WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Stephen Strasburg - Closing in on rehab assignment Strasburg (neck) took part in a heavy workout Tuesday. one day after throwing 60 pitches in a bullpen session, and Nationals manager Dave Martinez said the right-hander was "gettin...

Impact The skipper also indicated the team wouldn't rush Strasburg, however. "We just want to make sure he's ready," Martinez said. "If it takes a few extra days, a week or 10 days, whatever." Given that he's been sidelined since early June, Strasburg will likely need a fairly extensive rehab before being ready to rejoin the Nats' rotation, so a best-case scenario could see him back on the mound for Washington in late July or early August.

JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Erick Fedde - Roughed up for six runs Fedde (4-5) allowed six runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out two over 4.1 innings in a loss to the Padres on Tuesday.

Impact Fedde made his return to the rotation after missing a little time while on the 10-day injured list for a mild oblique strain. The 28-year-old held the Padres scoreless over the first three innings but served up a three-run blast to Wil Myers in the fourth and was charged with three more runs in the fifth while managing to only record one out. He owns a 4.53 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 52:26 K:BB over 59.2 innings and is projected to make a final start against the Giants over the weekend before heading into the All-Star break.

JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Harrison - Launches three-run homer Harrison went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and a walk in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Padres.

Impact Harrison had the biggest hit of the night for the Nationals, sending a game-tying, three-run blast to center field in the fifth inning. The long ball was a rarity, as it was his first since May 22 and fifth overall on the year. The 33-year-old is slashing .271/.350/.378 with 17 extra-base hits, 27 RBI, 27 runs scored, five steals and a 20:43 BB:K over 283 plate appearances.

JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Yan Gomes - Tallies three hits in loss Gomes went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Padres.

Impact Gomes doubled his first two times up and came around to score off the bat of Josh Harrison in the fifth. It was the second instance in which he's recorded multiple extra-base hits in a game this year. The 33-year-old backstop is slashing .266/.323/.443 with eight homers, 30 RBI, 28 runs scored and a 13:43 BB:K over 220 plate appearances. Gomes doesn't have much competition for reps at the moment after Alex Avila (calf) went on the injured list over the weekend and should be owned in most leagues given the lack of depth at his position.

JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Starlin Castro - Reaches base three times in loss Castro went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Padres.

Impact Castro picked up his third multi-hit effort over the last four games. He's been seeing the ball extremely well lately, recording a hit in 15 of his last 17 contests, while only striking once over his last nine. The 31-year-old notched a pair of singles in his first two at-bats Tuesday and came around to score off a Josh Harrison homer in the fifth. Castro is slashing .267/.321/.355 with three homers, 34 RBI, 23 runs scored and a 25:62 BB:K over 324 plate appearances

JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Juan Soto - Homers in loss Soto went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Padres.

Impact Soto sent a ball out to left for an opposite-field home run in the sixth to make it 6-4. It was his 10th of the year but just his third since June 9. The 22-year-old had some struggles throughout the first half of the season but is still slashing a satisfactory .277/.395/.438 with 20 extra-base hits, 39 RBI, 47 runs scored, five steals and a 51:47 BB:K over 309 plate appearances. He looks quite healthy now and is bound for a stellar second-half while trying to help lead his club back to the playoffs.

JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Paddack expected to start as Padres host the Nationals

The Nationals will start Patrick Corbin on Wednesday while the Padres are expected to counter with Chris Paddack

JULY 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Erick Fedde's third time through the Padres' lineup proves hazardous as Nationals fall Manager Dave Martinez's decision to send his starter out for the fifth inning backfires in 7-4 loss in San Diego.

JULY 7, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Pair of homers not enough to harness Padres SAN DIEGO -- Josh Harrison did it in the fifth inning. Juan Soto followed suit in the sixth. In spite of the Nationals knocking the ball out...

JULY 7, 2021 • MLB.COM

Myers, Machado lead Padres to 7-4 win against Nationals

Wil Myers hit a three-run homer and had five RBIs, and Manny Machado celebrated his 29th birthday with three hits and three runs for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Washington N...

JULY 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Stephen Strasburg is 'getting close' to a rehab assignment, Dave Martinez says The Nationals right-hander, sidelined with a neck issue, followed Monday's bullpen session with an on-field workout Tuesday at the Padres' P...

JULY 7, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Ryne Harper - Optioned to minors Harper was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact The righty has impressed in 9.2 innings of relief this season, allowing just one run across eight appearances. Harper has also walked just two batters, displaying a level of command that may result in more big-league opportunities at some point in 2021.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kyle Lobstein - Returns to minors Lobstein was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact The lefty appeared in three games after being recalled June 29, yielding two runs in 1.1 total innings with a walk and a strikeout. It was Lobstein's first big-league action since 2016 with the Pirates.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kyle Finnegan - Back from injured list Finnegan (hamstring) was activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact The right-hander threw a simulated game over the weekend, so he'll make his return from the injured list without heading to the minors for a rehab assignment. Finnegan has seven holds with a 3.86 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 36:17 K:BB across 30.1 innings this season.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Erick Fedde - Returns to start Tuesday Fedde (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Padres, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Fedde's last start before the injury was June 23, when he was shelled for five runs on six hits, two of which were homers, and three walks and in four innings. The righty will take his 3.90 ERA into a tough matchup in San Diego.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Humberto Arteaga - Outrighted to Triple-A Arteaga cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, freelance baseball writer Byron Kerr reports.

Impact Arteaga made his first major-league appearance of the season Friday and went 0-for-3 with an RBI. He's hit .227 with a home run, nine RBI and seven runs across 20 games with Triple-A Rochester this year, and he'll remain in the organization going forward after he went unclaimed on waivers.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nick Goody - Signs minor-league contract Goody signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Tuesday, freelance baseball writer Byron Kerr reports.

Impact Goody was let go by the Yankees on Sunday, but he'll land another minor-league roster spot several days later. The right-hander made 17 relief appearances for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and was effective with a 2.86 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 22 innings. He's been assigned to Triple-A Rochester but could join the Nationals' pitching staff at some point in 2021.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Carter Kieboom - Placed on injured list Kieboom (knee) was placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list Monday, freelance baseball writer Byron Kerr reports.

Impact Kieboom's knee injury has kept him sidelined since June 29, and it's not yet clear when he'll be able to return to action. His placement on the injured list will clear room on the Triple-A roster for Humberto Arteaga, who was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester as part of a corresponding move.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Seth Romero - Rehab progresses to Double-A Romero (ribs) will make a rehab start for Double-A Fredericksburg on Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Romero made his first rehab start in the Gulf Coast League on July 1, and he allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two in 1.2 innings. He's been shut down since April due to a stress fracture in his rib, but he'll take another step in his recovery Tuesday. Once he's fully healthy, the southpaw will likely join the rotation at Triple-A Rochester.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Luis García - On shelf at Triple-A Garcia has not played for Triple-A Rochester since June 25 due to an undisclosed injury, Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

Impact The 21-year-old homered in his first at-bat June 25, his fourth long ball in three days at Triple-A, but then exited the game and hasn't suited up since. The injury explains why Garcia wasn't called up recently when the Nationals dealt with some injuries on their infield, notably to Trea Turner. Until the team released word on what Garcia is dealing with, there's no way to predict when he might see game action or when he might be in line for a return to the majors, but his .383/.456/.767 slash line over 15 games in June for Rochester was very encouraging.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Bell heats up at the plate for Nationals After a slow start to the season, Josh Bell is heating up at the plate as the temperature soars in Washington.

JULY 6, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM

Nationals vs Padres Prediction and Pick for MLB Game Tonight From FanDuel Sportsbook Washington Nationals vs San Diego Padres prediction and MLB pick straight up for tonight's game between WSH vs SD.

JULY 6, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

Nationals Get Good News on Stephen Strasburg Injury Update The Washington Nationals have struggled to pitch consistently well so far this season as they rank right in the middle of the league with a...

JULY 6, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

With hot start, Nationals' Alcides Escobar did something not seen in MLB since 1930 The former Royals shortstop batted in his familiar leadoff spot on Monday and is off to sizzling star in Washington.

JULY 6, 2021 • KANSASCITY.COM

Josh Harrison - Steals base in win Harrison went 0-for-5 with a stolen base in Monday's 7-5 win over the Padres.

Impact Harrison was hitless Monday but reached base once thanks to a fielding error by Fernando Tatis. He ended up stealing second and was left stranded on third when the inning ended. The 33-year-old Harrison has been serviceable thus far, slashing .270/.348/.367 with four homers, 24 RBI, 26 runs scored, five steals and a 19:42 BB:K over 279 plate appearances. He hasn't homered or had a multi-RBI game since May 22, however.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE