livan Hernandez has baseball wisdom in his brain and the Washington Nationals in his heart.
MARCH 30, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Juan Soto's present, future mean most in 2022 for Nationals
No one matters as much for the Washington Nationals in 2022 and beyond than Juan SotoMARCH 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Analysis ' Stephen Strasburg tries something intriguing in a bullpen session: A full windup Strasburg, 33, is searching for a rhythm as he looks to return from back-to-back season-ending surgeries.
MARCH 30, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Hunter Harvey - Scheduled to face hitters Harvey (triceps) is slated to face hitters in a live batting practice session Wednesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Impact The Nationals picked up Harvey on March 21 via waivers after the 27-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment for the second time since the end of the 2021 season. Though the oft-injured pitcher was able to pass a physical, he's still in the process of building up after he finished last season on the injured list with a right triceps strain. Harvey has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut and could be a candidate to open the season on the 15-day injured list, but he shouldn't be sidelined for much longer than the minimum amount of time if he avoids any further setbacks.
MARCH 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Correa hits 1st homer for Twins, Verlander sharp for Astros
Carlos Correa hit his first spring homer with the Twins, providing a preview of what he could provide Minnesota’s lineup this seasonMARCH 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astros 3, Nationals 1
MARCH 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Stras believes 'there is still a lot left' for Nats WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- It has been a frustrating two years for Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Injuries are the reason he has on...
MARCH 29, 2022 • MLB.COM
Will Harris - Hits snag in recovery Harris said Monday that he's experiencing lingering issues after undergoing thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last June, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Impact Harris didn't go into detail regarding what exactly is ailing him, but he hasn't pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 19. The Nationals gave Harris a clean bill of health heading into spring training, but the setback he's dealing with looks like something that could force him to the injured list to begin the season. Since signing a three-year, $24 million deal with the Nationals following the 2019 season, Harris has made only 28 relief appearances for the club.
MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
