Washington Nationals: Anthony Rendon hits DL late
By Ron Juckett
The Washington Nationals committed an unforced error waiting to place Anthony Rendon on the disabled list. That and more in the Daily Washingtonian.
Good morning, Washington Nationals fans!
Today is Monday, April 23, 2018.
With the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves rained out in Georgia, the Nats did not lose any ground in the standings. As Washington travels north to San Francisco, they must forget about the losses this weekend and focus on the Giants.
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The Nats made a rare unforced error in the front office by not placing Anthony Rendon on the disabled list earlier. Instead of doing it right away, they waited until Sunday and lose him until next Sunday at the earliest.
As strong as Wilmer Difo has played at third, Rendon’s bat and glove are missed. Once a player misses four or five games, disable them and get help up. With the team scuffling around .500, you cannot have dead spots on the active roster.
By waiting, the Nats shortened their bench options further. By promoting Austin Adams, they now truly have a bench of four as the long road trip wears on. At least the bullpen has eight arms. Perhaps they can spread the work share better.
District on Deck profiles Moises Sierra
With Adam Eaton and Brian Goodwin on the disabled list, Moises Sierra has received an extended opportunity to prove himself in the majors. He has impressed to the point that Dave Martinez is routinely penciling him into the fifth spot in the lineup, but he may become the victim of a numbers crunch. Drew Douglas analyzes his chances of sticking around.
District on Deck analyzes the Nats’ bullpen
The Nats have asked a lot of their bullpen, especially Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson, and Sean Doolittle, which has resulted in diminished results. Adding an eighth reliever will help, but the ‘pen must expand to survive.
After being designated for assignment by the Mets, Matt Reynolds‘ career was suddenly in question. However, he now finds himself on the major league roster of a World Series contender. He is in a reserve role, but has made an impact with his defensive versatility and veteran presence.
StatCast has explained nearly every aspect of the game, but some of the data is slightly off. For example, it was not that impressed with Trea Turner‘s speed last year. However, some adjustments have been made to the system and Turner now ranks near the top of the leaderboard. Mike Petriello explains the change.
Next: Sierra a likely roster casualty
Late night starts tonight and tomorrow. Enjoy your Monday!