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 a...
Jul 17, 2023•41 min•Ep. 437
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 ...
Jul 16, 2023•41 min•Ep. 436
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 15, 2023•4 min•Ep. 435
**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 ...
Jul 10, 2023•44 min•Ep. 434
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...
Jul 09, 2023•43 min•Ep. 433
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 ...
Jul 08, 2023•42 min•Ep. 432
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. Hun...
Jul 07, 2023•35 min•Ep. 431
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 ...
Jul 06, 2023•41 min•Ep. 430
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 C...
Jul 04, 2023•32 min•Ep. 429
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....
Jul 04, 2023•32 min•Ep. 428
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...
Jul 03, 2023•29 min•Ep. 427
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 ...
Jul 02, 2023•25 min•Ep. 426
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 victor...
Jul 01, 2023•35 min•Ep. 425
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 d...
Jun 29, 2023•37 min•Ep. 424
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...
Jun 28, 2023•25 min•Ep. 423
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...
Jun 27, 2023•36 min•Ep. 422
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 i...
Jun 26, 2023•29 min•Ep. 421
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 ...
Jun 25, 2023•26 min•Ep. 420
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 acquirin...
Jun 24, 2023•31 min•Ep. 419
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 scor...
Jun 23, 2023•37 min•Ep. 418
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 Harv...
Jun 22, 2023•41 min•Ep. 417
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 ER...
Jun 21, 2023•44 min•Ep. 416
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 RB...
Jun 20, 2023•47 min•Ep. 415
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:...
Jun 19, 2023•39 min•Ep. 414
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...
Jun 18, 2023•37 min•Ep. 413
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. ...
Jun 17, 2023•23 min•Ep. 412
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 t...
Jun 16, 2023•37 min•Ep. 411
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 f...
Jun 15, 2023•35 min•Ep. 410
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 ...
Jun 14, 2023•29 min•Ep. 409
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 b...
Jun 12, 2023•35 min•Ep. 408
