Nats Chat

The Nats won 7-1 in Miami as Josh Rogers almost lasted eight innings. Al & Mark evaluate Josh Rogers throwing another solid outing; this one being his best one yet. Where does the lefty stack up for the team's plans in 2022? Hear the hosts put in perspective how rare a deep start has been for the starting staff this season. (14:26) Keibert Ruiz continued his offensive surge as he had two hits whil...

The Nats lost a heartbreaker 8-7 at Miami in ten innings. Mark & Al are flabbergasted at how for the third time in under two years; the Nationals have been on the wrong end of a runner's interference call at first base. Josh Bell was called out to end the top of the 10th, costing the team a chance to take the lead. Was the right call made? Hear an exasperated Davey Martinez from his postgame press...

The Nats shutout Colorado 3-0 as Paolo Espino earned his fifth victory of the season. Al & Mark tip their caps to Espino, who held a potent Rockies lineup scoreless in almost six frames. Who could have ever guessed the season that Paolo is having? It was the first shutout pitched by the Nationals staff since mid June. (11:03) Tanner Rainey returned to the mound after a lengthy stay in Rochester. H...

The Nats were blanked 6-0 by Colorado for a third straight defeat. Mark & Al begin with a lengthy discussion centering around Patrick Corbin; as the lefty's ERA rose back above 6.00. What are the team's options on how to handle Corbin in 2022? Does the organization as a whole need to alter things behind the scenes as it relates to pitching? (19:28) The bullpen threw five shutout innings on Saturda...

The Nats lost 9-8 to the Rockies as yet another late lead was snatched away. Mark & Al recap Kyle Finnegan blowing a second straight save and how the bullpen continues to cost the team wins. Is Finnegan and his mates operating on fumes? (10:30) Josiah Gray had a fifth consecutive outing that was in the subpar category. He struck out five, but walked four, and allowed another HR. Why has his comman...

The Nats lost 8-6 to Miami as Kyle Finnegan allowed four runs in the 9th. Al starts off the show by relaying just how poorly the bullpen collectively pitched on Wednesday. They gave up eight runs in just four frames between five different relievers. What's your trust level in Finnegan as he has three blown saves this season? (13:03) Josh Rogers was the polar opposite of the bullpen as he had his t...

The Nats beat the Marlins 8-2 on an evening where the offense had fourteen hits. Al & Mark praise Ryan Zimmerman's tape measure opposite field HR (442 feet) that went into the 2nd deck. This picks up on our previous conversation about the potential for him to return for next season. Hear what Zimmerman said when asked about his future after the game. (13:46) Juan Soto reached base four more times...

The Nats were shutout 3-0 by Miami and their right hander Sandy Alcantara. Mark & Al discuss Alcantara's no hit bid which lasted until the 7th and his perfect game attempt which lasted until a 6th inning error. Surprisingly enough, the Nationals have never been no hit in their history.  One positive from Monday was that Keibert Ruiz was back in the linuep, just two days after being hit in the helm...

The Nats beat the Pirates 6-2 to avoid being swept. Al & Mark react to Patrick Corbin's second straight positive outing. How encouraged should fans be?  How important has the veteran Alex Avila been for Corbin as Avila has caught both of the solid starts by the lefty? (17:20) Kyle Finnegan recorded a five out save and now is 9 of 11 in save opportunities on the season. The bullpen only had to pitc...

The Nationals lost 10-7 in Pittsburgh as Josiah Gray had his third straight poor outing. Al digs into Gray's issues of both walking too many Pirates hitters and also continuing his trend of allowing homers. (9:58) Keibert Ruiz had an active Saturday night. Most importantly, X rays were negative after he was hit by a pitch in the helmet in the 6th; which resulted in him leaving the game early. Ruiz...

The Nats coughed up their lead in Pittsburgh to fall 4-3 in a walk-off loss. Mark & Al dive into the bottom of the 9th where Patrick Murphy was unable to hold onto the edge. Should they have walked Colin Moran to load the bases with 1 out? (11:08) Josh Rogers threw a second consecutive solid outing for Washington as he lasted until the 7th inning. (15:24) Josh Bell was given a warm reception from...

The Nats lost to the Braves 7-6 in a seesaw affair that last ten innings. Mark & Al note how in their final game against one of the NL East contenders for the season; the Nationals continued to be a tough team to put away.  (4:10) Luis Garcia has had a hot September and Thursday night was probably his best game yet. Garcia crushed a go ahead HR to dead-center and made multiple highlight reel plays...

The Nationals doubled up the Braves 4-2 in a game that saw a contentious opening inning. Mark & Al recap Sean Nolin being ejected after just eight pitches for throwing at Freddie Freeman. They explain what led to the retaliation and how it was explained afterwards by the Nats. Was it right to throw at Freeman after what happened to Soto on Tuesday night? (17:14) The bullpen stepped up big time by...

The Nats lost 8-5 in Atlanta to open a three game series. Al & Tim look at yet another subpar starting pitching effort, this one by Paolo Espino. Paolo allowed five runs in five innings; lowlighted by a 3 run HR he gave up in the 1st inning to Adam Duvall. (11:45) The Nationals tied in it the top of the 7th, but the bullpen quickly allowed the Braves to get back ahead. Ryne Harper was the culprit...

The Nats walked off the Mets 4-3 with a Carter Kieboom single on Labor Day afternoon. Al & Mark analyze the exciting series finale that capped a five game stretch in the past four days. For the third time over the holiday weekend, Andrew Stevenson came off the bench for a major hit in the final inning; this one a game tying RBI scoring. (12:12) Alcides Escobar had a game big on Monday as he notche...

The Nationals lost to the Mets 13-6 in a game that was competitive until the top of the 9th. Mark & Al recap Josiah Gray's second straight clunker of a start, which immediately began with him surrendering four runs. What is the appropriate level of concern to have on Gray right now? (15:20) Riley Adams got the start behind the plate as opposed to Keibert Ruiz. Mark explains why that was the case a...

The Nats and Mets split their doubleheader Saturday in D.C. Game 1 saw New York blow a 9-0 lead, but they ultimately prevailed 11-9 in extras (9 innings). The Nationals took Game 2 by a score of 4-3 to end a seven game losing streak. Al & Mark recap the action packed day in Navy Yard by tipping their caps to Andrew Stevenson, who homered in Game 1 to force extra innings. Alcides Escobar and Luis G...

The Nats lost 6-2 in ten innings to the Mets after Washington scored two runs in the ninth to force extras. Mark & Al dissect the final frames, highlighted by Andrew Stevenson's collision at home to score the tying run. (8:23) Riley Adams had a huge night at the plate while getting his first start at catcher since Keibert Ruiz was called up. Adams got on base four times Friday evening, including t...

The Nats lost 7-6 to Philadelphia despite leading 6-0 entering the sixth inning. Mark & Al recap yet another rough day for the Nationals bullpen, which made a habit this summer of blowing leads against the Phils. Luis Garcia played a large role in losing the lead as he made two poor plays in a row in the top of the 8th, which led to three runs. (17:58) Paolo Espino pitched very well, but ends up w...

The Nats lost 12-6 to the Phillies as Patrick Corbin's nightmare season continued. Al & Mark begin with the surprising pregame news that Victor Robles is being sent down to AAA Rochester. Should we have seen this demotion coming? Will he wear a Nationals uniform again? (15:23) Corbin had another rough outing and allowed a pair of HRs in the process. His evening started off smooth, but everything c...

The Nats lost 7-4 to the Phillies to open up the eight game homestand. Mark & Al discuss Keibert Ruiz's Washington debut, which did not meet the pregame buzz. The Nationals quickly fell behind 3-0 and Ruiz came up empty with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first. Ruiz did hit a bloop single in the eighth to end his evening 1 for 4 at the plate. Where does Riley Adams fit in now that Ruiz wil...

The Nats lost 9-4 to the Mets, but the big news of the day came during pregame as Keibert Ruiz will make his Washington debut behind the plate on Monday night. Al & Tim react to the mildly surprising news that Ruiz will get called up before the calendar flips to September. Was this decision made for baseball reasons, box office reasons, or both? (16:20) Victor Robles yet again was not in the start...

The Nats lost 5-3 to the Mets as the bullpen relinquished the lead in the 7th. Al & Mark recap the solid start by Sean Nolin, who lasted until the sixth inning before the hosts dive into the pen. What to make of Nolin after he pitched well and lasted more than five frames? (14:32) Lane Thomas got the nod in CF over Victor Robles and had a pair of doubles while hitting leadoff. Do we have ourselves...

The Nats won 2-1 in New York to open a three game series. Mark & Al have plenty of praise to heap on the five pitchers who took the mound for Washington and they begin with closer Kyle Finnegan.  (10:27) Paolo Espino struck out seven, singled, scored a run, and earned the win while pitching five innings. Why does he seem to have so much success against the Mets? Should he have come back out to pit...

The Nats lost 7-5 in Miami as Patrick Corbin only lasted three innings. Mark & Al dissect the latest with the southpaw, who took a major step back after pitching so well in Milwaukee last weekend. What are the Nats options on what to do with Corbin? Could they send him down to AAA for a few outings? (16:12) Patrick Murphy struck out a pair in his Nationals debut. Hear what Mark thought of his "stu...