WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Paolo Espino - Nationals-Phillies postponed Espino and the Nationals won't play the Phillies on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Washington.

Impact The two teams will instead conclude their series with a nine-inning regulation game Thursday, which was slated to be an off day for both Washington and Philadelphia. The Nationals haven't announced how the postponement will affect their rotation plans, but Espino will presumably be pushed back one day in the pitching schedule to start Thursday's contest.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Espino expected to start as Nationals host the Phillies

The Phillies will start Aaron Nola on Wednesday while the Nationals are expected to counter with Paolo Espino

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

With a demotion, the Nationals aren't giving up on Victor Robles. They're buying him time "I really think his future still here is bright," Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "We want him back here."

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Carter Kieboom - Goes deep in loss Kieboom went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk during Tuesday's loss to the Phillies.

Impact Kieboom took Matt Moore deep with a 406-footer in the fourth inning. It was the sixth long ball of the year for the 23-year-old, who has tallied two long balls in as many games. Overall this season, he's batting .237/.341/.421 with six homers.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Corbin - Tagged for six runs Corbin (7-14) took the loss Tuesday against the Phillies after surrendering six runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out four across five innings.

Impact Corbin got off to a strong start, blanking the Phillies through three frames before they unloaded. Once again, Corbin was victimized by the long ball, allowing homers to Andrew McCutchen and Rafael Marchan, bringing his season allowance to 33, the most in the majors. The 32-year-old departed the game with a 6.19 ERA, the worst in MLB among qualifying pitchers. Meanwhile, Corbin has earned a win just once in his last nine starts. The lefty projects to take the mound again Monday against the Mets.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Surging Phillies rally past Nationals for 5th straight win The Phillies, who have scored at least seven runs in six consecutive games for the first time since June 1933, moved within 2 games of idle...

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • MCALL.COM

The Phillies' patchwork lineup keeps producing in a 12-6 rout of the Nationals They began August with eight consecutive victories. They ended it with five wins in a row. In between, they lost 11 of 15 games.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Surging Phillies win 5th in a row, rally past Nationals 12-6

Bryce Harper hit a go-ahead single against his former team as part of a six-run sixth inning, Rafael Marchán, Andrew McCutchen and Brad Miller hit two-run homers, and the Philadelp...

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wander Suero - Recalled from Triple-A Suero was recalled by the Nationals on Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Suero's arrival gives the Nationals an extra bullpen arm with Kyle Finnegan away on paternity leave. Suero owns a 6.29 ERA in 34.1 innings at the MLB level this season.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kyle Finnegan - Placed on paternity list Finnegan landed on the paternity list Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Finnegan has emerged as the Nationals' primary closer, saving six games in his last 13 appearances while allowing just a single earned run in 12 innings over that stretch. No other National has recorded a save since Brad Hand was dealt to the Blue Jays at the deadline, so the next man up in Finnegan's absence isn't obvious. Among the relievers currently on the roster, Mason Thompson, Austin Voth and Wander Suero (who was recalled to take Finnegan's roster spot) have appeared in the highest-leverage situations this season. Finnegan should return no later than Friday.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Andrew Stevenson - Back in big leagues Stevenson was Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com on Tuesday.

Impact Stevenson gives the Nationals an extra outfielder with Victor Robles getting demoted in a corresponding move. Stevenson was claiming at-bats from Robles in late July, but he's hit just .215/.272/.309 this season, so he's unlikely to feature frequently down the stretch. Lane Thomas, who's hit a surprising .310/.408/.452 in 13 games since joining the team at the deadline, is likely to remain the primary center fielder, at least until he cools down.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Yadiel Hernandez - On bench Tuesday Hernandez will sit Tuesday against the Phillies.

Impact Hernandez has started regularly throughout August, though the Nationals have been sitting him against lefties of late, as he's been on the bench against four of the last six the team has faced. He'll sit against southpaw Matt Moore on Tuesday, with Josh Bell moving out to left field.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Maria Torres: Nationals optioned struggling center fielder... - The Athletic Nationals optioned struggling center fielder Victor Robles to triple-A. Manager Dave Martinez won't address the move until after tonight's g...

AUGUST 31, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Alcides Escobar - Sitting Tuesday Escobar (knee) will sit Tuesday against the Phillies.

Impact Escobar left Monday's series opener after fouling a ball off his knee and will be sidelined for at least one game. Luis Garcia slides to shortstop in his absence, with Adrian Sanchez starting at second base.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Victor Robles - Optioned to Triple-A Robles was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact For all his athleticism and prospect pedigree, Robles simply hasn't hit the ball well enough to be a big-league regular. His 68 wRC+ this season (the product of a .203/.310/.295 slash line) isn't meaningfully better than his 65 mark from last year. He'd already been losing at-bats to Lane Thomas in center and will now head to the minors in search of regular playing time. Robles has made far too much weak contact in the air this season, a recipe which doesn't usually lead to success. Among hitters with at least 350 plate appearances, his 19.9 degree average launch angle ties Nolan Arenado for ninth-highest, but his 84.1 mph average exit velocity is the third-lowest. Unless he suddenly adds a ton of strength, he'll need to re-work his swing to hit more line drives.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Carter Kieboom - Pops fifth homer Kieboom went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Phillies.

Impact He took Zack Wheeler deep in the third inning, but the Nats were already in a 6-2 hole at that point. Kieboom has three of his five homers on the season in his last 11 games, but his .179/.319/.436 slash line and 5:14 BB:K over that stretch indicate he's got a long way to go before he'll be a reliable fantasy asset.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Josiah Gray - Falls to Phillies Gray (0-2) took the loss Monday, coughing up six runs on seven hits and three walks over four innings as the Nationals were downed 7-4 by the Phillies. He struck out four.

Impact The right-hander served up a two-run shot to Bryce Harper in the first inning on his 10th pitch of the game, and it was all downhill from there for Gray. It's the first time in six starts for the Nats he's failed to last at least five innings or given up more than three runs, but the one constant for Gray has been his inability to keep the ball in the park -- he's been tagged for at least one homer in every big-league appearance this year, and his 4.72 ERA is fueled by a 2.92 HR/9.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Corbin expected to start for Washington against Philadelphia

The Nationals will send Patrick Corbin to the mound Tuesday and the Phillies plan to give Matt Moore the start

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

'The future is here': Keibert Ruiz makes his debut with Nationals Keibert Ruiz was 1-for-4 with a bloop single in the Washington Nationals' 7-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Fantasy football mock draft: Results, analysis from a 12-team, SuperFlex PPR league draft featuring Ryan Zimmerman Scott Engel breaks down the intriguing selections and nuances of a recent 12-team, PPR, SuperFlex draft featuring the Nats' Ryan Zimmerman.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Phillies beat Nationals 7-4 for fourth straight win Phillies continue their success at Nationals Park, improve to 7-1 there on the season.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • MCALL.COM

Harper homers, Phillies beat Nats 7-4 for 4th straight win

Bryce Harper homered in the first inning and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 7-4, stretching their win streak to four games

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alcides Escobar - Nursing knee contusion Escobar is dealing with a contusion on the inside of his left knee, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Manager Dave Martinez said the 34-year-old is day-to-day while his knee heals. Either Luis Garcia or Adrian Sanchez figure to get the bulk of the work at shortstop for however long Escobar is sidelined.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

With Nats debut done, Ruiz ready to improve WASHINGTON -- Keibert Ruiz woke up Monday morning around six o’clock. He had slept well, and he was excited: the next chapter in his promisi...

AUGUST 31, 2021 • MLB.COM

Alcides Escobar - Exits after foul tip Escobar exited Monday's game against the Phillies after fouling a ball off his left knee, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The veteran infielder required help to get off the field. Adrian Sanchez entered the game to replace Escobar, who should be considered day-to-day until the Nationals provide an update on his condition.

AUGUST 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE