The Texas Rangers won their 1st World Series title to officially bring on the MLB's off-season. Al & Mark begin with a quick recap of the successful Podcast Party last month at Walter's. Thanks to all who came!

(04:00) The Nationals announced that weeknight evening games will begin 20 minutes earlier at 6:45pm. This seems to be a way to encourage more fans to be able to stay for the final few innings, but what about those who don't get off work until around 6:30pm?

(11:30) Roll call and analysis of the new members of the Nats Front Office. This includes the new senior director of amateur scouting, Brad Ciolek, who joins the organization after a successful tenure in Baltimore.

(25:00) There also was some movement among the coaching staff that includes Gerardo Parra replacing Eric Young Jr. as 1st Base Coach. Darnell Coles was retained as Hitting Coach and Jim Hickey will also return as Pitching Coach. How much of these changes are simply about money?

(39:20) Now that teams can no longer keep players on the IL, Stephen Strasburg is back on franchise's 40 man roster. Is this headed to a resolution this Winter?

(45:00) Texas won it all just two years after losing over 100 games. Arizona meanwhile made the World Series with only 84 victories as the final Wild Card team.

(50:00) A tribute to Frank Howard, one of the greatest hitters in the history of Washington Baseball. Howard passed away at age 87 and had many prolific offensive season while playing for the Senators in the late 60's/ early 70's.

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The Nats ended 2023 on a high note as they defeated the Braves 10-9 in a Sunday Slugfest. Mark (From Georgia) & Al wrap-up the 71 win campaign; which was 16 more victories than a season ago. Washington ended up beating Atlanta 5 times and were never swept from the NL East Champs.

(05:30) CJ Abrams stole a pair of bases in the finale to surpass Trea Turner's previous franchise mark. Abrams ended at 47 swipes, which just nosed past Turner's 46 stolen bases in 2017.

(12:30) Lane Thomas concluded his season w/ a team high 28 HRs. Where does he fit into the organization moving forward as there is a lot of OF talent in the pipeline?

(19:00) Jackson Rutledge took a no decision in his 5 IP as he allowed 5 runs in his efforts. Rutledge made 4 MLB starts since getting called up from AAA Rochester and was originally drafted in the 1st Round of the 2019 Draft.

(29:10) Mark gives an overview of immediate off-season headlines to keep track of, many of which involve musical chairs in the Front Office/ Coaching changes. What sort of payroll flexibility will Mike Rizzo have as well?

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The Nats lost 5-3 on Saturday night in Atlanta despite jumping out to an early edge. Mark (From ATL) & Al examine how the offense immediately attached Spencer Strider, but then went silent after the 1st inning.

(06:25) CJ Abrams had a pair of hits and stole his 45th base of the year. He trails Trea Turner (46 - 2017) by just one stolen base for the franchise record in a single season.

(11:00) Joan Adon only lasted 4 IP in his final start of the season. Adon made 10 starts and his ERA was a woeful 6.45 with a WHIP of 1.63. What does his future look like?

(17:30) Tanner Rainey tossed a scoreless 8th inning as he finally made it back to the Washington mound for the first time in 2023. Rainey has been away since last summer as he rehabbed from "Tommy John" surgery.

(22:00) Mark relays what GM Mike Rizzo had to say to the gathering media prior to the game.

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The Nats out-slugged the Braves on Friday night for their 70th victory on the season. Mark ( From ATL) & Al recap the 10-6 victory that saw Washington crush 5 home runs as Dom Smith continued his scorching September with his 6th trip around the bases this month.

(07:40) Carter Kieboom went deep while getting the start in his hometown. The hosts handicap where Kieboom fits into the organizational plans and show why this past stretch might be his last real opportunity to make an impression.

(11:00) Keibert Ruiz has not had a good year defensively, but offensively his OPS of of .708 is encouraging. Ruiz has the 2nd most hits of any NL catcher (131) only trailing William Contreras (153).

(17:30) Trevor Williams only lasted 3.1 IP and his season is now over with a 5.55 ERA. He is contractually due to return to Washington next season and his rotation spot is seemingly not guaranteed for next season.

(29:00) Tyler Clippard officially announced is retirement on Friday via Instagram as he did not sign anywhere this season after pitching for Rochester in parts of 2022. Is he the best overall relief pitcher in franchise history?

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The Nats were swept in their 2 game series in Baltimore as they fell 5-1 on Wednesday night. Mark (From Camden Yards) & Al have another Nationals loss to discuss as the team is now 7-17 in September.

(06:45) Patrick Corbin took the "L" in his final outing of the season. He wraps up with a 10-15 record, ERA of 5.20, and a staggeringly high WHIP of 1.48. Corbin threw 180 IP, up from 152.2 IP.

(18:45) Jake Alu had a RBI single; which shockingly was the only run Washington scored on Baltimore all season. Unfortunately, Alu had a TOOTBLAN to immediately follow.

(23:00) CJ Abrams stole his 44th base on the season and trails Trea Turner by 2 for the franchise record (46 - 2017).

(33:00) Sam Holbrook, the home plate umpire for Game 6 of the 2019 World Series, joins Tim for a quick conversation about the infamous "Trea Turner Play".

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The Nats lost 1-0 on Tuesday night in Baltimore, to begin their final road trio of the season. Mark (From Camden Yards) & Al though begin by honoring Brooks Robinson, the Orioles Hall of Fame 3rd Baseman, who passed away prior to the game at age 86. Robinson was an 18 time All Star and won 16 Gold Gloves (2nd most all time).

(02:00) Josiah Gray only allowed 1 run in 6 IP in what is his final start of the season. Gray dropped his ERA to 3.91 to conclude his All Star season. Al poses the question of whether or not the organization will look into an extension for Gray, similar to what Keibert Ruiz agreed to in the off-season.

(17:00) Gunnar Henderson unsuccessfully tried to steal in the bottom of the 8th with Robert Garcia on the mound. Henderson was the source of the only run scored in the game with his lead-off homer off Gray.

(26:00) Davey clarified the rotation for the rest of the way and this weekend in Atlanta and it will be Trevor Williams, Jackson Rutledge, and Joan Adon. Will Tanner Rainey get activated?

(32:00) A portion of our March 2022 interview with Sean Doolittle prior to Opening Day. Hear the full interview at natschatpodcast.com

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On the final day of play this season at Nationals Park, the Nats and Braves split the Sunday doubleheader. Mark & Al open with Jackson Rutledge coming away with his 1st career MLB victory in his 3rd start since getting called up. Rutledge went the minimum 5 IP and is expected to face Atlanta again next weekend.

(08:00) Lane Thomas reached the 20/20 plateau and is the first player in franchise history to accomplish that feat since Bryce Harper in 2016.

(16:10) Jacob Young had an excellent Game 1 as he had multiple RBI hits and a great catch to rob Ronald Acuna Jr. Young was recognized pregame for winning the "Nationals Way Award".

(23:00) Joan Adon took the loss in Game 2 as he allowed 4 runs and issued 4 walks. His ERA in 4 September starts is at 7.23 but he likely will pitch in Atlanta for the final series.

(30:00) The Nats have a 2 game series this week in Baltimore and the Orioles are close to clinching the AL East. Their magic number is at 3; which means it can't happen until Wednesday at the earliest.

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The Nats lost 9-6 to the Braves on what was a very busy Friday in Navy Yard. Mark & Al start with the offense somehow going just 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position. CJ Abrams paced the lineup as he had a pair of hits, 3 RBIs, and stole his 43rd base of the season.

(10:40) Patrick Corbin immediately fell behind 3-0 and the game began by him surrendering Ronald Acuna Jr.'s 40th homer of the season. Acuna is only the 5th player to join the 40/40 club and is the first since Alfonso Soriano did it with the Nationals in 2006.

(18:10) The local media voted Lane Thomas as the team's Player of the Year for the 2nd consecutive season. Kyle Finnegan won Pitcher of the Year and Mark explains why he personally voted for Hunter Harvey instead.

(24:00) Prior to the game Sean Doolittle announced his retirement as he continued to have injury setbacks in his attempt to return to the mound. Doolittle came to Washington during the Trade Deadline in 2017 and recorded the final out for Game 1 of the World Series in Houston. Is he the best closer in team history?

**SATURDAY'S GAME HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO EXPECTED HEAVY RAINS AND THE PLAN IS TO NOW PLAY A SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER ON SUNDAY 09/24/23.

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A day after an easy win, the Nats were smashed by the visiting Braves 10-3 on Thursday evening. Al & Tim recap Jake Irvin's short outing that ended in the top of the 3rd. It matches his shortest start of the season when he also had 2.2 IP vs. Detroit back in May.

(11:00) Cory "The Janitor" Abbott struck out 8 Atlanta hitters while throwing nearly 5 innings of mop-up duty. This comes on the 14th consecutive day of play for the Nationals as they have a very fatigued bullpen.

(19:45) Alex Call homered for the only the 2nd time since August and came through with a pair of hits. The offense had another 9th inning rally in a blow loss; which feels like a familiar refrain.

(23:10) New Commanders Owner Josh Harris thew out the ceremonial 1st pitch on a "Capital Crossover" evening that brought together the two franchises. This leads to an extended discussion about the potential for a stronger relationship between the baseball & football teams in this new era of D.C. sports.

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The Nats pummeled the White Sox 13-3 for a rare easy victory on Wednesday afternoon. Mark & Al have plenty of fun items to discuss as the offense came through with a trio of homers and 14 hits. Lane Thomas grand slam broke the game open in the bottom of the 3rd to give Washington a comfortable 8-1 lead. CJ Abrams matched Thomas' feat of reaching base four times as he was able to draw a pair of walks in the win.

(16:30) Dom Smith homered for the 5th time this month after only having 6 dingers through August. Mark explains why he has a hunch that Smith will be back as the Nationals 1B next season.

(22:00) Josiah Gray earned the victory despite only lasting the minimum 5 IP. Gray's ERA is exactly at 4.00 as the season winds down, it was at 3.41 entering the All Star Break.

(30:45) For the 1st time since April, the Braves come to D.C. on Thursday for a 4 game series. Ronald Acuna Jr. enters with 39 homers and 67 RBIs. Nobody has reached the 40/40 Club since Alfonso Soriano did so with the Nats in 2006.

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The Nats outlasted the White Sox 4-3 on a Tuesday evening with a lot to smile about. Mark & Al open with Jackson Rutledge's solid start after he had a disappointing debut last week. Rutledge only allowed a pair of solo homers and is the first Washington rookie pitcher to make it into the 7th of his home debut since Stephen Strasburg (2010).

(10:45) Cade Cavalli talked to reporters pregame in D.C. and surprisingly revealed that he will be back on the mound in June. Mark relays his first hand account of Cavalli's comments and what to infer.

(17:00) Joey Meneses was the offensive hero with a pinch hit 3 run HR in the bottom of the 7th. It is remarkably only the 2nd pinch hit homer the team has hit all season.

(25:00) Kyle Finnegan notched the save, but it was an adventure along the way. His September ERA is a startling 9.39 and he has given up at least 1 earned run in the majority of those outings.

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The Nats began their final homestand with a 6-1 defeat at the hands of the White Sox on Monday night. Al & Tim wonder why Dom Smith & Mike Clevinger got into it in the moments after Smith's 9th inning solo HR that led to the benches briefly clearing. It was the only time that Clevinger was uncomfortable all evening; on his way to a complete game victory.

(10:00) CJ Abrams was picked off and these sort of instances seem to be quite common. Is Eric Young JR. definitely returning as 1st Base Coach in 2024?

(18:00) Joan Adon allowed 5 runs in 5 IP and it went sideways for him beginning in the top of the 5th. Adon has been in the rotation since early August and most of his outings have gone poorly.

(24:00) Al points out the better than expected attendance in 2023. We salute the fans for continuing to show up despite this streak of last place finishes.

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The Nats ended their 5 game losing streak by edging Milwaukee 2-1 on Sunday afternoon in extra innings. Mark (From **Miller Park) & Tim begin with Michael Chavis, who spearheaded a game ending double play to escape a bases loaded jam. Chavis was not in the starting lineup, but stayed at 1B after pinch running for Dom Smith in the 9th inning.

(09:20) The Brewers are on the verge of winning the NL Central, but the numbers suggest they have a similarly modest offense as the last place Nationals. Both teams for instance only have one player with over 20 HRs (Thomas/ Adames).

(16:40) Patrick Corbin only gave up 1 run in 6 IP and briefly on Sunday he found his ERA below 5.00. Mark handicaps how Corbin fits into the team's plans for his upcoming final season under contract.

(25:05) It's the first September that Washington has experienced the overlap of Nats & Commanders since the football team changed hands. Will there be a new relationship between the 2 organizations?

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The Nats lost again on their road trip, a 9-5 defeat on Saturday evening in Milwaukee. Mark (From Wisconsin) & Al explain how a game that seemed out of reach for awhile all of a sudden became a tied affair in the 8th inning. The Brewers struck back with a Grand Slam from Mark Canha in the bottom of the frame off of Kyle Finnegan.

(04:15) Trevor Williams had an awful start and only made it 2 innings. Should Williams stay in the rotation for the final weeks?

(23:00) Luis Garcia homered for the first time since late July off of Cy Young candidate Corbin Burnes. Garcia had a pair of hits on Saturday after entering with only 2 hits since returning to the Nationals on September 8th.

(25:30) Joey Meneses had a trio of base knocks and Mark points just how clutch he can be in certain occasions. Meneses has 157 hits on the season, as many as Matt Olson, who leads MLB in HRs (52).

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The Nats lost 5-3 in Milwaukee on Friday night as they are now just 3-10 in September. Mark (From Wisconsin) & Al point out how the beleaguered lineup mightily struggled despite scoring 3 immediate runs off of Wade Miley. There was some brief confusion during a Miley vs. Lane Thomas at bat regarding pitch clock rules and Mark explains what the fuss was all about.

(16:30) Thomas hit his 25th of the year and this includes not having any in April. The last time that a National hit 30+ homers in a season came in 2019, when Anthony Rendon & Juan Soto each crossed the benchmark.

(22:00) Jake Irvin's gave up back to back HRs to the final batters that he faced and was removed in the bottom of the 5th. Irvin did not allow a run until that frame, but did issue 5 walks along the way.

(29:45) There is a chance that Tanner Rainey could join Washington before the end of the season as he has made a dozen rehab appearances since returning from Tommy John surgery. The final game for AAA- Rochester is on September 24th.

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The Nats were shutout Thursday afternoon in Pittsburgh, but overall it was a good day for the organization. Al & Tim rehash Gray's sterling outing where he struck out 10 Pirates; serving as his season high for Ks. He potentially has 3 starts remaining and 2 of them might come against the division champion Braves. This was the quickest game of the season; clocking in at 1 hour and 50 minutes.

(19:00) A veteran listener writes in to us his strong opinion as to why he is disappointed that Mike Rizzo will be returning as GM.

(20:15) Tim gives his strong opinion as why he is very happy that Rizzo is back and extended.

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The Nats lost 7-6 in Pittsburgh, but on Wednesday morning the news became official that GM Mike Rizzo agreed to an extension with the franchise. Mark & Al spend plenty of time dissecting all facets to the news and what it means for the Rebuild. Hear what Rizzo had to say for the next phase, why Davey Martinez's deal got done first, and his commentary about the Lerner's. Is extending Rizzo the right call long-term?

(29:00) The Nationals turned an early 7-2 deficit into 7-5 entering the top of the 9th. Keibert Ruiz came through with a RBI infield single, but the game ended with a pair of stranded runners. Dom Smith had a big evening as he homered and doubled and his OPS has snuck up to .701.

(32:40) Jackson Rutledge pitched poorly in his MLB debut as he gave up 10 hits and 7 runs in 3.2 IP. Rutledge was drafted in the 1st Round back in 2019 and has spent part of this year in Harrisburg and Rochester.

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The Nats lost 5-1 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday evening for their 80th loss of the season. Mark & Al begin with the news that Jackson Rutledge, RHP selected in the 1st Round of the 2019 Draft, will make his MLB debut on Wednesday night. His ERA this season is 3.71 and it comes through stints at Harrisburg and Rochester. His road to "The Show" has been a bumpy one, but lets see how beautiful it turns out.

(11:15) Joan Adon had another no so good outing as he allowed 4 runs in as many innings on 93 pitches. The worst part was the 6 walks that he issued (1 intentional) and at least two Pirates reached base every frame.

(23:00) Al takes issue with certain players who are not receiving playing time during this final month. Jake Alu has not played yet in Pittsburgh and is hitting .229 overall in his late season audition.

(27:40) Hear more details on our upcoming Podcast Party at Walter's. Friday night October 13th from 6:30-8:30pm in Navy Yard.

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The Nationals began this week's road trip on the right foot with a 6-3 victory on Monday night in Pittsburgh. Al & Tim dive into CJ Abrams' big evening as he had his 1st multi HR game of his career. Abrams is 5th in the NL among shortstops with 18 career HRs.

(15:00) Patrick Corbin took home the W for his 6.2 IP effort where he only allowed a pair of runs. Corbin leads the team with 158.1 IP, which is 17 innings more than Josiah Gray.

(25:00) Al points out that the Nats have never had a close September race, even in all the successful division title years. This includes 2019, when Washington clinched the Wildcard with relative ease in the final month.

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Amid yet another rain delay, the Nats lost 7-3 to the Dodgers on Sunday in the series rubber match. Al & Mark start with Trevor Williams. who had another poor outing in a season where his ERA sits at 5.44. Williams has given up 14 earned runs in just 2 September starts.

(13:00) Joe LaSorsa performed yeoman's effort as he came up just shy of pitching all of the final 4 innings. LaSorsa joined the team on Friday after his recent stint in Rochester.

(21:30) A check in on Carter Kieboom who has been at 3B nearly everyday for weeks. He currently is hitting .189 and is having a slow start to September.

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The Nats outlasted the 1st place Dodgers in extra innings for a 7-6 victory on Saturday afternoon following a 4+ hour rain delay. Mark & Al wonder if Jake Irvin is sneakily the best story of the franchise's season after he threw another solid outing on the mound. His ERA is at 4.20; which is a far improvement from when he last faced LA in late May (5.67 ERA).

(13:40) Lane Thomas returned after sitting out all week due to an ailing back and homered for the fourth consecutive game that he's played in. Thomas now has 24 HRs, which is by far the most on the team (Ruiz in 2nd place with 16 HRs).

(19:45) Lost in the shuffle of all the organizational news this week was that Luis Garcia returned to Washington after spending August in AAA. Garcia on Saturday came through with a RBI single his 2nd game back from Rochester.

(32:00) MacKenzie Gore's season was effectively ended this weekend as he was placed on the IL due to blisters. His best month of the year came in April when he allowed more than a pair of runs on only one occasion.

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The Nats lost 8-5 on Friday night vs. the visiting the Dodgers, but that was hardly top of mind locally. Mark & Al sift through all the busy back drop currently involving the organization as it seemed like there was an endless avalanche of news reports involving the Front Office during Thursday's day-off.

(04:00) As for the game, MacKenzie Gore struggled and only lasted 4 IP as he returned from the Beareavment List. This is the 3rd consecutive outing that he did not exceed 5 innings of work and it came at a bad time as the team just began a stretch of 17 straight days with a game.

(11:00) The entirety of the offense came via the homer as Keibert Ruiz and CJ Abrams each went deep. Abrams also stole his 41st base of the season; which is 5 shy of the franchise mark set by Trea Turner in 2017.

(17:30) There has been significant drama involving Stephen Strasburg and a potential retirement ceremony that will not occur this weekend. On Friday evening, Principal Owner Mark Lerner released an eyebrow raising statement as it relates to the situation.

(33:15) There were a slew of reports this week regarding even more shake-up in the scouting department and the Front Office. Kris Kline, veteran Assistant GM & VP of Scouting Ops, was reassigned to Special Assistant to GM, which has the feel of a demotion.

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The Nats ended their 6 game skid by edging past the Mets 3-2 in a Wednesday evening walk-off victory. Al & Mark start with Jacob Young's decisive single over New York as he owns an 8 game hitting streak; which commenced shortly after his MLB debut.

(07:20) CJ Abrams swiped 2 more bases and joins rare franchise territory with 40+ stolen bases on the season (Trea Turner 2x, Alfonso Soriano). The most impressive part is his success rate as he only has been thrown out 3 times this season.

(16:20) Joan Adon only allowed 2 runs in 5 IP; which gave Washington a chance in the late innings. Adon did allow a run in the 1st inning; continuing a dubious streak of the starting pitching staff this entire home stand (6 games).

(25:45) More uncertainty surrounds the future of the Nationals Front Office as reportedly many long time scouts will not be retained. This comes at a tenuous time as Mike Rizzo is currently in negotiations for an extension.

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The Nats lost 11-5 to the visiting Mets on Tuesday; in a game in which they immediately trailed by 4 runs. Mark & Al sing a familiar song, which is recapping a rough outing by Patrick Corbin. He has now given up 30 homers this season and the only NL pitcher who has allowed more this season is his teammate Trevor Williams (33).

(13:00) Andres Machado immediately gave up a homer to Pete Alonso upon taking the mound. Hear the jarring stat of how many times that has occurred among Washington relievers this season.

(21:00) Jacob Young filled in admirably for a resting CJ Abrams in the lead-off spot as he came up with a pair of hits. Which of the young everyday players now on the MLB roster has the best chance to stick in the Bigs?

(30:00) Lane Thomas did not play on Tuesday due to his lingering back issue. Davey Martinez revealed pregame that Thomas underwent a MRI.

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The Nats were swept for the third time this season by Miami and on Sunday they fell 6-4. Mark & Al note the 5th consecutive loss and that they finally will get an off-day on Monday.

(04:00) Josiah Gray had a short outing and had a nightmarish opening inning. This included allowing a solo HR, issuing 3 straight walks, and jawing at Jacob Young at the end of the frame for misplaying a fly ball in the sun. He ultimately only lasted 4 IP and it casts doubt on when he next take the mound.

(14:00) The bullpen had to fill in for 20 IP over the course of the 4 game series. The Nationals took a 4-3 lead in the middle of the game, but could not hang on. Kyle Finnegan allowed a pair of runs in the top of the 9th that led to him taking the loss.

(19:00) CJ Abrams had a crucial throwing error in the pivotal9th and this leads to an extended discussion at the infield defense. Not only its recent decline, but also how the infield projects moving forward.

(31:45) MacKenzie Gore is currently on the Bereavement List and it is TBD as to when his next start will be. The hosts explain what this list means from a baseball/ roster perspective. He is out until at least Friday and he last pitched Tuesday (August 29th).

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The Nats rough stretch continued as they were flattened 11-5 by the Marlins on Saturday afternoon. They have dropped 6 of their past 7 and are a wretched 2-10 this season vs. the Marlins. Mark & Al though begin with the big organizational news that came pregame as Johnny DiPuglia, veteran Director of International Scouting since 2009, is resigning from his position. Is this related to the ongoing contractual negotiations between Mike Rizzo and the franchise?

(17:00) Trevor Williams had an awful outing as he allowed 4 HRs in as many innings. Williams has now given up 10 homers in his past 5 outings and his ERA now currently sits at 5.21.

(25:00) The struggles of Williams leads to a look at where Cade Cavalli fits into the organization's plans when he returns from Tommy John surgery. Will he be ready by Opening Day or will he need more time?

(34:00) Sunday will mark the 13th consecutive day that the Nationals have taken the field and this has spanned across 4 cities and 2 countries. This series has seen plenty of sloppy play; especially on the defensive side, and a much needed off-day awaits on Monday.

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The Nats lost 8-5 in extras on Friday night to visiting Miami for their 5th defeat in the past 6 games. Adding additional insult to the evening is that the Mets beat Seattle to move back in front of Washington by a half game. Al & Mark recap the 11 inning defeat; which required 6 IP by 6 different relievers.

(17:15) The Nationals slugged 3 dingers on Friday and one of them came from Travis Blankenhorn in his first game since getting called up by Rochester. He hit 5th playing LF and this season had a OPS of .877 in AAA. Lane Thomas & CJ Abrams also went deep in the loss.

(30:00) Josiah Gray is still slated to start Sunday after a throwing a monitored bullpen session. There will be a lot of attention to his next start after he had a very poor August.

(34:30) Mike Rizzo still has not officially signed an extension despite the expectation that he will do so. Where do the negotiations stand between the GM and the franchise?

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The Nats successful August (17-11) came to anti climatic conclusion as they lost 6-1 on Thursday night in the series opener vs. the Marlins. Al & Tim discuss the struggling offense; which only scored 1 run in the past 2 games. The lineup was dealt a tough blow pregame as Lane Thomas was a late scratch due to back tightness.

(14:10) Joan Adon allowed 5 runs in as many innings and gave up 9 hits along the way. Adon has been on opposite ends of the spectrum in his 5 Big League starts since being called up from AAA. Two of his starts saw him tease a no hitter and the other 3 outings did not go so well.

(22:40) We take an opportunity during this NL East series to evaluate how the new look MLB schedule is playing out. This season the Nationals play their divisional foes 13 times compared to when they used play them 19 times a year. Is Radical Realignment around the corner?

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The Nats long winning road trip ended with a thud as they were shutout Wednesday afternoon in Toronto. Mark (From Canada) & Al note this end a string of 5 consecutive series victories. The offense was no match for Chris Bassit, who only allowed 3 hits in 8 IP.

(08:00) CJ Abrams was 0 for 4 in the loss Al points out the surprisingly disappointing numbers for the young SS in August. His .229 average this month is far lower than when he hit .327 in July.

(15:00) Patrick Corbin gave up 10 hits in one of those starts where he couldn't stop giving up hits. Corbin leads MLB in hits allowed (183) and this was a dubious category in which he led last season.

(18:20) Tanner Rainey is rehabbing in Rochester and it is looking like he will return to Washington in September. Rainey has been out since he had Tommy John surgery in early August of last year.

(23:00) It is up in the air whether or not Josiah Gray will make his next scheduled start on Sunday vs. Miami. Gray had a very poor August and the next update will come after Friday's bullpen session.

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The Nats held off Toronto 5-4 for a dramatic win against the AL Wild Card contender. Mark (From Ontario) & Al begin with the bullpen that clung on to the lead, but allowed 3 runs in 4 IP. Kyle Finnegan loaded the bases with no outs while nursing a 2 run lead, but was able to emerge with his 25th save of the season.

(12:30) The Nationals hit a pair of homers on Tuesday night for all of their offensive production. Carter Kieboom homered for the 3rd time since joining the team and Keibert Ruiz left the yard for the 5th time in August.

(17:45) Jacob Young made a memorable throw from CF to home for a crucial outfield assist to end the bottom of the 8th. Young made a no hop throw that was then perfectly played from Ruiz.

(27:30) MacKenzie Gore made it through 5 IP despite a pitch count that went over 100. Gore has made 5 starts this month and his ERA during that stretch is under 4.00 (3.76).

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Josiah Gray's rough August continued as he only lasted 2 innings in Monday night's 6-3 loss at Toronto. Al & Mark (From Canada) recap Gray's gruesome start and what seems to be wrong with his pitching mechanics. This month in five starts, the right hander's ERA is at 8.84 with 17 walks issued.

(17:30) CJ Abrams had a very electric evening (error aside) as he had a trio singles and also stole 3 bases. Abrams now has 37 stolen bases on the season and is seriously threatening Trea Turner's franchise record of 46 swipes.

(20:00) The Nats now have 3 catchers on the roster and Mark explains why dentistry plays a role in that occurrence. Keibert Ruiz returned to the starting lineup as Drew Millas was called up from Rochester.

(26:00) Joey Meneses has a legit shot at 100 RBIs this season. He currently stands at 76 as there are 30 games remaining in the season.

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The Nats came up short in their sweep attempt as they fell 2-1 on Sunday afternoon in Miami. Al gets you up to speed on the catching situation as Riley Adams started every game this series while Keibert Ruiz has been out of the starting lineup since taking a foul ball to the mask on Wednesday in New York. It is important to note that Ruiz did pinch hit and minor league catcher Drew Millas will join the team on Monday in Toronto per Mark's report.

(05:00) Trevor Williams had a solid outing, but the 2 run HR he gave up to Jorge Soler was the difference. It was Williams 2nd straight good performance after navigating through a difficult stretch this summer.

(14:15) Al answers an email about how the team should handle this off-season now that the team is clearly more competitive. Should they be spending on the Free Agent market this Winter?

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Facing a 2-1 deficit in the top of the 9th, the Nats rallied to come away with a 3-2 win in Miami. Al, always a pragmatic one, wonders if a .500 season is in play, believe it or not. They would need to go 20-12 over the final stretch to meet the threshold. Washington is now two games ahead of the last place Mets.

(07:30) Jacob Young pinch ran in his MLB debut and scored the tying run. Young was a 2nd round pick in the 2021 draft and played a portion of the season at four different levels.

(14:00) Jake Irvin yet again had a solid outing as he only allowed one run in 6 IP. Al throws out the notion that Irvin has possibly been the team's best starting pitcher.

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The Nats beat the Marlins 7-4 and later on Friday night the Mets lost to lift Washington into solo possession of 4th place in the NL East. Al & Mark are astonished by yet another Joan Adon start that saw a No Hit bid make it into the 6th.

(10:00) Carter Kieboom continues to take advantage of his opportunity as he homered for the 2nd time this week. This does to be his last chance to make it within the organization.

(21:00) Alex Call had an eventful evening in Miami as he had an early game collision with Lane Thomas, was picked off, and had a RBI single. We take the microscope to Call as the franchise's outfield future is crowded & TBD.

(35:30) The latest with GM Mike Rizzo's extension is that it is expected to happen in the near future. This comes after there was speculation he might be under consideration for a similar role with the White Sox.

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The Washington Post broke the news on Thursday that Stephen Strasburg will officially retire as opposed to waiting out the full duration of his 7 year deal. Mark (From The Bronx) & Al marvel at just how busy the Nats news cycle has been ever since heading to Williamsport. The Little League attention, Dylan Crews to AA, Davey Martinez extension, Stone Garrett injury, and now the Strasburg news in just the past 5 days.

(10:00) The Nationals defeated the Yankees 6-5 in the matinee in order to capture their 4th consecutive series. The bottom of the 9th was a bit of an adventure, but Kyle Finnegan did just enough to notch the save.

(14:00) Alex Call is expected to get even more playing time after the Stone Garrett injury. Call stepped up on Thursday as he homered and made a dramatic catch in CF for the final out of the win.

(16:00) CJ Abrams hit a crucial HR, but did admire his work on the way out. Hear what his manager had to say afterwards regarding the incident.

(30:00) Strasburg has been on the IL all season and it is expected that he will announce his retirement in September. Mark catches you up on everything you need to know on the situation and what the bread crumbs were along the way. Al then lays out the various ways to view his legacy to the organization and the city.

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The Nats were routed on Wednesday night 9-1 at Yankee Stadium in an affair where Aaron Judge hit a trio of homers. Mark (From the Bronx) & Al begin with Stone Garrett needing to be carted off the field after his leg ran into the outfield wall. Garrett was seen covering his face with a towel in the immediate aftermath.

(14:40) MacKenzie Gore did not pitch well in this game and allowed 6 runs in just 4 IP. His defense behind him was not very good and the 2nd inning was the undoing as the Yankees scored 5 runs in the frame.

(22:00) The offense only totaled 3 hits and never had a runner in scoring position. The most disappointing aspect was that the lineup was ineffective against Luis Severino; who has had a wretched season on the mound.

(26:00) Carl Edwards Jr. has been shutdown due to a stress fracture in his throwing shoulder. This is particularly bad timing for Edwards because he is a Free Agent after the season.

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The Nats began the 3 city road trip on the right foot as they edged the Yankees 2-1 on Tuesday evening for their 20th victory in the past 30 games. Mark (From the Bronx) & Al recap Josiah Gray's strong outing in Yankee Stadium that lasted 6 IP. It is by far his best start this month and his ERA currently sits at 3.82.

(10:30) Hunter Harvey struck out both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton during his flawless bottom of the 8th. Harvey has not missed a beat since returning from the IL.

(19:00) Carter Kieboom homered in his first MLB at bat since 2021 and was the team's starting 3B. It was his first Big League homer since August 31st of that season.

(28:00) Davey Martinez officially will receive a 2 year contract extension; which includes an option for the 3rd year. Does this indicate that the Lerner's are not planning for an imminent sale of the franchise?

(32:00) Mike Rizzo's deal is expected, but not yet official. We dive into the notion floated by Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post that the White Sox might be involved.

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Sunday was a special day in Nationals history and it was punctuated with a 4-3 victory over the Phillies at the Little League Classic in Williamsport, PA. Mark (From Historic Bowman Field) tells Al about the unique itinerary, which lasted the entire day and night.

(07:10) The Nats jumped all over Zack Wheeler for 4 runs in the opening inning and then the bats went silent after that. Was Wheeler tipping his pitches? Mark points out why the lighting situation at the long time minor league stadium might have played a factor.

(11:45) Trevor Williams broke a string of poor outings by tossing a shutout in 6 IP. It was his first scoreless start since June 21st. As for the bullpen, Mason Thompson struggled to finish the job and Kyle Finnegan was needed for the 4th time in 5 days.

(25:00) Carter Kieboom was called up for Sunday and will remain on the roster. Will he start this week at 3B in Yankee Stadium?

(32:00) After just 14 games in Fredericksburg, Dylan Crews is being promoted to AA - Harrisburg, just a few months after being drafted. Is it realistic to expect him to in Washington by next summer?

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The final score is uglier than it looked, but nonetheless the Nats lost 12-3 to Philadelphia, despite nursing a 3-0 lead entering the late innings. Al recaps Cory Abbott's nightmarish 8th inning where surrendered 8 runs to the Phillies to put the game well out of reach. The fatigued bullpen forced Davey Martinez to stick with Abbott, but immediately afterwards Abbott was sent down to AAA.

(14:45) The shame of the day was that Jake Irvin threw 6 shutout IP and struck out 7 in a no decision. It was his first scoreless outing since his 2nd career start in San Francisco back in May. From a big picture standpoint, him shutting out a powerful lineup was arguably more important than the actual final score.

(19:00) Lane Thomas yet again had an all around excellent game as he had an OF assist and came through with a pair of hits. Riley Adams yet again took advantage of a rare start as he also had 2 hits himself. Adams' OPS this season in limited playing time is a staggering .937 and Al puts that high level hitting in perspective.

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The Nats held on to defeat the Phillies 8-7 on Friday evening in Navy Yard. Mark & Al take note of the atmosphere at the Ballpark as the lively crowd saw the Nationals counter the Phillies' 6 run top of the 4th with a half dozen runs of their own. One week after being no hit by Michael Lorenzen, Washington knocked him out after just 3.1 IP.

(10:30) Stone Garrett continued his hot month at the plate as he had 3 hits while getting the nod in RF. Mark puts in perspective where Garett fits in/might be in the outfield depth for the future. Jake Alu also had a solid night as he came through with a pair of RBI singles.

(17:00) The Nats took the lead for good after CJ Abrams slugged a majestic 3 run HR and took his time admiring his work. The moment seemed emblematic of the newfound confidence being exuded by the young SS.

(25:00) The bullpen stepped up yet again as they only allowed 1 run in 5 IP while using 6 pitchers in the process. This came in relief of Joan Adon who mightily struggled. Adon has not pitched well since his excellent start in St. Louis last month.

(37:00) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the Rochester Red Wings, gives an update on Luis Garcia since he was demoted to AAA. Drew Millas, Carter Kieboom, and Jackson Rutledge are among those who also are featured.

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The Nats hung on 10-7 over Boston to take the series rubber match on Thursday afternoon. Mark & Al put in perspective what the victory symbolizes as they won their 55th game of the season, which equals last year's output with forty games still remaining. Washington has won 6 of their past 8 series and are 6 games over .500 since the All Star Break.

(11:30) The offense broke out against Chris Sale to reach double digit runs and saw contributions from all across the lineup. Joey Menses had a pair of doubles that led to a 5 RBI afternoon. Keibert Ruiz reached base 5 times as the DH too see his scorching August continue. Other top contributors included Riley Adams, Stone Garrett, and Jeter Downs.

(18:25) Patrick Corbin pitched well as he only allowed 1 run in 6 IP. Coming off a start where he issued 7 walks, on Thursday he didn't throw any "Ball Fours". His ERA is at 4.71, which is the lowest it has been since mid May.

(27:20) The rout almost turned into a nightmare as Robert Garcia allowed 6 runs in less than an inning; which included a Grand Slam. This led to Davey Martinez having to use Hunter Harvey and Kyle Finnegan despite an earlier 9-1 lead.

(31:20) This weekend is an odd 3 game series as the Phillies will be in D.C. on Friday and Saturday, but the finale will be Sunday night in Williamsport, PA to coincide with the Little League World Series. Mark explains the itinerary for the first ever neutral site game in franchise history.

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The Nats topped the Red Sox 6-2 on Wednesday evening in D.C. Al & Mark begin with MacKenzie Gore who had an excellent outing cut short due to a cut nail on a finger on his pitching hand in the 7th inning. Davey Martinez minimized the long term effect of it afterwards, calming the worries of the fans.

(12:30) The Nationals clubbed a quarter of home runs from 3 different players in the victory. Keibert Ruiz continued his torrid August with a tie breaking 3 run HR in the bottom of the 8th while hitting in the clean-up spot. Ruiz now has 15 HRs this season, the 2nd most on the current roster.

(16:30) Stone Garrett hit a pair of homers and is also having a very strong month as his slugging % is at .633. Where does Garrett fit into the franchise's long term plans; if at all?

(24:30) Another solid performance by the bullpen, but this time they did not emerge unscathed. Jordan Weems allowed 2 runs, but did step up to induce a crucial double play when relieving Gore. The conversation leads to the rehabbing Carl Edwards Jr., who has been in West Palm for awhile.

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Josiah Gray's rough August continued on Tuesday as his start ended after just the 3rd inning in the Nats lost 5-4 to the visiting Red Sox. Mark & Al scratch their heads as Gray's post All Star Break is nowhere near how his season began. Davey Martinez afterwards harped on the fact that Gray needs to rely more on his fastball.

(19:00) The resurgent bullpen pitched well in defeat as they threw 6 scoreless frames. Hunter Harvey returned from the IL and was immediately called upon to pitch the 9th inning instead of doing a rehab assignment in the minor leagues.

(25:45) CJ Abrams joined an exclusive franchise club as he stole his 30th base of the season. Will he ever turn into a 30/30 player?

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For the 3rd time since the All Star Break, the Nats pulled off a weekend series sweep. This one came in epic fashion as they trailed 7-2 to begin bottom of the 9th and the affair ended with the unlikeliest of bench players coming through with the walk-off hit in Jeter Downs. Mark & Al collect their breath and then analyze all that went into the comeback victory as Downs was in the game late to replace CJ Abrams at SS, who exited early due to back spasms.

(23:20) The bullpen might get two important arms in the near future as Hunter Harvey and Tanner Rainey each showed progress in their rehab quest to return to Washington this season.

(27:00) Trevor Williams had another poor outing as he has allowed 4+ runs in as many consecutive starts. Will he remain in the rotation or are there no better options?

(37:00) Dylan Crews had a monster game on Sunday in Lynchburg as he went 5 for 5 with 2 HRs and 6 RBIs. In just over a week with the Fred Nats, he has already totaled 15 RBIs.

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The Nats rallied against Oakland on Saturday for a 3-2 victory that abruptly concluded with a Keibert Ruiz lead-off homer in the bottom of the 9th. Al & Tim dive into Ruiz's hot month; where he is slugging .605 so far in August. It was Ruiz's 16th HR of the season, good for 6th most among NL catchers.

(08:30) Lane Thomas was a late scratch in the starting lineup, but came through as a pinch hitter with the game tying RBI in the bottom of the 8th. Thomas currently has the 4th most hits in the NL (132) and the top 7 all are players from the NL East.

(12:00) Blake Rutherford finally got his 1st career MLB hit after starting 0 for 16 since getting called up. Rutherford received strong applause from the home crowd and followed it up with another hit later in the game.

(23:00) Jake Irvin pitched well and almost lasted for 7 IP vs. the Athletics. Has Irvin made his case to be in the 2024 starting rotation?

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The Nats beat Oakland 8-2 on Friday night behind 3 separate home runs and overcoming an early 2-0 deficit. Al & Tim begin the recap with the bullpen stepping up big time for six scoreless innings after Joan Adon exited his start in the top of the 4th due to cramping. Cory Abbott recorded four outs after having to immediately warm up and Jordan Weems threw the final two frames.

(14:30) Ildemaro Vargas equaled a career high with 4 RBIs which included a 3 run HR to break the game wide open and Jake Alu connected on his 1st career homer. Davey Martinez indicated pregame that his plan as of now is to keep Vargas at 3B and Alu at 2B.

(24:00) CJ Abrams was thrown out in the top of 1st trying to steal 2nd base; one day after setting a franchise mark for most consecutive stolen bases (25).

(32:25) Tim speaks to Paul Brunell, a lifelong Athletics fan, to hear what the current fan efforts are to keep the team from moving to Las Vegas.

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The Nats lost 6-2 in Philadelphia to drop 3 of 4 in this week's series. Mark & Al begin by with a curious examination of Patrick Corbin's unique pitching line where he did not allow an earned run despite issuing 7 walks.

(16:40) Blake Rutherford was 0 for 2 on Thursday night and is hit-less in 16 MLB at- bats since getting called up. Rutherford has played in 5 games this month after hitting .345 this season collectively in Harrisburg and Rochester.

(20:00) CJ Abrams swiped his 25th consecutive base to set a franchise record. He has not been caught stealing since all the way back to May 3rd vs. the Cubs.

(26:10) The weekend the worst team in all of Baseball comes to D.C. in the Oakland Athletics; who are on pace for just 46 wins this season. As of now, the plan is for the A's to relocate to Las Vegas after 2024.

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The Nats were no hit for the 1st time since they began play in 2005 as Michael Lorenzen led Philadelphia to a 7-0 defeat of Washington. Mark & Al tip their caps to the franchise almost going 20 years without being no hit; good for the longest active streak in MLB. It was just Lorenzen's second appearance with the Phillies after being traded from Detroit last week and he issued 4 walks while throwing 124 pitches.

(16:30) MacKenzie Gore was hit hard on Wednesday as he allowed six runs in just 5 IP. Gore surrendered a trio of homers; which is the most in an outing since joining the organization. His ERA is now up to 4.62 and continuing to trend upward.

(22:30) Davey Martinez announced pregame that Joan Adon will join the rotation and it will for the time include six starters. Adon is coming off a no hit bid for over the weekend, but he has struggled this season in AAA.

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The Nats split their Tuesday doubleheader in Philadelphia to begin the 4 game series. Al & Mark recap Joey Meneses's late game heroics in Game 2 as his pair of HRs unexpectedly lifted Washington to victory. Hear Mark lay out what the first 162 games of Meneses' MLB career looks like in a stats sense; now that he has reached the unofficial milestone.

(14:30) A big part of the 5-4 win was the bullpen coming through with 4+ scoreless innings of work. Andres Machado recorded 4 of the outs and his WHIP in August so far is 0.40. Earlier this summer the Nationals DFA'd Machado, but he ultimately ended up back in Rochester before being called back up.

(26:00) Both Trevor Williams and Josiah Gray struggled in their starts and neither made it past the 5th inning. Williams has given up at least one run in eight consecutive outings and his spot in the rotation might be in jeopardy.

(32:45) An extended discussion on recent pro Philadelphia comments by Bryce Harper that seemed to be underhanded towards D.C. fans. This oddly came in response to Phillies fans rallying around a struggling Trea Turner.

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The Nationals pulled off a road sweep for the first time in almost 4 years as they doubled up the Reds 6-3 on Sunday afternoon. Mark & Al open with Davey Martinez's aggressive managing in pushing many of his top bullpen arms for a 3rd straight day. Kyle Finnegan pitched the 9th inning all weekend without giving up a run.

(10:45) CJ Abrams and Lane Thomas homered on the opening 2 pitches of the game, the first 2 ever MLB pitches thrown by Cincinnati starter Lyon Richardson. Abrams went 4 for 5 on Sunday; matching a career high from September of last season.

(17:30) Jake Alu was back in the lineup at 2B and contributed with a RBI for the fourth straight start. Ildemaro Vargas meanwhile was at 3B all weekend, should that continue to be the case?

(31:00) Paolo Espino was released by the organization to make roster space despite being on the IL. We salute Paolo's time in D.C. despite unlikely odds that led to him being part of the starting rotation for an extended time.

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The Nats won 7-3 in Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon for the 10th victory in their past 15 games. Mark & Al begin with the stunning start by Joan Adon, as he had a Perfect Game going until it was broken up with 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th. Adon was only called up due to Trevor Williams being briefly away from the team and is now expected to remain on the Big League roster.

(16:40) Tim Shovers gives a quick update on Dylan Crews debut with the Fred Nats on Saturday evening in Virginia.

(21:30) Both Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams were in the lineup as Ruiz occupied the DH spot. The catcher tandem combined for 4 hits and Adams OPS this season is now at an eye opening .925.

(33:30) Terry Byrom, the Voice of the Harrisburg Senators, gives an update on James Wood, Trey Lipscomb and more from the AA affiliate.

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The Nats won 6-3 in 10 innings in Cincinnati to open the weekend series. Mark (Live from his Hotel Room) & Al have a lot to get to, but begin with extended discussions of Lane Thomas and Joey Meneses, who combined for 3 HRs in the victory.

(11:40) Jake Alu started at 2B and Ildemaro Vargas took over at 3B on Friday night. Alu came through with another RBI since being called up; his 3rd in as many games. Where does Jeter Downs fit into all of this?

(16:40) Mark relays what Davey Martinez had to say during Pregame about the demotion of Luis Garcia to AAA.

(26:00) The Nationals were the beneficiaries of good pitching vs. the Reds as Patrick Corbin made it into the 7th with a low pitch count, and five relievers combined for a scoreless effort in 3.2 IP. Jordan Weems continued his strong summer as came through with a pair of K's in his one inning of work.

(35:20) Dylan Crews had 3 hits on Friday in West Palm and is slated to make his Minor League debut on Saturday night in Fredericksburg. Hear where the hosts think he might be spending his September, just a few months after being drafted #2 overall.

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It ended up being a busy Wednesday afternoon in Navy Yard as initially the Nats had an unorthodox walk-off winner over Milwaukee by the score of 3-2. Then roughly an hour after the game; it was announced that Luis Garcia is being sent down to AAA and Corey Dickerson was unconditionally released. Mark & Al examine why Garcia will be headed to Rochester and what that means long term at 2B in Washington.

(16:50) The offense had some rather creative ways to defeat Brewers All Star Closer Devin Williams in the bottom of the 9th. Alex Call is credited with an unusual scoring, a walk-off fielder's choice grounder. Ildemaro Vargas not only scored the winning run, but had very heads-up base running along the way.

(24:30) MacKenzie Gore threw a solid outing as he allowed just a pair of runs in 6 IP. An encouraging element to his start is that he only needed 89 pitches to get through the top of the 6th; a frame where he struck out the side.

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The Nats did not make any more deadlines on the final day of the MLB Trade Deadline leading up to their 6-4 loss at the hands of the visiting Brewers. Mark & Al examine why Washington did make any additional swaps and what went into the decision to retain Lane Thomas and Kyle Finnegan.

(09:30) As for the actual game; Josiah Gray had a disappointing outing where he exited after 3.2 IP. It was the top of the 4th that did in Gray as he allowed 4 runs and tossed 37 pitches in that frame alone. This was his shortest outing of the season.

(18:45) The offense had a mildly productive evening as Dominic Smith and CJ Abrams each had a pair of hits. Jake Alu, 24th rounder from 2019, came through with his 1st career RBI after getting called up from Rochester. It is expected that Alu will get plenty of opportunity at 3B after Jeimer Candelario was traded away.

(27:15) Now that August has arrived, it puts into focus that both Davey Martinez and Mike Rizzo are not under contract for next season. Will they both be back in 2024?

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The Nats rallied to top the Brewers 5-3, but just before the series began Jeimer Candelario was shipped to the Cubs in exchange for a pair of prospects. Mark & Al react to the trade and see whether or not Mike Rizzo got proper value in return for the veteran 3B. Both prospects coming from Chicago ranked in the top 20 of their system, Kevin Made (SS), and DJ Herz (LHP).

(10:15) The focus turns to 3B long term as we look sat what the MLB timetable is for Brady House, the 1st Round Pick from 2021, that recently was promoted to AA Harrisburg. Jake Alu was called up Monday from Rochester and is expected to get plenty of at bats at 3B for the rest of the season.

(18:20) The remaining potential trade chips all played well in Monday night's victory. Joey Meneses and Lane Thomas combined for all 5 Washington RBIs and Kyle Finnegan notched his 15th save of the season. Will they all remain on the Nationals come as the 6pm Trade Deadline arrives on Tuesday?

(28:30) Jake Irvin lasted 5.1 IP and Al continues to point out how much better he has been since having his spot in the rotation skipped earlier this summer.

(33:00) A quick look back at the dizzying amount of trades the Nats pulled off at 2021 Trade Deadline. They moved a total of 8 players in return for 12 prospects, including Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz.

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The Nats were beaten 5-2 by the Mets to close out the long weekend series in Flushing. Mark (From NY) & Al on a disappointing day for the offense are able to tip their caps to CJ Abrams for stealing 3 more bases from the leadoff position. Abrams has successfully stolen the last 21 bags he attempted to swipe; dating all the way back to May.

(07:30) Lane Thomas did not start but was inserted mid game as a pinch hitter. It caused some raised eye brows when he was not in the lineup pregame, but Davey Martinez said it was for a scheduled day off; not due to a trade. Al points out how his slump seems to be correlated to dropping in the order to make room up top for Abrams.

(13:40) Rico Garcia was placed on the IL and Amos Willingham returned to take his roster spot. The franchise's bullpen has been beleaguered this summer by many injuries, including to that of Sean Doolittle.

(19:00) Trevor Williams only lasted 4 IP and immediately left after the game due to being added to the Bereavement List. Williams has struggled this month and his ERA is at 5.97 in 7 July starts.

(23:30) According to the NY Post, Max Scherzer will now be paid millions by three separate franchises this season; which includes Washington.

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The Nats topped the Mets 11-6 on Saturday night after jumping out to an early 8-1 lead. Mark ( Live from Citi Field) & Al convene after a busy day in Flushing as New York traded Max Scherzer to Texas in the middle of the game. The lineup feasted on Carlos Carrasco, including Riley Adams who continues to contribute at the plate in his limited playing time.

(14:45) Jeimer Candelario reached base four times as his tenure in Washington likely is over in a few days. What is Candelario's trade value like as we approach the Trade Deadline?

(25:50) Jordan Weems was one of four relievers to take the mound after Patrick Corbin and Weems had is fifth consecutive scorless outing. Of the seven runs he has allowed this month, four of which came in a single outing to skew his numbers.

(30:00) Now that Scherzer has been dealt away from New York, does this guarantee that he will enter Cooperstown wearing the Curly W? This will be the 6th team of his career that began in 2008.

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The Nats lost 5-1 at the Mets on Friday night for a 2nd straight defeat. Mark (From Citi Field) & Al start with Jeimer Candelario's potential injury while trying to extend a single into a double in the 8th inning. Candelario has had many injuries this month, as we approach Tuesday's Trade Deadline.

(06:00) MacKenzie Gore only lasted 5 IP and issued 4 walks in the process. Gore never threw a clean inning and it came to haunt him in the 5th when Pete Alonso connected on a 3 run HR off a hanging slider.

(17:00) The offense was little match for Max Scherzer as the only run came off of a Luis Garcia Solo HR. Garcia was the lone bright spot in the lineup as he tallied 3 hits. July has been a tough month for Garcia as he is only hitting .225.

(23:40) Our diehard listener in South Korea (Rich) passed along a first hand testimonial of how well Erick Fedde is pitching in the KBO and that he is a candidate for their version of the Cy Young Award.

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After yet another rain delay, the Nats lost 2-1 at the Mets on Thursday evening. Mark (Live from Citi Field) & Al immediately dive into the odd situation where Kyle Finnegan had an over an hour to think about the inherited bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 8th.

(06:45) Finnegan entered the game in relief of Mason Thompson; who lost control in the middle of his outing. This has been a periodic pattern for Thompson and both of the Mets runs were charged against him.

(10:00) Josiah Gray issued a few walks and had a high pitch count, but did not allow a run in his 6 IP. Gray's ERA this year is 3.27 in 21 starts.

(17:10) The Nationals offense struggled in this series opener as they only collected 5 hits. Lane Thomas went 0 for 4 and his numbers at the plate in July have been lower than earlier this season. This leads to a discussion on where he stacks up on the open trade market.

(24:50) The Angels are going for it and are keeping Shohei Ohtani. Given their dissatisfaction with Anthony Rendon (yep), might they ironically trade for Jeimer Candelario?

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The Nats ended the successful home stand in thrilling fashion as they scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 9th to win 5-4. Mark & Al begin by wondering why Rockies Manager kept his struggling Closer Daniel Bard on the mound. Bard was out of the game though when CJ Abrams continued his magical July ride with a walk-off RBI single.

(18:00) Jake Irvin had a mixed bag outing, but did tally 7 strikeouts and made it 6 IP. The negative of the afternoon was that he allowed 3 Colorado homers. The bullpen did pitch well behind as they combined for 3 scoreless frames.

(27:35) Victor Robles was moved to the 60 day IL to help make room for the call-up of Andres Machado. The earliest Robles can return is late August as he is basically been out since early May. Where does he currently fit into the organization's long-term plans?

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The Nats ended a very long night on a high note in the 6-5 victory over the Rockies. There were two separate rain delays that led to a conclusion just before Midnight; only 12 hours before Wednesday's series finale. Al & Mark start with the decisive 4 run bottom of the 8th where Jeimer Candelario had a RBI double and Joey Meneses was the hero with a 3 run blast. "Joey Four Bags" has been on a tear this month as he is slugging .535 in July.

(09:00) Davey made sure to get both Keibert Ruiz & Riley Adams into the lineup and was rewarded with 2 hits and a RBI double for Adams. Will there be a continued push to get both catchers at bats every day?

(17:00) Trevor Williams made it through 6 IP and ultimately gave up 4 runs. The bullpen only yielded one run; which led to Kyle Finnegan notching his 14th Save of the season.

(25:00) Yet again rain played tricks on the Nationals as the first rain delay on Tuesday evening did not have any rain. Why does it seem like it gets botched in Navy Yard multiple times a year? At least the fans were given discounts on food during the wait.

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**Record scratch** The Nats win streak from the weekend came to an abrupt halt on Monday night in a 10-6 loss to visiting Colorado that was marred by plenty of sloppy play. Mark & Al recap the grisly details from Patrick Corbin's outing where he ceded 10 hits and his ERA is now up to 5.01.

(11:30) Plenty of instances of poor defense in this defeat and this leads to an assessment of what the defensive chess board might look like for Washington in the next few seasons as the prospects continue to rise within the system.

(21:05) Jeimer Candelario connected on his 16th HR of the season as we are one week away from the Trade Deadline. Any chance the Nationals do not deal him?

(30:00) **Must Listen Segment** Mark recounts his special family trip over to Dyersville, Iowa to check out the real life "Field of Dreams".

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Get out your brooms as the 2+ year sweep drought in a 3 game series is thankfully over as the Nats took care of the Giants 6-1 on Sunday afternoon. Al & Tim have plenty to revel in, but especially Lane Thomas' unforgettable day where he tied a franchise record with 4 stolen bases, 3 hits at the plate, and flashed the leather in the field multiple times. However, the conversation quickly morphs into... should they trade Lane next week before the Deadline?

(15:00) Riley Adams homered on Sunday and his OPS is well above .800 despite having fewer than 100 plate appearances. What can the Nationals do to get him more playing time?

(22:30) MacKenzie Gore had a good outing as he threw 5 shutout innings with 8 Ks and only allowed 4 hits. Gore lasted 90 pitches and then handed it off to the bullpen. This was his best outing since last month in San Diego (June 25th).

(29:00) The highlight of the sweep might be how effective the bullpen was all weekend. On Sunday, they shouldered 4 IP and only allowed 1 run in the process.

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Saturday was a special day at Nationals Park as it began with the introductory Dylan Crews Press Conference and was followed by a 10-1 thrashing of the Giants. Al & Tim start with all the offensive accolades for CJ Abrams, Keibert Ruiz, and Alex Call. Abrams homered on his Bobblehead night while Ruiz & Call each are slugging over .500 in July.

(21:30) Josiah Gray issued 3 walks right away, but settled down and lasted 7 IP without walking anyone else. Gray has now lasted 7 frames on 4 different occasions this season. The bullpen continued their solid series as Rico Garcia and Joe LaSorsa each threw a scoreless inning to wrap up the victory.

(29:00) Dylan Crews met with the media prior to the win and Tim asked the #2 overall pick what his expected timetable is in order to make it Washington. When should we expect him to make his MLB debut? Mike Rizzo indicated that his journey will begin in West Palm before heading up to either Fredericksburg or Wilmington.

(37:10) Crews' Agent, Scott Boras, certainly made his presence felt at the press conference with a few memorable comments. Boras also referenced some of his past high profile clients that played in Washington in the previous decade.

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The Nats beat the Giants 5-3 on Friday night to begin the home stand. Al & Tim recap Jake Irvin's career best start as he struck out nine and almost made it 7 IP on 111 pitches. What is a realistic ceiling for Irvin as we move forward?

(11:10) This was not a night to complain about the bullpen as they came through unscathed for the final 7 outs. Jordan Weems came through in a 7th inning jam, and then Jose A. Ferrer & Kyle Finnegan each threw 1-2-3 frames to close it out over San Francisco. Weems has struggled at times this year, but also has shown a propensity to strike guys out.

(18:30) Lane Thomas & CJ Abrams each homered early in the victory; part of the offense's 5 extra base hits on the evening. Abrams continued his torrid stretch while hitting lead-off as his OPS this month is 1.015.

(28:45) Dylan Crews reportedly has officially signed with Washington and is expected to have his introductory press conference on Saturday afternoon. The hosts discuss what a realistic timetable for Crews might look like between now and his eventual MLB debut.

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The Nats bullpen imploded again in Chicago, this time they allowed 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th to lose 8-3. Mark (Live from Wrigley Field) & Al discuss the continued sorry state of affairs for the 'pen and on Wednesday Mason Thompson was part of the problem. During the final 2 games of the series, the relief pitching gave up 20 runs in less than 6 frames.

(13:30) Trevor Williams had a so-so outing as he allowed 7 hits in his usual 5 IP. What are the chances that a contender would seek Williams at the Deadline to fill out their rotation?

(22:00) Jeimer Candelario slugged his 15th HR of the season in the 8th inning just before Washington briefly tied the Cubs. What kind of return might the Nationals get for Candelario in a few weeks?

(28:15) While Candelario is almost a given to be dealt, it is not as clear for Lane Thomas. Hear Mark explain what Mike Rizzo is weighing while potentially shopping Thomas.

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The Nats led 3-0, but it was all Cubs form there in a 17-3 blowout on Tuesday night. Mark (Live from Wrigley) & Al run through the gruesome details on the "B" Bullpen as they allowed a combined 14 runs in the 7th & 8th innings. It was a particularly tough night for Our Guy Paolo; who ceded 8 runs in less than an inning of work. Will this end up as the worst Nationals Bullpen in history?

(16:00) Before the game got out of hand, Patrick Corbin had a decent start as he pitched into the 6th inning. Corbin just returned from the Paternity List and did not have his usual preparation.

(28:05) Brady House, 1st Round Pick from 2021, was promoted to AA Harrisburg after just 16 games in Wilmington. Could House get called up to Washington in 2024?

(33:10) Elijah Green, 1st Round Pick from 2022, is currently in West Palm as opposed to Fredericksburg as he rehabs a wrist injury. Green has not played in a few weeks and his strikeout rate (42%) is of concern.

(37:10) We play the scouting reporting that Jim Callis, Senior Writer for MLB.com, gave on Dylan Crews prior to the Draft. The Nationals took Crews #2 overall a few weeks ago and he is expected to sign in the near future.

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The Nats topped the Cubs 7-5 to begin their three game series at Wrigley Field. Mark (From Chicago) & Al examine Jeimer Candelario's immediate impact in his return to the lineup by homering right away. Candelario had missed action over the weekend due to a bone bruise in his thumb.

(07:40) Keibert Ruiz was picked off, but made up for it with a 2 run shot in the 7th for a 7-3 lead. Ruiz played nice defense on Monday night, including some crucial picks on low pitches in the 9th by Kyle Finnegan.

(10:15) Stone Garrett made his presence felt in the lineup as he collected 3 hits including a double that Cody Bellinger lost in the Friendly Confines. Garrett is slugging .552 in July despite sharing time in LF.

(22:10) MacKenzie Gore's stat line does not convey how he really pitched on Monday as he gave up a pair of 2 run HRs in his final frames. Gore lasted until the 7th, which was crucial given how limited the bullpen is during Hunter Harvey's trip to the IL (elbow strain).

(38:00) Hear Ben McDonald's scouting report of Dylan Crews. This full interview is available in our Game 88 recap.

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The Nats lost the series rubber match on Sunday 8-4 in St. Louis as there was a rain delay for the third consecutive day. Al & Mark (Live from Busch Stadium) begin with the pair of crucial injuries that the team is currently dealing with for closer Hunter Harvey and Jeimer Candelario. Harvey's velocity was down and Saturday and this led to him being scheduled for a MRI back in D.C. Candelario tried pregame to be able to play despite his bone bruise, but instead Ildemaro Vargas played again at 3B. The timing of these injuries are also relevant as the MLB Tradeline is around the corner (August 1st).

(18:45) More bad pitching for the Nationals as Josiah Gray allowed 10 hits and the taxed bullpen didn't do much better. Josiah Gray might have had a sterling All Star debut, but that momentum did not carry over on Sunday.

(26:00) CJ Abrams tripled and doubled on Sunday and collected six hits in the weekend series. His OPS is at .719 for the month and has a batting average in July at .395.

(36:00) The road trip moves to Wrigley Field for three straight evenings with MacKenzie Gore taking the mound on Monday night.

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A long Saturday at Busch Stadium resulted in the Nats winning Game 1 (7-5 extras W) and dropping Game 2 (9-6 L) vs. the Cardinals. Mark (Live from St. Louis) & Al run through the busy start to the series, which has seen plenty of rain delays. Jeimer Candelario did not play in either affair due to his thumb bone bruise and this is a cause for concern due to the looming Trade Deadline (August 1st).

(10:15) CJ Abrams had four hits in these two games and has looked comfortable since being moved into the lead-off spot in the order as he is hitting .385 in the month of July. Joey Meneses meanwhile had a good day at the plate, continuing his momentum from last week vs. Texas.

(21:45) Jake Irvin only lasted 3 IP on the mound in Game 2 and did not aid an already fatigued Bullpen. The "A" Bullpen was primarily used in the Game 1 victory; which led to a Paolo Espino appearance on Saturday night in Game 2.

(32:30) The Nationals now have two of the top five prospects in the post Draft rankings. Dylan Crews is listed at #4, just ahead of James Wood at fifth, and Paul Skenes #6. Listen for an explanation as to why Washington will not be able to draft in the Top 10 next summer.

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The Nats were only able to make it until the bottom of the 3rd on Friday night in St. Louis. Trevor Williams allowed a Solo HR in the bottom of the 1st to stake the Cardinals a 1-0 lead before the tarp was rolled out . Tim gives a quick scene setter of the now busy Saturday that awaits the Nationals in Missouri.

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**SPECIAL DRAFT EDITION**

The Nationals picked the highly decorated Dylan Crews with the #2 overall pick in the MLB Draft. Al & Mark analyze the pivotal pick of the star outfielder, who just won a National Championship, hit .426, and took home the Golden Spikes Award. Crews' teammate Paul Skenes was unavailable to Washington; as Pittsburgh selected the pitcher at #1.

(15:00) What's next for Crews? What's a realistic timetable until he gets called up to the Big Leagues?

(26:20) The Nats beat the Rangers Sunday afternoon 7-2 in the series rubber match. Joey Meneses homered for the fourth time this weekend and is 8th in the NL in hits. Dom Smith and Stone Garrett each homered as well and CJ Abrams had 3 hits from the lead-off spot.

(38:00) Patrick Corbin threw a fantastic start as he allowed only 1 run in 7 IP. Corbin pulled the very rare feat of striking out four consecutive Texas hitters who are headed to the All Star Game. Could Corbin actually be a trade chip at the Deadline?

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The Nats ended their five game losing streak as they jumped out early on Texas pitching for an 8-3 victory. Mark & Al begin with Joey Meneses, who homered for the 3rd time in under 24 hours, and also added a RBI double. Meneses now has more homers in this series (3) than the rest of his entire combined season (2).

(07:45) Jeimer Candelario was only able to serve as DH, but immediately delivered with a 1st inning 3 run HR to set the afternoon tone. Candelario remains on the outside of the All Star Game despite being top 2 in WAR among all of NL 3Bs.

(16:00) CJ Abrams had a pair of hits on Day 2 as serving as the lead-off hitter. Hear Mark handicap the reasons why the young SS has been given this opportunity.

(24:20) Jake Irvin continues to pitch well ever since having his spot in the rotation skipped last month. Irvin really stepped up on Saturday as he kept pitching following the 1 hour+ rain delay. Irvin's ERA in his past 5 starts is at an encouraging 3.58.

(31:30) One last MLB Draft conversation before Sunday night. If both LSU stars are available at #2.... who will Washington select?

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The Nats dropped their 5th game in a row as they were beaten 7-2 by visiting Texas. Al & Tim evaluate Washington's 15th home loss in the past 16 games; which is becoming a bit of a head spinning stat. The lineup was tweaked as CJ Abrams occupied the lead-off spot and it sounds like this will be an ongoing experiment. Lane Thomas moved to the 2nd spot in the order, but went 0 for 4.

(09:45) Joey Meneses touched eight bags while homering twice; thus doubling his season total. It was his first time going deep in exactly two months, when he hit one on May 7th in Phoenix.

(15:45) Jeimer Candelario was out of the lineup on Friday one day after exiting early due to taking a fastball to the kneecap. Candelario was still sore after working out in the batting cage and is TBD for the rest of the weekend series.

(19:00) The Nationals only used two pitchers, but that seemed to be more of a product of a tired bullpen instead of their actual pitching performance. Trevor Williams lasted 6 IP, but allowed 4 runs and threw well over 100 pitches on his way there. Joan Adon threw the final 3 innings, but gave up a HR to the first batter he saw, just after he was promoted from AAA Rochester.

(31:30) Tim speaks with Ben McDonald, the perfect person to give you scouting reports on Paul Skenes & Dylan Crews. Ben himself was a Star pitcher at LSU and then drafted by the Orioles at #1 overall in 1989. Hear Ben's up close expertise on these two as the MLB Draft approaches this Sunday evening.

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The Nats were swept by the Reds and Thursday's finale was a 5-4 extra inning defeat for their 14th loss in their past 15 home games. Mark & Al recap the odd affair, that saw a nearly two hour rain delay in the top of the 2nd; thus prematurely ending MacKenzie Gore's start. This is his final schedule start until the All Star Break and his ERA is now at 4.42.

(10:15) The rain delay caused the afternoon to become a Bullpen Game and the "A" Bullpen took the mound in addition to a few others. Hunter Harvey threw a perfect top of the 9th, but in the 10th immediately surrendered a 2 run HR to Nick Senzel. This does create plenty of complications for this weekend's upcoming series vs. Texas.

(20:00) Keibert Ruiz went 0 for 5 while DHing and his OPS is a troubling .639. What to make of him at the moment at the plate? Why isnt' Riley Adams getting more chances at 1B?

(25:50) Alex Call homered, stole a base, and walked twice. Call's HR briefly gave the Nationals the lead and this came one day after returning from Rochester.

(28:00) Mark gives an update on Jeimer Candelario, who left in the 10th inning after taking a fastball to the kneecap while up to bat.

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The Nats were trounced 9-2 on Wednesday night vs. the Reds for their 3rd straight home loss. Mark & Al recap the unusual kerfuffle regarding the blast knob at the end of Elly De La Cruz's bat that ultimately led to his towering HR in the 5th inning. Mark was the designated pool reporter for the evening and relays what he was told form the Umpires afterwards.

(08:40) Josiah Gray had a poor outing on the heels of making the All Star Game over the weekend. Gray only lasted 5 IP and was plagued by his typical high pitch count.

(16:20) Joe La Sorsa gave up 4 runs in two innings; which included a run scoring balk. It was the 2nd time in the past few outings that La Sorsa gave up that many runs and his ERA this season is at 18.00.

(26:30) Alex Call returned to Washington's CF just a few weeks after being sent down to Rochester. Derek Hill was DFA'd, which oddly enough came right after his 1st RBI with the Nationals. Call has struggled mightily at the plate this season, but has played well in the field.

(32:20) Jim Callis, Senior Writer for MLB Pipeline and MLB.com, tells Tim Shovers all that he knows about Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes ahead of this weekend's Draft. He gives an easy to digest explanation on how the finances have changed since the Stephen Strasburg/Bryce Harper Drafts.

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The Nats lost 8-4 to the Reds in the annual 11:05AM July 4th start in D.C. Mark & Alex have plenty to carp about as the sloppy play began right away with poor defense in the 1st inning. Adding insult to the afternoon, Cincinnati was able to steal 6 bases off of Riley Adams behind the plate.

(06:10) Patrick Corbin struggled while allowing 10 hits and 6 earned runs. Corbin's ERA is now up to 5.13 and for comparison sake it was 5.68 at this time last summer. It was the 4th time this year that Corbin gave up double digit hits in an outing.

(19:00) It was another day of mild results for the offense, but Derek Hill did have his 1st RBI since being promoted from AAA. CJ Abrams did not play well in the field, but he did have a pair of doubles on Tuesday. Lane Thomas doubled too and his average currently sits at .301.

(26:00) This series against the 1st Place Reds has been a tad sobering for Washington's Rebuild efforts, because Cincy has exposed the areas that need to be improved on South Capitol Street. The hosts blend this conversation into the importance of nailing the upcoming MLB Draft.

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The Nats lost the home stand opener 3-2 on Monday evening to Cincinnati. Mark & Al begin with the very curious and costly decision by Stone Garrett to try and steal 2nd Base in the bottom of the 9th. Hear how Davey Martinez responded to Garrett getting thrown out for the 2nd out in the final frame.

(09:40) Joey Meneses was slotted 5th in the lineup as opposed to his usual placement of 3rd or 4th in the order. Meneses really struggled in June as he only came up with six hits the entire month.

(18:50) Jake Irvin took the loss, but pitched decently for the 4th straight outing. A month ago his ERA was at 5.81, but ever since having his spot in the rotation was skipped, it is now down to 4.70. After he departed; the "B" Bullpen held the Reds scoreless over the final three innings.

(26:50) Quick turnaround on Tuesday morning as the Nats host their annual July 4th game at 11AM. Are you a fan of the tradition in DC?

(30:00) Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline ends the show with an updated scouting report on Brady House.

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The Nats won 5-4 on Sunday in Philadelphia to take the weekend rubber match and Josiah Gray also found out he is headed to the MLB All Star Game for the first time in his young career. The Nationals won all 3 series on the road trip and went 6-3 overall on the three city tour. Al points out how well the team is playing on the road this year as they are 21-22 this season away from D.C.

(05:00) Gray is bound for Seattle at next week's Midsummer Classic. Gray makes it to the All Star Game less than two years after the Blockbuster trade with the Dodgers at the 2021 Trade Deadline.

(09:00) Among the snubs, were Jeimer Candelario and Lane Thomas. Al runs through some stats that makes their omissions difficult to swallow, but plenty of explainable All Star roster quirks are at play. Candelario did homer on Sunday as well in the victory.

(17:10) Stone Garrett came through as clean-up hitter with a go ahead Grand Slam, his 2nd one this season. The last player to pull that off for Washington? Gerardo "Baby Shark" Parra of course.

(19:00) Trevor Williams immediately allowed 3 runs, but did settle down to make it through 5 innings. Hear Al explain how Williams has been mediocre, but in a complimentary way. The "A" Bullpen came through again with plenty of clutch double plays; and saw significant contribution from recent addition Jose A. Ferrer.

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The Nats were crushed 19-4 on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia. Al hosts solo and runs through all the troubling moments from MacKenzie Gore's awful start, which included not properly covering a play at 1st Base. It is the worst start of Gore's season and rose his ERA to 4.48. Hear what Davey has to say about the blister on Gore's finger afterwards.

(08:40) The Nationals bullpen (which included Ildemaro Vargas) was demolished by the powerful Phillies offense as they gave up a whopping 12 runs in three frames. Joe La Soras for instance faced eight batters, but only retired one of them.

(16:25) Vargas and Lane Thomas were the two members of the Washington offense to come up with multiple hits on Saturday. Al uses this opportunity to point out that how startling the lack of the Nats power has been this season.

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The enter the Halfway Point on a high note as they eked out a 2-1 win in Philadelphia for their 5th victory in the past six games. Mark & Al start with Josiah Gray's solid start on Friday night where he struck out 8 Phillies while only issuing 1 walk. Gray's ERA at 3.30 on the season through 17 starts.

(10:50) The "A" Bullpen came through with the final nine outs spread out between Mason Thompson, Kyle Finnegan, and Hunter Harvey. Harvey has appeared on the mound in all five Nationals victories this past week.

(19:45) The offense did very little, but Stone Garrett did come through with an early 2 run HR to get the job done. Dom Smith did have a trio of hits on Friday and the pair of Lane Thomas hits lifted his average to .302.

(26:20) A quick look halfway through the season at the Core 5 (Gray, Gore, Garcia, Abrams, and Ruiz).

(33:00) Josh Whetzel, the Voice of the AAA Rochester Red Wings, gives an update on Jackson Rutledge, Blake Rutherford, Matt Adams, and more.

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The Nats won 4-1 in Seattle to take the series and end their West Coast road trip with a winning record (4-2). Mark (Live from T-Mobile Park) & Al (He's Back!) revel in Patrick Corbin's stellar performance where he struck out 9 Mariners in 7 IP; without issuing any walks. This was especially clutch considering how short handed the bullpen availability was entering Wednesday afternoon.

(11:00) Amos Willingham made his MLB debut in the 8th inning and immediately allowed a Solo HR. Willingham did settle down though to retire the next 3 batters before Hunter Harvey notched the Save.

(17:00) The Nationals immediately led 3-0 as Jeimer Candelario and Keibert Ruiz each had RBI hits. Al points out how Candelario still has a real chance to make it to Seattle for the All Star Game. Ruiz was involved in a controversial call at Home Plate that led to Davey Martinez's immediate ejection. The hosts try to understand what Ruiz did wrong while trying to avoid the tag and poke holes into the logic of the overly complicated rule.

(31:30) Jackson Rutledge, Starting Pitching prospect who was the franchise's 2019 1st Round Pick, has been promoted to AAA Rochester. Could he make his MLB debut this year? At the end of the episode, hear what Jim Callis (Senior Writer for MLB Pipeline) on a rehabbing Cade Cavalli as well.

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The Nats outlasted the Mariners 7-4 in 11 innings as Jordan Weems recorded the final six outs for the victory. Mark (Live from Seattle) & Tim recap the wacky affair which included many pitch clock violations, flared tempers, and Weems escaping a bases loaded no outs jam in the bottom of the 10th.

(08:35) Jake Irvin threw 5.2 IP and allowed 3 runs. He has pitched better in June than in late May and has had four straight solid outings.

(17:00) Luis Garcia had a great game with both the bat and glove as he had two hits and almost pulled off an unforgettable double play. Luis has been hitting well this month (.303) and his OPS on the season is .709.

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The Nats lost 8-4 to open their series in Seattle on Monday evening. Mark (Live from T-Mobile Park) & Tim begin with the bad Strike 3 call on Jeimer Candelario to end the game and quash the 9th inning rally. The Nationals trailed by five runs entering the final frame, but made it interesting by loading the bases and bringing up the tying run to the plate.

(04:15) Dom Smith had an inexplicable error in the pivotal bottom of the 5th, which led to 3 Mariners runs to take a 6-3 lead. Cory Abbott was on the mound at that point, because Trevor Williams was only able to last for 4 IP.

(10:20) Paolo Espino was sent back to AAA Rochester after just one appearance to make room for 24 year old right hander Amos Willingham. Hear Mark explain all the moving parts that likely led to this outcome for Paolo.

(18:40) Lane Thomas yet again came through in the 1st as he homered for the 14th time this season and he finds himself in 5th place in the NL for hits (90). It is looking more and likely more that Thomas will be in next month's All Star game.

(21:10) Will Matt Adams get called up in July to be showcased before the Trade Deadline? Adams has 11 HRs so far this season in Rochester.

(27:10) LSU demolished Florida for the National Championship in Omaha and Paul Skenes was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Mark gives an explainer on why money (big surprise) might play a factor in Pittsburgh's decision on who to take at #1.

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The Nats won their first series in June after topping the Padres 8-3 on Sunday afternoon in California. Mark (Live from Petco Park) & Tim marvel at MacKenzie Gore's outing where he struck out the first six batters he saw to set a franchise record. Gore pitched well, but had to exit after 5 IP due to a high pitch count (104). His final pitch of the game was Strike 3 on Juan Soto, which defined the day as Gore K'd Soto in all three at bats.

(13:00) The bullpen recorded the final 12 outs, but it was not the smoothest. Joe La Sorsa (a LHP!) had the biggest out of all to end the Padre threat in the 6th after relieving a struggling Mason Thompson. Our Guy Paolo made his 2023 Big League debut in the 9th, but needed Hunter Harvey's help for the final out of the afternoon.

(19:20) Derek Hill went 1 for 4 on Sunday while he fills in for an injured Victor Robles. Mark gives the latest on Robles' rehab that is now in West Palm.

(25:10) On Monday night the College World Series will be settled between LSU and Florida in Omaha. A fascinating subplot is that Paul Skenes, the Tigers star pitcher, will be on 3 days rest just a few weeks before the MLB Draft. How will the potential Nats 1st Round Pick be handled with a National Title on the line?

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The Nats blanked San Diego 2-0 on a day that began with the great news that Paolo Espino is coming back to Washington! Mark & Tim evaluate Josiah Gray and the "A" bullpen's effort in not allowing the Padres to score a run all night. The trio of Mason Thompson, Kyle Finnegan, and Hunter Harvey came through with the final ten outs after Gray lasted 5.1 IP.

(15:00) Jeimer Candelario and Lane Thomas each homered on Saturday night and it was Thomas' 13th HR of the season. Will he get an All Star nod from the crowded NL OF crowd? San Diego's starting pitcher featured a knuckleball, but did not use it as much as we initially were told.

(20:10) The Cubs and Cardinals are in London this weekend and they have already announced the 2024 match-up (Mets/Phillies). What does the future hold for MLB in Europe?

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The Nats were clobbered 13-3 in San Diego and have now lost 15 of their past 18 games. Mark (Live from Petco Park) & Al take a temperature check on Davey Martinez's job status as this month is shaping up to be one of the worst in club history. Davey's currently is signed through the end of the season.

(08:00) Patrick Corbin had a 2021 type start he as he allowed 7 runs in 5 IP. Corbin's ERA is up to 5.32, the highest it has been since early May. The Mets are reportedly interested in acquiring Corbin.... is it worth it?

(20:45) Chad Kuhl really struggled in what was supposed to be mop up duty but ceded 4 runs before being pulled. His ERA is now at an astronomical 8.45 and the hosts discuss whether or not Kuhl will remain on the roster.

(28:00) The offense doubled seven times among their ten hits on Friday evening. Recent call-up Derek Hill collected a pair of base knocks while hitting 8th.

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The Nationals lost 5-3 in their makeup game vs. Arizona to conclude a not so happy home stand. The afternoon crowd was a sleepy one given the scheduling circumstances, but Davey Martinez electrified the vibe by getting ejected in very dramatic fashion in the 5th inning. Mark & Al break down the ejection while musing about the team's subpar performance.

(15:30) The defense did not perform well on Thursday and the tone was immediately set when a Derek Hill error resulted in Corbin Carroll scoring all the way from 1st base. Luis Garcia drastically misplayed a fly ball and also had a throwing error in the middle of the game. Davey was openly critical of the defensive effort in his Postgame press conference.

(22:20) Jake Irvin now has had back to back good outings as he only allowed 1 ER in 6 IP. Irvin has responded nicely to having his rotation spot recently skipped.

(26:30) Lane Thomas homered for the 12th time this season and it spurs on a conversation on whether or not he is a trade chip in the upcoming MLB Trade Deadline (August 1st). Thomas does not become a Free Agent following the 2025 season.

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The Nats blanked the Cardinals 3-0 in a wet Wednesday afternoon in Navy Yard to avoid the sweep and end the five game skid. Al & Tim start with Trevor Williams' victorious effort as he lasted 6 IP before handing it off to the "A Bullpen". Will there be interest for Williams at the Trade Deadline?

(7:30) Carl Edwards Jr. is now on the IL due to shoulder inflammation and Mason Thompson seemingly is taking his spot in the Bullpen hierarchy. Kyle Finnegan escaped a jam in the 7th and Hunter Harvey was able to notch his first save since May 31st. Taking Edwards roster spot is Joe La Sorsa and the good news is he that he is a lefty.

(14:00) CJ Abrams had a big day as he collected 3 hits, but most importantly a solo HR in the 5th that gave the Nationals a potential safety net of having the lead should the rain have increased. Spotlights are shone on Luis Garcia and Jeimer Candelario as well in this segment.

(25:30) Victor Robles returned to the IL due to his back and Derek Hill was called up to take over CF. Hear some frank comments that Davey Martinez had for Robles after the events of Tuesday night. Why did Alex Call stay in Rochester?

(35:00) NBC Sports Washington is being rebranded locally as Monumental Sports Network. This news ties into the never ending MASN ripples.

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The Nats have dropped five in a row this home stand as they fell 9-3 on Tuesday vs. St. Louis. Mark & Al have an extended discussion on the argument between MacKenzie Gore and Victor Robles following a misplayed fly ball in the top of the 2nd. Hear what Davey Martinez had to say about it in his postgame press conference.

(15:30) Gore did not have a good outing as he ceded 9 hits and 5 runs in 6 IP. He was able to survive back to back walks and did strikeout 8 Cardinals in the process. His ERA in four straights this month is 5.16 compared to 4.06 in May.

(19:45) Only a pair of bullpen arms took the mound and the results were not pretty. Hunter Harvey pitched for the first time in awhile. but allowed a pair of runs in the 9th.

(31:15) Tim Shovers steps in to go over the latest MASN dispute news with Al. According to the Washington Post, the Nationals and Orioles agreed on the TV rights amount from 2012-2016 (appx $100M), but 2017-2023 still remains unsettled. Will this hasten the sale of the team?

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The Nats lost their 4th straight as they blew an early five run lead in a 8-6 defeat against visiting St. Louis. Josiah Gray was staked the early edge, but allowed six runs; the final four of which came in the bottom of the 5th. It was Gray's worst outing of the year and his ERA is a full run higher than it was a month ago (3.64).

(15:00) The offense did very little from the 3rd inning on and had more instances of making outs on the bases. Luis Garcia had an unusual box score as he gathered 4 RBIs on only 1 hit.

(25:30) Jordan Weems continued his solid stretch as of late out of the bullpen. Chad Kuhl threw an adventurous scoreless inning and then Kyle Finnegan took the mound for just the 5th time this month. Why did Finnegan miss the entire Marlins series, but pitched today when trailing?

(31:40) A special interview in honor of Juneteenth as Tim Shovers is joined by Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum This is Bob's 3rd straight June joining the podcast and in this edition, he discusses Oscar Charleston, Hall of Famer. Oscar Charleston played from 1915-1941 and is considered "Willie Mays before Willie Mays".

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The Nats were swept on Father's Day by visiting Miami 4-2 and they are now 0-6 against the Marlins this season. Al & Mark have a "Roblesian" blunder to begin with as Victor Robles, fresh off the IL, was picked off at a crucial moment with Lane Thomas up to bat in the bottom of the 5th.

(10:10) Lane Thomas slugged his team high 11th HR of the season and is flirting with a .500 slugging %. Davey Martinez has stumped for Thomas to serve as the Nationals representative in the All Star Game.

(22:40) Patrick Corbin didn't pitch very well as he gave up 11 hits, but did last 6 IP to eat up some innings. Corbin's ERA is 4.89 on the season and his WHIP in three starts this month is a startling 2.00.

(29:45) Paul Skenes was dominant again on Saturday night as he struck out a dozen Tennessee Volunteers in the College World Series. This leads to an extended discussion on how to evaluate the injury potential to the best pitcher in College Baseball.

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The Nats remain winless this season against Miami as they fell 5-2 on Saturday afternoon in D.C. The bullpen inherited a tied game, but Chad Kuhl and Thad Ward combined to allow four runs in three frames. Davey Martinez afterwards said his "A" Bullpen was not available, and the short handed crew did not come through.

(18:30) Jake Irvin had a good outing after having his spot in the rotation was recently skipped. Irvin lasted 5 IP and only ceded one run, his best start in over a month.

(25:40) CJ Abrams went 0 for 3 and is hitting .215 on the season. Abrams has also had many defensive miscues this year and the hosts begin to wonder if a trip to the minors might be worth considering.

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The Nats are now 0-4 this year against Miami after narrowly falling 6-5 in D.C. Al hosts solo and runs through Trevor Williams' rough start as he has now given up 11 runs in his three June outings. Meanwhile, last year's NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara has pitched poorly this year and that was the case on Friday night despite his dominance last year vs. Washington.

(08:50) The Marlins' go head run came in the top of the 8th on an infield single that scored Garrett Cooper all the way from 2B. Al dissects the way that CJ Abrams played it and what the Nationals defense stats look like as of lately.

(17:30) Victor Robles returned from the IL and just before he singled, he tried to pull of a phantom HBP. Robles' promotion sent Alex Call down to AAA Rochester, who was only hitting .209 on the season.

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For the 1st time since October 30th, 2019 the Nats won in Houston and this one came in extra innings by the final score of 4-1. Al & Mark (Live from Texas) start with Keibert Ruiz who broke the scoreless tie in the top of the 9th and added the final insurance run with a 10th inning RBI single. Ruiz has struggled at the plate this season, but did have six hits on the two city road trip.

(10:38) The bullpen pitched well, other than Hunter Harvey who blew the save in the 9th. The best news of the night was Mason Thompson who threw his 5th consecutive scoreless outing. His ERA entering June was 4.76 and now it is down to 3.93. Props are given to Carl Edwards Jr. who was able to blank the Astros in the bottom of the 10th to preserve the 3 run victory.

(25:10) MacKenzie Gore did not allow a run in 5.2 IP coming off a poor start in Atlanta. Gore is still needing a lot of pitches each inning, but his WHIP has dropped to 1.38. This leads into a conversation about Sean Doolittle being promoted to AAA Rochester and he gave up a pair of runs in his first appearance with the Red Wings on Thursday.

(31:30) Paul Skenes, LSU's star pitcher who the Nationals might select next month, won the Dick Howser Trophy (College Baseball's Heisman Trophy). He is expected to pitch at the College World Series on Saturday night vs. Tennessee. We close the show with a preview of UVA's match-up vs. Florida from legendary Virginia columnist David Teel of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

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The "Trea Turner Play" somehow resurfaced in a game between the Nats and Astros in Minute Maid Park and this time it was the final sequence of a 5-4 Nationals loss. A bewildered duo of Mark (Live from Texas) & Al recap all angles of the controversial no call; including Davey Martinez's postgame rant that won't be forgotten any time soon. Why can't runner interference be reviewed?

(17:00) The bottom of the 9th only came to be after Washington rallied with three runs in the top of the 9th to force a tie. Dom Smith came through with a game tying RBI triple, but his pinch runner Michael Chavis never came across to score. Smith has four hits in the past three games; after not starting at 1B on Saturday.

(21:20) Josiah Gray lasted seven frames, but allowed four runs in the process. He has now thrown 7 IP on three occasions this season and did not issue any walks on Wednesday night. Mark explains how Gray has added a new array of pitches to his skill set.

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The Nats lost 6-1 in their first return to Houston since Game 7 of the 2019 World Series. Mark (Live from Texas) and Al scratch their heads over an Alex Call bunt attempt during the early stages of a potential 3rd inning rally. Call is really struggling at the plate as he is hitting .215 on the season

(06:25) Chad Kuhl got the nod to pitch the 7th while trailing 2-0 and Al wonders if one of the "A" Bullpen members should maybe have taken the mound instead. Important to note the next off-day for Washington isn't until June 29th.

(15:30) Patrick Corbin took the mound at Minute Maid Park and threw three scoreless frames (sounds familiar right?). He also posted a blank 4th inning before giving up a pair of solo HRs in the 5th. Shockingly enough, Corbin is the only 2019 champ on the current roster (Victor Robles meanwhile hit 2 HRs for Rochester on Tuesday).

(27:15) Hear a listener voice memo from the 2019 Postseason, this one about the 1st inning from Game 4 of the NLCS vs. St. Louis.

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The Nats snapped their six game skid with a 6-2 victory on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta to avoid the sweep. Al & Tim start with the five run top of the 6th; which included a rare home run from 1B Dom Smith. It was his first HR since late April; this coming after he was given the bulk of Saturday off.

(12:00) The "A" bullpen was well rested and came through with four scoreless frames. Hunter Harvey notched the save and it was his oddly first appearance in over a week.

(19:20) Trevor Williams bounced back from a rough 1st inning and did not allow a run in his final four innings on the mound. The hosts look at Williams' body of work so far this season. Williams is likely to pitch next weekend against Miami, but Jake Irvin is being skipped in the rotation during the off-day.

(26:50) UVA is headed to the College World Series for the 2nd time in three years. Paul Skenes, potential Nationals draft pick next month, earned a victory on Friday evening for LSU in the Super Regionals.

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The Nats losing streak is up to six games after falling 6-4 in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon. Al summarizes MacKenzie Gore's start where the lefty gave up five runs in as many innings. Gore's ERA is now above 4.00 (4.04) and he has not earned a victory since April.

(08:20) Lane Thomas doubled and tripled on Saturday in Georgia. Hear Al point out a staggering 1st inning Lane Thomas statistic.

(14:30) Michael Chavis started at 1B as Dom Smith was given a rare day off. Smith has been at 1B for the Nationals for every game since late April, but he made a poor defensive play in the pivotal 8th inning of Friday's loss.

(16:15) Al reads an email about the Washington coaching staff. Send in your questions to natschatpodcast@gmail.com

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The Nats lost their 5th straight as they allowed Atlanta to rally for a 3-2 final. Mark & Al recap the fateful bottom of the 8th where Washington had terrible defense on three different occasions in the frame. Dom Smith, who is in the lineup mainky due to his glove, made a crucial bobble on a routine grounder, which immediately led to the Braves tying run. Should he remain the everyday 1B?

(13:05) CJ Abrams made an excellent defensive play in the 7th, but did not come up with the play when Atlanta scored the go ahead run in the bottom of the 8th.

(19:35) Josiah Gray only lasted five innings and threw four wild pitches, however he only ceded one run. Al wonders how to evaluate Gray because as of lately his numbers have been better than his actual performances.

(27:50) Brady House has been promoted the High-A Wilmington as he had an OPS of .869 with the Fred Nats. House is playing 3B and Mark handicaps where the former 1st Round pick currently fits into the organization.

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