The National League fell in this year's All-Star Game, 4-0, and only got three hits against a dominant American League pitching staff that struck out 15. Neither of the two Nationals position players, CJ Abrams or James Wood, got a hit. Notably, CJ Abrams was the first Nationals starter in the All-Star Game since 2021, when Max Scherzer started on the mound at Coors Field, and the first elected All-Star since Bryce Harper, when he started in front of the home crowd in 2018.
The Nationals have been playing great baseball, and Foster Griffin, who is a big reason why, pitched very well in his one inning of work on Tuesday night, pitching one full inning, allowing no hits, no walks, and striking out two (Rays' Yandy Diaz and Tigers' Dillon Dingler) on ten pitches.
CJ Abrams got two at-bats, and James Wood got one. Unfortunately, the Nationals' position players combined for three strikeouts on all of their chances at the plate. Abrams, currently with 20 home runs on the season, and James Wood, with 28 long balls this year, are two of the most important players on the team, and if the Nationals make a push in the postseason, they will be two of the main reasons why.
Foster Griffin impresses in All-Star debut for Nationals
Late addition Foster Griffin was the lone bright spot for the Nationals in the 96th edition of the MLB All-Star game. The Nationals are also in an interesting spot because they can either buy or sell at the deadline, and they only have a couple of weeks to decide. Foster Griffin, who has been dominant this season with a 10-2 record, 2.77 ERA, 154 ERA+, and 8.9 strikeouts per nine, is only on a one-year deal.
The Nationals took a chance on Griffin at a low price because he was super successful in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league last year, after his initial stint in the MLB was not successful at all, especially being a former first-round pick. The decision to sign Griffin was a success, and now the Nationals have a decision to make, and it's whether or not to get a return on their All-Star, or maybe lose him for a price higher than what the Nationals have been paying in recent years to players, and get nothing in return.
With a brand new front office, the Nationals can go in many directions, and honestly, I do see the Nationals being sellers, at least of Foster Griffin at this year's deadline. He is a commodity that many teams can use as they make a push for October.
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