Heading into this weekend, it is needless to say that the Washington Nationals need to generate some positive momentum in some capacity. Their second half since the All-Star break has been absolutely brutal, and the team's recent 0-6 stretch while also losing 7 consecutive games has contributed a lot to what has been a pretty miserable stretch of baseball over the last month or so.
The team's bullpen has continued to struggle overall, as they recently found themselves on the wrong side of MLB history by breaking the all-time MLB record for blown saves. However, there might be a positive side to look at on that front, but a bad achievement like that is still an awful thing to have next to your name as an organization.
If there has been any fun or interesting development, it would be that the team has gotten a chance to get good looks at several young players that might be able to contribute in the future. One of the bright spots has been an outfield bat who finds himself in a little bit of an organizational logjam, but is now headed back to the Nationals, albeit on some more difficult circumstances.
Andrew Pinckney recalled as Nationals place Nasim Nunez on bereavement list
As the header above states, outfielder Andrew Pinckney is headed back to the big leagues for this weekend's series against the Los Angeles Angels. In his brief sample size in the big leagues, Pinckney has performed well, with a .273/.320/.500 slash line good enough for an .820 OPS to go along with a homer, 2 RBI, and a stolen base.
The sample has only spanned just 25 plate appearances, but still, Pinckney can be a solid power-speed-defense guy in the major leagues that profiles more as an intriguing 4th outfielder than an everyday player. He will get another crack at the majors, although playing time could still be scarce for the brief time he is likely to remain with the Nationals.
The Nationals have placed Nasim Nunez on the Bereavement List and recalled outfielder Andrew Pinckney from Triple-A Rochester.
— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) September 10, 2026
Infielder Nasim Nunez was placed on the bereavement list, and there is no word on how long the team expects to be without him. In the meantime, that likely means that CJ Abrams, who has begun to get more reps at second base, will likely play exclusively shortstop for the time that Nunez is out.
The transition of Abrams to his new position has been a weird one, as it has took him a good amount of time to actually begin playing at second base due to injuries and not having practiced enough at the position. He has been fine so far, but perhaps not getting enough opportunities will hinder his growth at the new spot before the season ends, making things interesting for next year.
What are your expectations for Andrew Pinckney while he is back briefly in the big leagues? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.
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