JUNE 14, 2021 • MLB.COM
WASHINGTON NATIONALS 71-91 · 4TH IN NL EAST
71-91 · 4TH IN NL EAST
Bucs face former mate Josh Bell for 1st time The Pirates faced the Nationals for the first time this season on Monday, and in the process, were reunited with one of their franchise’s ke...
As the Nationals’ offense seeks answers, Kyle Schwarber emerges as a leadoff man Kyle Schwarber “stunk” as a leadoff hitter in 2017, when the Cubs gave him an extended run in the lineup at that position. But in a small sa...
JUNE 14, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM
Max Scherzer - Won't start Wednesday Scherzer's groin is improving, but he won't make his scheduled start Wednesday against the Pirates, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.
Impact Scherzer left his previous start Friday against the Giants after just 12 pitches. He's not concerned about any long-term issues, but it looks as though he'll miss at least one turn in the rotation. Paolo Espino is the top candidate to make a spot start in his absence.
JUNE 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
MLB Power Rankings: Rays tighten grip at the top, and Giants, Dodgers and Padres sit in top 10
In Ben Verlander's latest power rankings, the Rays stayed put at No. 1, while the three NL West powers sit in the top sixJUNE 14, 2021
Cade Cavalli - Gets call-up to Double-A The Nationals promoted Cavalli from High-A Wilmington to Double-A Harrisburg on Monday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Impact Though he didn't make his professional debut until May after getting selected in the first round of the 2020 first-year player draft, Cavalli already entered the season as the Nationals' No. 1 pitching prospect. He's more than justified the hype through his first seven pro starts, limiting opponents at High-A to a .171 average while generating 71 punchouts to go with a 1.77 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 40.2 innings. The right-hander's sketchy injury history during his college days at Oklahoma will likely prompt the Nationals to manage his innings carefully for the remainder of 2021, but with a strong showing at Double-A to close out the season, Cavalli could put himself in position to earn an early call-up to the majors in 2022.
JUNE 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
What's new with the Washington Nationals, the Pirates' next opponent? The Pirates will face the Nationals in a three-game series that begins Monday in Washington. Here are some things to know about the NL East...
JUNE 14, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Sam Clay - Steadying ship in June Clay struck out one in a perfect inning of relief during Sunday's win over the Giants.
Impact It wasn't a high-leverage situation, as the Nats had a 5-0 lead when Clay worked the ninth inning, but it was still a sharp performance. The southpaw got scored upon in four straight outings to begin June but has delivered three straight scoreless appearances since, leaving him with a 4.50 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB K:BB through 20 innings on the year.
JUNE 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Harrison - Four hits in Sunday's win Harrison went 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Giants.
Impact It's the veteran infielder's first multi-hit performance since May 23, which came the day after his last home run. Harrison is slashing only .214/.297/.268 in the 17 games since even after Sunday's effort, but as yet the Nats don't seem inclined to look elsewhere for help at second base.
JUNE 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Starlin Castro - Doubles in second straight Castro went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Giants.
Impact Castro closed out the weekend with back-to-back games with RBI doubles, with the pair of two-baggers coming after a stretch of 22 games in which the 31-year-old provided only one extra-base hit (also a double). He's sitting on a .317 slugging percentage on the season, a woeful rate for any hitter, much less than an everyday starter at third base. If the 27-35 Nationals continue to fade from the playoff picture, it wouldn't be surprising if the team moved Castro out of his regular starting role and cleared up more at-bats for Carter Kieboom and/or Luis Garcia, who are currently playing at Triple-A Rochester.
JUNE 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Washington faces Pittsburgh after Ross' solid outing Pittsburgh Pirates (23-41, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Washington Nationals (27-35, fifth in the NL East)Washington; Monday, 7:05 p.m. EDTP...
JUNE 14, 2021 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM
Washington faces Pittsburgh after Ross' solid outing
Washington looks to follow up a dominant outing by Sunday starter Joe RossJUNE 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Austin Voth - Starts throwing program Voth (nose) played catch on the field Sunday prior to the Nationals' 5-0 win over the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Impact According to MLB.com, Voth has seen a dramatic reduction in the swelling around his fractured nose and left eye one week after being struck in the face by a pitch. Voth, who underwent surgery to reset his nose, is now beginning to ramp up again and could be ready to throw off a mound within the next few days. The 28-year-old should have a good chance to return from the injured list before the end of the month.
JUNE 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Andres Machado - Returns to Triple-A The Nationals optioned Machado to Triple-A Rochester following Saturday's doubleheader against the Giants.
Impact After receiving his first big-league call-up since 2017, Machado went unused in both ends of the twin bill. With Washington needing to pare down its roster to 26 men prior to Sunday's series finale, Machado ended up being the casualty.
JUNE 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Stephen Strasburg - Set to meet with specialist Manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that Strasburg (neck) is scheduled to meet with a specialist soon before the Nationals determine the next step in his recovery from nerve irritati...
Impact Strasburg has yet to resume throwing since he was placed on the 10-day injured list June 2 with a neck strain, as the Nationals are waiting for his nerve irritation to subside before clearing him to play catch. The meeting with a specialist could shed more light on a potential timeline for Strasburg's return, but it's clear at this point that the Nationals are viewing him as week-to-week rather than day-to-day. Erick Fedde is expected to serve as Washington's No. 5 starter for the duration of Strasburg's absence.
JUNE 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Kyle Schwarber - Homers twice in win Schwarber went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI, one walk and one strikeout in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Giants.
Impact Schwarber homered in Saturday's matinee, and he got off to a hot start Sunday by blasting home runs in each of the first two innings. The 28-year-old is now slashing .222/.314/.445 with 12 home runs and 31 RBI this season.
JUNE 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Joe Ross - Lasts eight innings Sunday Ross (3-6) allowed five hits and no walks while striking out nine in eight scoreless innings to earn the win against the Giants on Sunday.
Impact Ross had been charged with losses in each of his last two outings, but he returned to the win column with his longest start of the season Sunday. He gave up three extra-base hits but didn't allow any additional damage in the 5-0 win. The right-hander has posted a 4.19 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 62.1 innings across 12 starts this year. He tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Mets on Friday.
JUNE 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Kyle Schwarber’s early blasts and a strong start by Joe Ross give the Nats a series split Schwarber homered in the first two innings and Ross turned in eight scoreless for a 5-0 win over the National League-leading Giants.
JUNE 13, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Schwarber hits 2 HRs, Ross dominant as Nats beat Giants 5-0 Kyle Schwarber became the sixth player in the history of the Washington Nationals and Montreal Expos franchise to homer in both the first an...
JUNE 13, 2021 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Schwarber hits 2 HRs, Ross dominant as Nats beat Giants 5-0
Kyle Schwarber became the sixth player in the history of the Washington Nationals and Montreal Expos franchise to homer in both the first and second innings, driving in four runs i...JUNE 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyle Schwarber drives in more runs in Nationals 5-0 win than Giants score all series The Giants offense remained in a funk Sunday at Washington in a 5-0 loss to the...
JUNE 13, 2021 • SFCHRONICLE.COM
Scherzer throwing again after leaving game Friday The Washington Nationals saw Max Scherzer suffer a groin tweak that forced him to exit his start Friday after 12 pitches. But neither Scherz...
JUNE 13, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM
Max Scherzer still hoping to make his start on Wednesday Nationals ace Max Scherzer, who left his start Friday night after feeling tightness in his groin, will try to throw a bullpen Monday and dec...
JUNE 13, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Max Scherzer - Plays catch Sunday Scherzer (groin) was able to play catch on the field prior to Sunday's game against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Impact Per Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, Scherzer is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday, and if all goes well, he'll be cleared to make his next turn through the rotation Wednesday versus the Pirates. Scherzer tossed just 12 pitches in his most recent start Friday against the Giants before exiting due to groin inflammation.
JUNE 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Bell - Sits against righty Bell is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Impact The lefty-hitting Bell typically starts against right-handed pitching, but he'll be on the bench Sunday even with righty Johnny Cueto on the bump for San Francisco. Bell had previously sat out the second half of Saturday's doubleheader when the Giants had a lefty (Conner Menez) lead off a bullpen game, so the first baseman will be sitting for the second game in a row. Ryan Zimmerman gets another start in Bell's stead.
JUNE 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Yan Gomes - Idle Sunday Gomes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Impact Gomes caught in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader, so he'll just be picking up some rest due to quick turnaround for the series finale. Alex Avila will be behind the plate Sunday, catching for starting pitcher Joe Ross.
JUNE 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
