WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Kyle Finnegan - Picks up second save Finnegan allowed one hit and no walks in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save against the Cubs on Friday.

Impact Finnegan has taken on ninth-inning duties after Brad Hand and Daniel Hudson (COVID-19 protocols) were traded away, and he's converted on a pair of save chances across the last two days. The right-hander allowed two runs in his first appearance after the All-Star break, but he's now tossed 7.2 scoreless innings in his last seven outings and should be considered the favorite for save opportunities.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Paolo Espino - Returns to win column Espino (3-2) allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out six in 5.1 innings to earn the win against the Cubs on Friday.

Impact Espino stepped in on short notice Friday after Jon Lester was traded to St. Louis, and he was effective while lasting five innings in a third consecutive appearance. Although the Nationals didn't provide excessive run support in the 4-3 victory, the right-hander was still able to return to the win column for the first time since June 28. Espino has posted a 2.35 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 15.1 innings across his last three outings, and he tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Phillies on Wednesday.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mason Thompson - Slated to join big-league club Thompson is expected to join the major-league roster Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Thompson made his major-league debut earlier this season and allowed a run in three innings across four relief appearances. He's posted a 5.34 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 28.2 innings at Triple-A El Paso this year, and he'll now get a chance to carve out a big-league role with his new club.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chicago to visit Washington Saturday

The Cubs will start Kyle Hendricks on Saturday while the Nationals have yet to decide who will get the start

JULY 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

'Step back, refocus, reboot': Nationals ship off 30 percent of roster while talking about the future GM Mike Rizzo acknowledged that building around Juan Soto and locking him down for the long haul would be a priority for the Nationals.

JULY 31, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Nationals defeat Cubs 4-3 after both sell off at deadline

Josh Bell and Luis García homered, and the Washington Nationals defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-3 to cap a day when both franchises completed trade deadline teardowns

JULY 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mad Max: A stroll down Nats memory lane WASHINGTON -- There was an unofficial eighth day of the week in the Washington, D.C., area that fell once every five games during the baseba...

JULY 31, 2021 • MLB.COM

Several teams improved at the MLB trade deadline, but the Dodgers were clear winners

In landing Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, the Dodgers were the big winners at the MLB trade deadline, Pedro Moura writes.

JULY 31, 2021

Championship shells: Cubs, Nats complete teardown trades

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo wears his 2019 World Series ring as a reminder of the goal each season

JULY 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Deal 'em up! Scherzer, Turner, Bryant, Báez and Berríos move

Now this truly was an All-Star trade deadline day

JULY 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

René Rivera - Not in Friday's lineup Rivera isn't starting Friday against the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Rivera could see additional playing time after Yan Gomes was traded away Friday, but he'll remain out of the lineup for the series opener against the Cubs. Tres Barrera will start at catcher and bat sixth.

JULY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

MLB Trade Tracker: Scherzer, Báez, Bryant, Kimbrel on the move at deadline

Max Scherzer was on the move at the trade deadline, as were Cubs Javier Báez, Kris Bryant and Craig Kimbrel. Get the latest!

JULY 30, 2021

Victor Robles - Not starting Friday Robles (back) isn't starting Friday's game against the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Robles will be out of the lineup for a third straight game as he continues to deal with back tightness. Andrew Stevenson will remain in center field and lead off.

JULY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

The A's add depth on deadline day with trade for Nats' Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison After making two trades earlier in the week, the A's added significant depth pieces just before the deadline in a trade with Washington.

JULY 30, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Paolo Espino - Starting Friday Espino is starting Friday's game against the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact The Nationals likely would have started Jon Lester on Friday, but Espino will step in after Lester was traded to the Cardinals. The right-hander has allowed three runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out nine in 10 innings across his last two outings.

JULY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers all in on title defense, landing Max Scherzer, Trea Turner in blockbuster

The defending champion Dodgers swung a huge trade ahead of Friday's deadline, landing All-Stars Max Scherzer and Trea Turner.

JULY 30, 2021

Nats fire sale: Gomes, Harrison, Lester traded The final chips of the Washington Nationals’ fire sale fell into play shortly before the 4 p.m. Friday trade deadline, with catcher Yan Gome...

JULY 30, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM

Nationals trade Yan Gomes, Josh Harrison and Jon Lester to cap off fire sale Harrison and Gomes were both starters for the Nationals, who will debut a whole new look against the Cubs this weekend.

JULY 30, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Cardinals get veteran lefty Jon Lester from rebuilding Nats

The Washington Nationals completed their final trade of a dizzying sell-off, sending veteran left-hander Jon Lester to the St. Louis Cardinals at the deadline

JULY 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cards land Lester in swap for OF  The Cardinals have acquired veteran left-hander Jon Lester from the Nationals. ESPN's Jesse Rogers was the first to report the deal. Outfiel...

JULY 30, 2021 • MLB.COM

Nationals agree to send Gomes, Harrison to Athletics The Washington Nationals kept wheeling and dealing, agreeing to trade catcher Yan Gomes and infielder-outfielder Josh Harrison to the Oaklan...

JULY 30, 2021 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Cardinals acquire Jon Lester from Nationals Lester, 37, is 3-5 with a 5.02 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings across 16 starts this season, his first with the Nationals.

JULY 30, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Cardinals acquire Jon Lester from Nationals: Source Lester, 37, is 3-5 with a 5.02 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings across 16 starts this season, his first with the Nationals.

JULY 30, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Lane Thomas - Moves to Nationals Thomas was traded from the Cardinals to the Nationals on Friday in exchange for lefty Jon Lester, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Thomas was in the majors most of the season for St. Louis, but he appeared in only 32 games and has only 48 plate appearances. The 25-year-old could receive an opportunity to showcase himself in Washington down the stretch amid the rebuild.

JULY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

The Dodgers have pulled off a deal for ace Max Scherzer and All-Star shortstop Trea Turner of the Nationals.

The Dodgers have pulled off a deal for ace Max Scherzer and All-Star shortstop Trea Turner of the Nationals.

JULY 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS