Good afternoon DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily! Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.
We start off today’s Daily with an important announcement from the Nationals. As stated in the press release below, the Nationals today reinstated infielder Anthony Rendon from the 15-day disabled list. The infielder is in the lineup for tonight’s game against the Pirates, batting second and playing second base. In a corresponding move, the team optioned right-handed pitcher Abel de Los Santos to Double-A Harrisburg.
Obviously, this is great news for the Nationals. The team has been without Rendon for most of the season due to several different injuries, and having their MVP from last year back in the lineup for the stretch run should give the offense a huge boost.
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This time around, Rendon has missed 25 games with a left quad strain. He missed significant time earlier in the season with knee and oblique injuries.
In the short time he’s been on the field for the Nationals this season, Rendon has showed how valuable he is to the offense, hitting .290 in 69 at-bats. He was one of the best players in the National League last season, hitting .287 with 39 doubles, six triples, 21 home runs and 83 RBIs 153 games.
With Rendon back from the disabled list, it looks like the Nationals’ current injury concerns may soon be a thing of the past. Just this morning the team had Rendon, Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Denard Span on the disabled list. By next week, all but Span could be back in the lineup. The Nationals have managed to keep their spot atop the NL East throughout all the injuries. And with the cavalry coming back just in time for the stretch run, things are looking pretty good for the ball club.
Also in today’s Daily, MLB.com’s John McGonigal discusses how Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond appears to be turning his season-long slump around. As McGonigal notes, Desmond has homered in two straight games and three times since the All-Star break, including a clutch game-tying home run in last night’s game against the Pirates.
While it’s too soon to tell if Desmond’s first-half misery is a thing of the past, his hot start to the second half is a good sign for him and the Nationals. If Desmond can break out of the slump that has him hitting .218 four months into the season, the Nationals’ lineup would instantly become much stronger. And for a team with World Series aspirations, a Desmond second half resurgence could be the key to taking the team to the next level.
Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all of your Washington Nationals news.
Nationals reinstate INF Anthony Rendon and Option RHP Abel de Los Santos
The Washington Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated infielder Anthony Rendon from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Abel de Los Santos to Double-A Harrisburg on Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Rendon, 24, returns to the Nationals’ active roster after missing 25 games with a left quad strain. He appeared in six Minor League rehab games with Single-A Potomac, hitting .471 (8-for-17) with two doubles, one RBI, three walks and two runs scored. Read full article here.
On hot streak, Desmond leaving slump behind
PITTSBURGH — Ian Desmond did his best to switch momentum to the Nationals’ side, and for a half-inning, he did.
It didn’t last, however, as the Pirates came back to deal the Nats a 7-5 loss Friday night. But at the very least, Desmond’s sixth-inning solo home run added more juice to the personal run he’s been on.
The three-time Silver Slugger Award winner has fought off a spell of lifeless at-bats with a keen eye and serious pop. Read full article here.