Nationals' Israel Pineda: Won't open in big leagues
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Pineda (finger) won't break camp with the Nationals and will instead remain at the organization's extended spring training in Florida to begin the season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Since the Nationals are likely keen on giving the 22-year-old backstop regular playing time, Pineda never seemed to be a good bet to be included on the Opening Day roster while Keibert Ruiz is installed as the big club's clear No. 1 catcher. The displaced right pinkie finger that Pineda suffered in early March essentially ended any small hope he might have had of joining the Nationals for Opening Day, so it's no surprise that he'll continue to conduct his rehab in Florida before likely reporting to Triple-A Rochester. Washington has yet to announce whether Pineda will be formally optioned to Triple-A or placed on the big club's 10-day injured list.
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Nationals' Matt Adams: Misses Opening Day roster
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The Nationals informed Adams on Saturday that he won't be part of the Opening Day roster, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Adams posted an .871 OPS in 19 games this spring, though he also struck out 10 times without recording a single walk. The veteran didn't fit what the Nationals wanted in a bench spot, and it remains unclear if he'll ever be able to find his way back to the majors for the first time since July 2021.
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Nationals' Wily Peralta: Reassigned to minor-league camp
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Peralta was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Nationals on Saturday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Peralta was signed to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training by the Nationals at the end of January. He really struggled for most of his Grapefruit League appearances as seen in an 11.17 ERA, 2.48 WHIP and 6:5 K:BB. The right-hander could have an opt-out in his deal, so he may have to decide if he wants to head to Triple-A Rocester or test the waters of free agency.
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Nationals' Alex Colome: Sent to minor-league camp
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Colome was assigned to minor-league camp on Saturday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Colome could theoretically have earned save chances in Washington this season with the team open to using Kyle Finnegan in more of a fireman role, but instead, the veteran won't even earn a roster spot. He didn't help his case this spring, posting a 5.59 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 7:7 K:BB in 9.2 innings.
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Nationals' Andres Machado: Reassigned to MiLB camp
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Machado was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Nationals on Saturday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Machado was attempting to win a spot in the Washington bullpen, but at least to begin 2023, he's going to head to the minors instead. The 29-year-old will likely operate out of the bullpen for Triple-A Rochester.
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Nationals' Paolo Espino: Bound for minors
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Espino was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Espino may not have been able to do anything to win a big-league spot this spring, as he's been sent down despite posting a 1.13 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in eight innings. Rather than remaining in the majors in a relief role, Espino will stay stretched out at the Triple-A level.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: Optioned to Triple-A
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Downs was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Downs didn't make much of a case for a roster spot this spring, slashing .162/.225/.216 over 18 games. He's yet to produce even an average batting line in two seasons at the Triple-A level, so it's tough to envision a sudden breakout.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: To come off bench Friday
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Downs (hand) is expected to come off the bench in the Nationals' Grapefruit League game Friday night against the Cardinals, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Downs has been held out of exhibition action for much of this week after suffering a left hand contusion on a hit-by-pitch, but he can now continue his charge toward the final spot on the bench in Washington. X-rays turned up negative for any fractures.
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Nationals' Dominic Smith: Heating up at plate
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Smith is batting .302 (13-for-43) this spring with three home runs.
The 27-year-old failed to leave the yard at all last season in 152 plate appearances for the Mets, so Smith's spring power display -- which includes homers in back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday -- is encouraging. He's penciled in as the Nationals' starting first baseman, but if he struggles at the plate again, Joey Meneses could shift over from DH and bump Smith to the bench.
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Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Blanks Yanks
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Gore gave up two hits and a walk over six scoreless innings while striking out eight in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.
The southpaw was dominant against a New York lineup that featured most of its Opening Day starters, including Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo and Gleyber Torres. Gore has a 17:7 K:BB through 20 innings this spring, and the Nationals will be counting on the 24-year-old to become a consistent rotation arm this season after he worked only 87 innings across all levels in 2022.
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Nationals' Patrick Corbin: Named Opening Day starter
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Corbin will start for the Nationals on Opening Day versus Atlanta.
Corbin is coming off a season which saw him hold a 6.31 ERA over 31 starts, but his bloated salary gets him the nod in an otherwise inexperienced Washington rotation. For what it's worth, the veteran lefty has pitched well this spring with a 3.86 ERA and 13:1 K:BB over 14 frames.
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Nationals' Jeter Downs: Held out with hand contusion
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Downs was held out of the Nationals' Grapefruit League lineup Thursday due to a contusion on his left hand, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Downs suffered the injury when he was struck by a pitch earlier this week, but he should be fine within the next day or two after X-rays came back negative for any fractures. The former Red Sox prospect is fighting for the final spot on Washington's bench.
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Nationals' Seth Shuman: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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Shuman (elbow) successfully underwent Tommy John surgery this week, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Shuman was having a solid season last year with High-A Wilmington (3.23 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 61.1 IP) before his season was cut short due to injury. Now, the 25-year-old righty will be sidelined until at least midway through the 2024 season as he recovers from surgery.
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Nationals' Patrick Corbin: Six solid frames Monday
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Corbin gave up one run on five hits over six innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The veteran lefty was facing a lineup that included the likes of Starling Marte and Francisco Lindor, as well as top prospects Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos, and after giving up a run in the first inning, Corbin shut down New York the rest of the way. His control has been nearly impeccable this spring, and Corbin has a 13:1 K:BB through 14 Grapefruit League innings over four starts; however, the 33-year-old hasn't posted an ERA below 4.66 or a WHIP below 1.47 since 2019 and remains a very risky fantasy option in 2023.
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Nationals' Victor Robles: Swats first spring homer
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Robles went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
Getting the start in center field and batting second, Robles took Packy Naughton deep in the sixth inning for his first long ball of the spring. Robles has posted encouraging numbers at the plate in camp, going 10-for-33 (.303) with six extra-base hits, but the 25-year-old has a .216/.291/.306 slash line in nearly 1,000 plate appearances over the last three seasons. The Nationals aren't yet ready to give up on Robles, but he has a lot to prove before he can be viewed as anything more than a deep-league source of potentially cheap steals.
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Nationals' Josiah Gray: Sharp against Cards
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Gray gave up four hits over six scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The right-hander has put together a very encouraging spring, allowing only one run -- and zero home runs -- across 12.1 innings with an 11:1 K:BB. Gray has the talent to put together a breakout campaign in 2023 if he's able to keep the ball in the park consistently.
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Nationals' Andres Machado: Flashed heat in WBC
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Machado was touching 98 mph with his fastball while pitching for Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The 29-year-old right-hander is also out of minor-league options, which could give him a leg up on winning one of the final spots in the Nationals' bullpen. Machado also has a 5:0 K:BB through three scoreless innings in Grapefruit League play, so he's done just about everything he can this spring to earn a job. The Nats' bullpen is very unsettled behind Kyle Finnegan, so if Machado's stuff has taken a step forward this offseason, he could work his way into some high-leverage work before long.
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Nationals' Anthony Banda: Last lefty standing
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Banda is the only healthy left-handed reliever left in the Nationals' big-league camp and figures to be part of the Opening Day bullpen, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The 29-year-old journeyman pitched for three different teams in 2022 with poor results, but Banda has struck out 12 batters in 9.1 innings this spring without allowing a homer. The Nats have gone without a southpaw in their bullpen in the past, so his spot is far from secure; however, if he does break camp on the 26-man roster, Banda figures to work in middle relief rather than seeing consistent high-leverage action.
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Nationals' Thad Ward: Still in running for bullpen spot
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Ward remains in the mix to break camp as part of the Nationals' Opening Day bullpen, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
A Rule 5 pick, Ward would have to be offered back to the Red Sox if he doesn't make the roster, giving the Nats extra incentive to find room for him. The 26-year-old right-hander hasn't been a reliever since college and the adjustment to the bullpen this spring hasn't exactly been smooth -- seven of his eight Grapefruit League appearances have been scoreless, but his 11:6 K:BB through 8.2 innings highlights both his upside and his inconsistency. Ward's future might still lie in the rotation, but if he sticks in Washington, expect him to be used primarily as a low-leverage long reliever to begin his big-league career.
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Nationals' Hobie Harris: In mix for bullpen spot
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Harris could break camp in the big-league bullpen, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
The 29-year-old right-hander has yet to make his MLB debut, but Harris has ridden his plus splitter to a 0.00 ERA and 6:1 K:BB across eight innings this spring. The Nationals' bullpen picture is extremely murky behind Kyle Finnegan, so if Harris does win a spot, he could work his way into high-leverage spots fairly quickly. Even if he begins the season with Triple-A Rochester, he could be one of the first arms called up when the Nats' bullpen needs reinforcements.
