WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Biden to host Dodgers, World Series champs, at White House

President Joe Biden will host the Los Angeles Dodgers at the White House on Friday to mark the team’s World Series victory last October over the Tampa Bay Rays

JULY 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jordy Mercer - Not starting Thursday Mercer (quadriceps) isn't starting Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact The 34-year-old played through cramps in his quadriceps Wednesday, and he was further evaluated Thursday. Even though Trea Turner (hamstring) isn't starting, Mercer will be held out of the lineup while he recovers. He's still considered day-to-day, and it's not clear whether he could be available off the bench Thursday.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers' Roberts says Bauer still expected to start Sunday

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says pitcher Trevor Bauer is still on track to start Sunday against the Washington Nationals while police and Major League Baseball investi...

JULY 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alex Avila - Starting at second base Avila will start at second base and bat seventh Thursday against the Dodgers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Trea Turner (finger) and Jordy Mercer (quadriceps) and unavailable Thursday, leading Avila to receive his first big-league start at the keystone while manager Dave Martinez works with a makeshift infield. The Nationals will likely make a roster move if Turner and Mercer remain sidelined beyond Thursday, so it should just be a spot start in the infield for Avila.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Trea Turner - Not in Thursday's lineup Turner (finger) isn't starting Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Turner hit for the cycle and scored four runs with two stolen bases in Wednesday's win over the Rays, but he jammed his left middle finger in the bottom of the seventh inning and was removed from the game as a result. The 28-year-old is considered day-to-day for now, but Starlin Castro will shift to shortstop while Alex Avila takes over at second base.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Juan Soto - Starting Thursday Soto (leg) is starting Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Soto exited Wednesday's win over Tampa Bay with a cramp in his left leg, but he'll remain in the lineup for Thursday's series opener. The 22-year-old has gone 7-for-20 with a home run, two doubles, five RBI, five runs and two stolen bases across his last five appearances.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kyle Finnegan - Slated for another bullpen Finnegan (hamstring) is expected to throw a bullpen session Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Manager Dave Martinez said Tuesday that Finnegan is "getting really close" to a return from the injured list. While the right-hander could require a rehab assignment before he returns to the major-league bullpen, he'll throw at least one more bullpen before the team determines the next step in his recovery process.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Daniel Hudson - Slated for another bullpen Hudson (elbow) hopes to throw a bullpen session Thursday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Hudson tossed a 25-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, and he'll have a quick turnaround ahead of his next bullpen. If Thursday's throwing session goes well, the right-hander could progress to face live hitters at some point in the near future. Hudson has been on the injured list since June 12 due to elbow inflammation, but he's recently been trending in the right direction.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

This Date in Baseball

This Date in Baseball-July 7

JULY 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

This Date in Baseball-Week Ahead

This Date in Baseball for week: July 2-8

JULY 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nationals Get Mixed News With Trea Turner Injury Update The Washington Nationals got some mixed news with Trea Turner's latest injury update after jamming his middle finger while sliding into thir...

JULY 1, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

The Nationals are carrying momentum going into July. Can they keep up their recent pace? Once closer to full-strength, the Nationals will be ready to figure out if they should be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.

JULY 1, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Birthday boy Turner ties mark with third cycle Trea Turner thought three bags the moment he made contact. So did everyone else in the ballpark.

JULY 1, 2021 • ARKANSASONLINE.COM

Schwarber keeping impressive company As his home run-hitting binge became a national phenomenon, Kyle Schwarber tried to warn everyone how quickly it could end.

JULY 1, 2021 • ARKANSASONLINE.COM

Corbin expected to start as Washington hosts Los Angeles

The Dodgers will start Tony Gonsolin on Thursday and the Nationals are expected to counter with Patrick Corbin

JULY 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starlin Castro - Ends homer drought Castro went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, two-run single and walk during Wednesday's 15-6 win over the Rays.

Impact Castro's two-run single gave the Nats a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the third. The third baseman later stroked a long ball off Michael Wacha in the bottom of the sixth, marking his first homer since May 18. Castro concludes the month of June with 23 hits (nine XBH) and nine RBI across 92 at-bats. He enters July with a .253/.405/.343 slash line on the campaign.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jon Lester - Allows five runs in win Lester (2-3) picked up the win Wednesday against the Rays, fanning three while allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks across five innings.

Impact Homers by Yandy Diaz and Mike Zunino helped the Rays get off to a 4-3 lead on the veteran southpaw after three innings. Lester allowed another run in the top of the fourth inning, but the Nationals were able to rally for three runs in the bottom half before the 37-year-old settled down to toss a perfect fifth. While the outing wound up being on the uglier side for Lester, he did enough to pick up his second win. Lester will look to have a stronger month of July after finishing June having allowed 18 earned runs on 34 hits and 12 free passes across 28 innings. He lines up to take the ball Monday in San Diego.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Maria Torres: Some other injury notes from today: Juan Soto... - The Athletic Some other injury notes from today: Juan Soto left the game in the ninth inning because of a cramp. Martinez expects him to play tomorrow. T...

JULY 1, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Jordy Mercer - Plays through cramps Wednesday Mercer went 2-for-5 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over Tampa Bay. Per Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington, manager Davey Martinez said that Mercer is d...

Impact Mercer received his first start since being hit in the mouth by a grounder last Thursday. The utility infielder popped his first homer of the campaign when he took Michael Wacha deep in the the fifth inning and he later singled and scored in the eighth. Both Mercer and Juan Soto dealt with leg cramps during the contest, though Mercer was able to stay in the game. Mercer will be looked at again Thursday and is considered day-to-day for the time being.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Trea Turner - Hits for cycle before exiting late Turner went 4-for-4 with two stolen bases and four runs scored while hitting for the cycle during Wednesday's 15-6 win over the Rays. Per Maria Torres of The Athletic, Turner exite...

Impact Turner's sixth-inning triple put him in a very exclusive group, as he became just the fourth player in the modern era to hit for three cycles during a career. It wasn't all great news for Turner, however, as manager Davey Martinez said that Turner jammed his left middle finger "pretty good." The shortstop is considered day-to-day for the time being after concluding a sensational month of June with 39 hits, 24 runs and six stolen bases.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Turner hits for 3rd cycle, red-hot Nats rout Rays 15-6 Trea Turner completed his record-tying third career cycle by hitting a sixth-inning triple for the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, accomp...

JULY 1, 2021 • KANSASCITY.COM

Birthday boy Trea Turner's third career cycle sparks Nationals past Rays Trea Turner hits for third cycle of career, matching a major league record, and Nationals win their fourth in a row to stay within reach of...

JULY 1, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Juan Soto - Exits with cramp Soto's exit from Wednesday's win over the Rays was the result of a cramp in his left leg, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact There was initially concern that Soto suffered a more severe hamstring injury after he grabbed his leg and exited following his eighth-inning at-bat. However, it looks like the star outfielder was dealing with a cramp, so he's unlikely to be sidelined for long. Soto filled up the box score prior to exiting, logging three singles, one walk, a pair of stolen bases, two RBI and three runs scored.

JULY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rays lose early lead, drop finale to Nats WASHINGTON -- With 81 games under their belt, and a 15-6 loss to the Nats in Wednesday’s series finale at Nationals Park, the Rays stand at...

JULY 1, 2021 • MLB.COM

Birthday boy Turner ties mark with 3rd cycle, Nats top Rays

Trea Turner completed his record-tying third career cycle by hitting a sixth-inning triple for the Washington Nationals, accomplishing the feat on his 28th birthday in a 15-6 victo...

JUNE 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS