WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Victor Robles - Gets another leadoff chance Robles will start in center field and bat leadoff Sunday against the Cubs.

Impact With Washington keeping Alcides Escobar on the bench for the second day in a row, Robles will get another turn as the Nationals' leadoff man. He reached base on a single and walk across five plate appearances in Saturday's 6-3 loss.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Andrew Stevenson - Stuck on bench Stevenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Impact Even with Washington dealing away several veteran bats ahead of Friday's trade deadline, Stevenson still looks to be relegated to fourth-outfielder duties. He'll be on the bench for the second straight day while Washington rolls out an outfield of Victor Robles, Yadiel Hernandez and Juan Soto.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tres Barrera - Out of Sunday's lineup Barrera is not in the lineup Sunday against the Cubs, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact The 26-year-old started the past three games and will receive the day off Sunday. Barrera should continue to see regular starts down the stretch for Washington following the departure of Yan Gomes ahead of the trade deadline.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Alcides Escobar - Not starting Sunday Escobar is out of the lineup Sunday against the Cubs, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Escobar is 3-for-16 with a double and a run over his past four games and will sit for the second straight contest. Luis Garcia will start at shortstop while Adrian Sanchez works the keystone Sunday.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Luis García - Shifts to shortstop Saturday Garcia got the start at shortstop Saturday and hit fifth, going 1-for-4 in a 6-3 loss to the Cubs.

Impact Alcides Escobar, who was the shortstop Friday, got the night off while Adrian Sanchez took over at second base. With Trea Turner (COVID-19) now a Dodger, Garcia could be the Nats' shortstop of the future, but the team will likely spend the next two months deciding which middle infield position is the best fit as his long-term home. The 21-year-old is batting only .200 (6-for-30) in the majors this year, but his .303/.371/.599 slash line with 13 homers in 37 games for Triple-A Rochester represented a huge step forward in his offensive development.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Joe Ross - Stumbles against Cubs Ross (5-9) took the loss Saturday, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk over 4.1 innings as the Nationals fell 6-3 to the Cubs. He struck out five.

Impact The right-hander might be the Nats' de facto ace right now with Max Scherzer in Los Angeles and Stephen Strasburg (neck) having undergone thoracic outlet surgery this week, but he didn't pitch like it Saturday. Ross tossed 54 of 84 pitches for strikes in his shortest outing since May 26, and he'll take a 4.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 100:31 K:BB through 96.2 innings into his next start.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Alzolay expected to start for the Cubs against Nationals

The Cubs will start Adbert Alzolay on Sunday and the Nationals are expected to counter with Erick Fedde

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

New-look Nats come up short vs. Cubs WASHINGTON -- The departure of eight key players at the Trade Deadline on Friday left vacancies in the Nationals’ roster. It also has create...

AUGUST 1, 2021 • MLB.COM

Hendricks earns majors-best 13th win as Cubs beat Nats 6-3

Kyle Hendricks earned his major league-leading 13th victory, Rafael Ortega homered and the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 6-3

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nats' top pick has mentor waiting in Zim WASHINGTON -- Brady House had just turned 2 when Ryan Zimmerman was chosen by the Nationals as the franchise's first Draft pick in 2005. Six...

JULY 31, 2021 • MLB.COM

Maria Torres: Notes from today: Victor Robles (back) is back... - The Athletic Notes from today: Victor Robles (back) is back in the lineup for the Nationals and leading off. The Nationals' COVID-19 situation remains st...

JULY 31, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Alcides Escobar - Retreats to bench Escobar isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Cubs, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Escobar recorded hits in each of the last three games and went 3-for-13 with a double and a run. Luis Garcia will shift to shortstop while Adrian Sanchez starts at second base.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gerardo Parra - Gets breather Saturday Parra isn't starting Saturday's game against the Cubs, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Parra will get a chance to reset after he went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Friday. Yadiel Hernandez will take over in left field and bat fourth.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Bell - Not in Saturday's lineup Bell isn't starting Saturday against the Cubs, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Bell hit a solo home run in Friday's win over the Cubs, but he'll get a breather for the second game of the series. Ryan Zimmerman will start at first base and bat third.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Victor Robles - Returns to lineup Robles (back) is starting Saturday's game against the Cubs, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Robles didn't appear in any of the last three games while dealing with back tightness. However, he'll play center field and lead off Saturday. Across his last three starts, the 24-year-old went 1-for-10 with a run, an RBI, two walks and three strikeouts.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Maria Torres: Josiah Gray will be on his way to Washington... - The Athletic Josiah Gray will be on his way to Washington tomorrow, said a person with knowledge. He had to make a pitstop for some things left behind in...

JULY 31, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Mason Thompson - Available out of bullpen Saturday Thompson was added to the Nationals' 26-man roster Saturday and will be available to pitch against the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact One of the several prospects acquired in the Nationals' trade deadline teardown, Thompson will be available debut with his new club after appearing in only four games for the Padres this season, the most recent of which being July 1.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ranking all 56 deals from a wild MLB trade deadline

From "Ehh" to "OMG," Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman rank all 56 trades that occurred during a wacky MLB trade deadline.

JULY 31, 2021

Joe Ross - Set to start Saturday Ross will start Saturday's game against the Cubs, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Ross returned from the injured list Monday against the Phillies and tossed five shutout innings in the no-decision. The righty tossed 72 pitches Monday and could attempt to increase his workload in Saturday's outing.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Erick Fedde - Won't start Saturday Fedde won't start Saturday's game against the Cubs, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Shortly after the Nationals announced that Fedde would serve as Saturday's starter they corrected the information and said Joe Ross will take the mound instead. The 30-year-old Fedde could still start Sunday's series finale against the Cubs.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Erick Fedde - Starting Saturday Fedde will start Saturday's game against the Cubs, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The right-hander allowed four runs in 4.2 innings against the Phillies on Tuesday, and he'll start on short rest Saturday as the Nationals attempt to sort out their rotation plans after trading away Jon Lester and acquiring Josiah Gray. Across his last six starts, Fedde has put up an 8.53 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in 25.1 innings.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gabe Klobosits - Joins major-league roster Klobosits' contract was selected by the Nationals on Friday.

Impact Klobosits advanced to Triple-A Rochester on June 29, and he allowed an unearned run in 10 innings across eight relief appearances since then. The right-hander made his major-league debut in Friday's win over the Cubs and allowed a run on two hits and no walks in two-thirds of an inning to pick up the hold.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Adríán Sanchez - Contract selected by Nationals Sanchez's contract was selected by the Nationals on Friday.

Impact The 30-year-old returned from the injured list in mid-July, and he should now serve as a utility man for the big-league club after Trea Turner (illness) and Josh Harrison were recently traded. Sanchez has slashed .336/.385/.496 with four homers, 19 runs, 18 RBI and two stolen bases in 36 games at Triple-A Rochester this year.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Bell - Blasts home run Friday Bell went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a strikeout in Friday's 4-3 win over the Cubs.

Impact Bell got a breather in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader in Philadelphia, but he smacked his 17th home run of the season in his return to the lineup. Across 14 games since the All-Star break, the 28-year-old has slashed .250/.294/.604 with five home runs, 10 RBI and six runs.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Luis García - Homers in second inning Garcia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout in Friday's 4-3 win over the Cubs.

Impact Garcia was called up by the Nationals on Wednesday, and he put the team on the board with his first home run of the season Friday. The 21-year-old will likely serve as the primary second baseman for the major-league club after Trea Turner (illness) and Josh Harrison were recently traded.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE