Alu is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus Atlanta, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Alu started the last seven games but will end the season on the bench for Washington. The 26-year-old struggled to a .226/.282/.289 slash line with two homers, five steals and 16 RBI in the first 50 games of his big-league career this season.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Slugs second homer
Rotowire
Alu went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 10-6 win over Atlanta.
The 26-year-old has been holding down a near-everyday role since the beginning of August, but despite playing regularly, he hasn't offered much fantasy utility outside of very deep mixed leagues or NL-only leagues. His home run Friday was just his second of the season, and Alu's contributions in other categories (.231 average, 16 RBI, 14 runs and five stolen bases in 49 games) haven't been enough to compensate for the lack of power.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Sitting against lefty
Rotowire
Alu isn't in the Nationals' lineup Thursday against Atlanta, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
With lefty starter Max Fried on the bump for Atlanta, Alu will take a seat for the beginning of Thursday's contest. His absence will allow Alex Call to start in right field and bat eighth.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: On bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Alu is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the White Sox.
Blake Rutherford, Jacob Young and Lane Thomas will start across the outfield for the Nationals as Luis Garcia covers second base. Alu, 26, has batted just .221/.262/.250 across his first 42 major-league games (146 plate appearances) this season with Washington.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: On bench, could lose playing time
Rotowire
Alu is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Alu will hit the bench after he had started each of the Nationals' last 14 games at second base or in left field, slashing .216/.273/.216 over that stretch. Given his lack of productivity, Alu could fade into more a utility role moving forward with September call-ups Luis Garcia and Travis Blankenhorn having seemingly emerged as the Nationals' preferred option at second base and in left field, respectively.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Sitting against southpaw
Rotowire
Alu isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against the Marlins, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Southpaw Braxton Garrett will begin Friday's contest on the mound for Miami, meaning the left-handed bat of Alu will stay put in the dugout. Ildemaro Vargas will start in left field while Alu sits, and Michael Chavis will get the nod at second base.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: On bench versus lefty
Rotowire
Alu is absent from the lineup Tuesday versus the Yankees.
Ildemaro Vargas is covering second base and Carter Kieboom is at third as the Nationals go with a right-heavy attack against left-hander Carlos Rodon. Alu has batted just .233/.266/.300 through his first 64 major-league plate appearances.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Not starting against lefty
Rotowire
Alu isn't in the Nationals' lineup Saturday against Philadelphia, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
With left-hander Cristopher Sanchez starting on the bump for the Phillies, the lefty-hitting Alu will retreat to the dugout to begin Saturday's action. Michael Chavis will fill in at the keystone and bat eighth.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Day off Sunday
Rotowire
Alu is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Athletics.
Alu has started nine of the last 12 games, batting .273 with one home run, two steals and a 38.9 percent strikeout rate in 33 at-bats over that stretch. Ildemaro Vargas draws the start at third base, batting sixth.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Mashes first career homer
Rotowire
Alu went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Friday's 8-2 win over the A's.
After bringing home what proved to be the winning run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly, Alu socked his first career big-league homer in the eighth, a solo shot off Sam Long. Alu has started four straight games at second base for the Nats, but his production at the plate remains inconsistent -- since rejoining the big club at the beginning of August, the 26-year-old is batting .233 (7-for-30) with a 1:13 BB:K.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: On bench Monday
Rotowire
Alu is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The trade of Jeimer Candelario and the demotion of Luis Garcia to Triple-A Rochester last week have opened up two spots in the Washington infield, and Alu seems to have a hold on one of those everyday roles. He started in four of the previous five games, going 5-for-14 with a double, five RBI, two runs and two stolen bases. He'll cede his spot to Michael Chavis on Monday, but look for Alu to get the bulk of the starts at the keystone while he's wielding a hot bat.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: On base three times Sunday
Rotowire
Alu went 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Reds.
The 26-year-old has started four of five games since his latest promotion -- two at third base and two at second -- and gone 5-for-14 with a double, two runs, five RBI and two steals. The starting jobs at both infield spots are up for grabs on the rebuilding Nats, so if Alu keeps producing, it could only be a matter of the coaching staff deciding where it likes him better defensively before he settles into an everyday role. He would seem to have little left to prove in the minors -- through 133 games at Triple-A Rochester the last two years, he's slashed .308/.365/.481 with 16 homers and 22 steals.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Gets look at third base
Rotowire
Alu is starting at third base and batting eighth Tuesday against the Brewers.
Alu will be making his first career start at third base, after his other four starts with Washington this season came in left field. The utility man was called up Monday after the Nationals traded Jeimer Candelario to the Cubs. Alu was slashing .298/.360/.428 with five home runs and 16 steals through 74 games this season at Triple-A Rochester and could get an extended look with the big club over the final two months of the 2023 campaign.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Back with Nats
Rotowire
The Nationals recalled Alu from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
After the Nationals traded Jeimer Candelario to the Cubs on Monday, they will bring up Alu to fill the active roster. He is just 3-for-14 with a stolen base across five games in the majors this season, and Washington will have plenty of at-bats available for players like Alu over the final two months.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Joins Nats as 27th man
Rotowire
The Nationals promoted Alu to serve as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Alu is slashing .311/.372/.453 with 39 RBI through 287 plate appearances in Triple-A Rochester. He has appeared in four games for Washington this season and figures to return to Triple-A following Saturday's nightcap.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Heading back to Rochester
Rotowire
Alu was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Alu will head back to Triple-A after he was called up to replace Joey Meneses (paternity) on the active roster Wednesday. Alu went 2-for-4 in Thursday's loss to the Marlins and has now gone 3-for-13 in limited action in the majors this season. With Meneses back Friday, Alu was the odd man out and will have to wait for his next opportunity with the big-league club.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Getting steady work versus righties
Rotowire
Alu will start in left field and bat fifth in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Mets, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Alu will start for the third time in the past five games, with all coming against right-handed pitchers. Even though he bats from the right side, Alu has ceded the last two starts against southpaws to fellow right-handed hitter Stone Garrett, so the two players could end up forming a non-traditional platoon in left field. Since his call-up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, Alu has gone 1-for-7 with a walk and a stolen base.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Batting ninth in debut
Rotowire
Alu is starting in left field and batting ninth in his MLB debut Tuesday against the Giants, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Alu was promoted Monday from Triple-A Rochester, where had slashed .247/.322/.377 with two home runs and three stolen bases through 21 games this season. The 26-year-old is a versatile defender but is unlikely to offer significant fantasy production.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Gets call-up
Rotowire
The Nationals recalled Alu from Triple-A Rochester on Monday.
Alu hasn't done much so far this season with Rochester, batting .247/.322/.377 with two homers through 21 games. He was excellent between Double-A Harrisburg and Rochester in 2022, though, with an .871 OPS, 20 dingers and 15 steals. Alu can play all over the field and should operate in a super-utility role with the Nats. He'll be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game.
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Nationals' Jake Alu: Joining big-league club
Rotowire
Alu is traveling to San Francisco to meet the Nationals ahead of Monday's series opener against the Giants, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The club hasn't officially made any roster moves, but Victor Robles (back) appears headed to the injured list. Alu is a third baseman by trade but has recently seen some action in the corner outfield. The 26-year-old prospect has struggled early this season for Triple-A Rochester with a .240/.318/.333 slash line through 20 games.
