Washington Nationals News: Escobar available to pinch-hit after injuring wrist
By Pablo Roa
Good evening DoD and welcome to today’s District Daily! Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals updates from around the web below.
We start off today’s Daily with some news on the Nationals’ injury front. For once, it’s good news.
As we know, third baseman Yunel Escobar left yesterday’s game against the Mets early after suffering an apparent wrist injury during a check swing in the second inning. For a while it looked like the injury-riddled Nationals would lose yet another key player, but X-rays on his wrist after the game came back negative. Today, the team got some more assurance that Escobar’s injury is nothing to worry about.
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According to a tweet from the Washington Post’s James Wagner, a CT scan on Escobar’s wrist came back clean today and the infielder is available off the bench. While he’s not starting in tonight’s series-opener against the Pirates, it looks like Escobar will avoid a DL stint and will be back in the lineup in the near future.
Needless to say, this is fantastic news for the Nationals. The team already has Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon, Denard Span and Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list. With half of their lineup already out, losing Escobar for any extended amount of time would be a big blow for the Nationals. Escobar has been a key player for the Nationals this season and a big reason why they have been able to stay atop the NL East despite all the injuries. Fortunately for the Nationals, it looks like Escobar and his .321 batting average will be back in the lineup sooner rather than later.
Escobar's CT scan was good & he's available tonight, per MW. Difo is here as protection if Escobar doesn't feel better. Bench already short.
— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) July 23, 2015
Also in today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell discusses how the Nationals’ backup players have been crucial for the team this season. As Boswell notes, the efforts of several of the team’s bench players in an injury-riddled 2015 season for the Nationals’ everyday players is a key reason why the team remains atop the NL East.
The Nationals entered the 2015 season with a star-studded roster that many predicted would ease into the postseason. But the injuries to the heart of the lineup mentioned above have forced players like Michael Taylor into the important role of stepping in for the team’s injured stars. As Boswell notes, those players haven’t disappointed and they’ve been an invaluable part of the team’s success this season.
Be sure to check out Boswell’s article below, it’s definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.
Unlikely cast has kept the Nationals atop the NL East
(Thomas Boswell, Washington Post)
This week, the New York Mets came to Washington to sweep the Nationals and knock them out of first place in the National League East. And why not? They had lined up their three best pitchers. The Nats’ lineup looked like their junior varsity.
On Monday at Nationals Park, rookie Clint Robinson broke open a Nationalsvictory with a two-run double off the center field fence off Matt Harvey, the pitcher New Yorkers like to call the Dark Knight.
On Tuesday, another Nats rookie, Joe Ross, left the mound with a lead in the seventh inning against Mets all-star Jacob deGrom. Then Nats rookie southpaw reliever Felipe Rivero showed off 97-mph heat and a crackling slider.