WASHINGTON NATIONALS NEWS

Yadiel Hernandez - Playing time dries up Hernandez remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact With Juan Soto, Kyle Schwarber and Victor Robles entrenched as the Nationals' everyday outfielders and Andrew Stevenson seemingly locked in as the fourth outfielder, Hernandez's opportunities have been few and far between of late as the clear No. 5 option. He hasn't picked up a start since May 9, operating mainly as a pinch-hitting specialist for Washington. Hernandez hasn't been particularly productive in that capacity, going 5-for-22 with one extra-base hit (a solo home run) over the past month.

JUNE 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Harrison - Gets breather Thursday Harrison isn't starting Thursday's game against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Harrison had started each of the last two games and went 1-for-9 with a run, an RBI and four strikeouts. Jordy Mercer will start at second base and bat seventh.

JUNE 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Victor Robles - Swipes seventh bag Robles went 2-for-5 with a double and a stolen base in a victory versus the Rays on Wednesday.

Impact Batting out of the ninth spot in the order, Robles finished as one of three Washington batters with multiple hits in the win. He also collected his seventh steal of the season in the 11th inning. Despite the useful stolen-base total, Robles has struggled to maintain fantasy relevance due to a poor .227 average and no homers on the season.

JUNE 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Juan Soto - Blasts eighth homer Soto went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run, two walks and three total runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Rays.

Impact The superstar outfielder put Washington on the board in the first inning, crushing a 423-foot two-run shot to center field. He went on to reach base twice more in the contest and scored two additional runs. Soto has put together a .279/.412/.461 slash line on the season, adding eight homers, 27 RBI and 32 runs.

JUNE 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Zimmerman - Goes deep twice Wednesday Zimmerman went 2-for-4 with a pair of homers, one walk and three RBI in a 9-7 win over Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

Impact Zimmerman started at first base and slotted into the cleanup spot for Washington in the contest. He belted a solo homer in the third inning and followed with a two-run shot in the fifth. It was the first two-homer game for Zimmerman this season and pushed his season long-ball total to eight. The veteran is enjoying a resurgent campaign, slashing .295/.327/.590 with 20 RBI after opting out of the 2020 season.

JUNE 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tanner Rainey - Notches first save Rainey was credited with the save Wednesday against the Rays, completing a scoreless inning during which he walked one and struck out two.

Impact Usual closer Brad Hand was brought in with the score tied in the ninth inning, and he kept Tampa Bay off the board to push the game into extra innings. Each team scored a pair of runs in the 10th, and the Nationals put up two more in their half of the 11th frame. Rainey was then summoned to protect the lead, and he succeeded on the strength of two strikeouts and a groundout. The save was a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season for the right-hander, who has posted a 9.35 ERA and 24:15 K:BB across 17.1 innings.

JUNE 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Corbin - Wild over five frames Corbin pitched five innings against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out three. He did not factor in the decision.

Impact Corbin didn't have his best stuff in the outing -- he threw only 50 of 93 pitches for strikes and tied a season high with four walks -- but he limited the damage by holding the Rays to three hits. The southpaw has been mediocre but consistent over his past five outings, pitching between 5.0 and 5.2 innings and giving up either three of our four runs in each contest. He holds a 6.21 ERA overall this season, second worst among all qualified starters. His next start will likely come at home against Pittsburgh early next week.

JUNE 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Castro hits RBI double in 2-run 11th, Nats beat Rays 9-7

Starlin Castro hit an RBI double during a two-run 11th inning and the Washington Nationals beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 9-7

JUNE 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Notes: Lineup shake-up; Harris steps down “We got 26 players I worry about every day,” said manager Dave Martinez answering a question regarding what will happen if the Nationals can...

JUNE 9, 2021 • MLB.COM

Erick Fedde - Likely starting Friday Fedde (illness) is expected to return from the COVID-19 injured list to start Friday versus the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact The 26-year-old threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is on the cusp of rejoining the rotation after spending the past three weeks on the COVID IL after testing positive for the virus. The Nationals haven't officially confirmed Fedde as Friday's starter, but the right-hander lines up to pitch with the rest of the rotation plans announced for the weekend.

JUNE 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Stephen Strasburg - Not yet throwing Strasburg (neck) hasn't yet resumed throwing, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Strasburg has been on the 10-day injured list with a neck strain since June 2, but he's been limited to lower-body workouts during the first week of his recovery process. Manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday that he wants the right-hander's nerve irritation to subside before he resumes throwing. A better idea of Strasburg's return timetable could come into focus once he's cleared to throw.

JUNE 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Alex Avila - Settles back into No. 2 role Avila is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Avila had started in four straight games to close out the weekend, but he'll be back on the bench for the second contest in a row now that Yan Gomes has shaken off his hamstring issue. While Gomes was sidelined for the four-game stretch, Avila went 3-for-12 with a double, three walks, a run and an RBI.

JUNE 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tualatin freshman qualifies for the 2021 Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field in the hammer throw Madison Speer is the No. 1 girls hammer thrower nationally in the 15-16 age group.

JUNE 9, 2021 • OREGONLIVE.COM

Nationals vs Rays Prediction and Pick for MLB Game Tonight From FanDuel Sportsbook Tonight's slate of MLB games includes a clash between the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays. Nationals vs Rays Prediction and Pick Ton...

JUNE 9, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

Analysis | When the bases are full, the Nationals keep coming up empty It is hard to decipher why, in the game’s biggest moments, the Nationals have wilted over and over this season.

JUNE 9, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Nationals take 3-game losing streak into matchup with Rays Washington Nationals (24-33, fifth in the NL East) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (39-23, first in the AL East)St. Petersburg, Florida; Wednesday, 7:10...

JUNE 9, 2021 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

Nationals take 3-game losing streak into matchup with Rays

Washington is looking to snap its three-game losing streak with a win over Tampa Bay

JUNE 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jon Lester - Struggles in short outing Lester allowed one earned run on four hits and four walks while striking out two across 3.2 innings Tuesday against the Rays. He did not factor into the decision.

Impact Lester did well to survive having surrendered only one earned run, as he managed to strand four runners and exited the game with the bases loaded. However, that was the only positive from the start, as he allowed eight baserunners and threw 91 pitches to record only 11 outs. Lester has limited runs against him to a fair degree, maintaining a 4.19 ERA across eight starts this season. On the other hand, he has a 1.50 WHIP and only 27 strikeouts across 38.2 innings.

JUNE 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Free passes trouble Nats in loss to Rays WASHINGTON -- It was Jon Lester’s shortest outing of the season, tossing just 3 2/3 innings in the series opener at Tropicana Field. After a...

JUNE 9, 2021 • MLB.COM

Too many walks, missed opportunities leave Nationals reeling in loss to Rays Nationals pitchers issued eight walks, while two missed chances in the late innings doomed them to their ninth loss in 12 games.

JUNE 9, 2021 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Glasnow has 11 Ks in 7 innings, Rays beat Nationals 3-1 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Glasnow struck out 11 over seven strong innings and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Washington...

JUNE 9, 2021 • THESTAR.COM

Glasnow has 11 Ks in 7 innings, Rays beat Nationals 3-1 Tyler Glasnow struck out 11 over seven strong innings and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Washington Nationals 3-1 for their 20t...

JUNE 9, 2021 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Glasnow has 11 Ks in 7 innings, Rays beat Nationals 3-1 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Glasnow struck out 11 over seven strong innings and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Washington...

JUNE 9, 2021 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

Glasnow has 11 Ks in 7 innings, Rays beat Nationals 3-1

Tyler Glasnow struck out 11 over seven strong innings and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Washington Nationals 3-1 for their 20th win in 24 games

JUNE 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nationals put Voth on injured list with fractured nose The Washington Nationals put pitcher Austin Voth on the 10-day injured list with a fractured nose on Tuesday.

JUNE 9, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM