The Nationals' lineup has legitimate star power at the top. CJ Abrams is slashing .287/.370/.529 with 17 home runs and 57 RBI, and he's currently the leading vote-getter among NL shortstops for the All-Star Game. James Wood — 23 years old — has the second-best OPS in baseball behind Shohei Ohtani. Then there's Nasim Núñez, who enters Monday riding a 9-game hitting streak while hitting .407 for the month. Mikolas has given up runs this year. These three will find them.
- Day-To-DayJarlin Susana (RP) — Susana threw from a mound this week for the first time since undergoing lat surgery last September, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.06/14
- Day-To-DayTyler Stuart (SP) — no05/25
- Day-To-DayTyler Baum (DH) — Baum has not pitched this year due an undisclosed injury.05/08
- Day-To-DayTravis Sykora (SP) — Sykora will undergo a UCL reconstruction on his right elbow in two weeks, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILJake Irvin (SP) — Irvin (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.06/22
- 60-Day-ILTrevor Williams (SP) — Williams (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Fredericksburg on Sunday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.06/26
- 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP) — Herz (elbow) was diagnosed Monday with a left flexor strain, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.06/22
- 60-Day-ILMax Kranick (RP) — Kranick (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Single-A Fredericksburg on Sunday, striking out two over 1.2 perfect innings.06/22
- 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP) — Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure April 21 and is hopeful to return to game action at some point early in the 2027 season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.06/11
- 60-Day-ILJosiah Gray (SP) — Gray (elbow) has resumed a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayHobie Harris (RP) — Harris was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILIsiah Kiner-Falefa (2B) — Kiner-Falefa underwent a CT scan on his left forearm Thursday which revealed a stress reaction, MLB.com reports.06/27
- 10-Day-ILMarcelo Mayer (2B) — The Red Sox placed Mayer on the 10-day injured list Friday with a stress reaction in his left forearm, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.06/26
- 10-Day-ILNick Sogard (3B) — Sogard (oblique) told reporters Friday that he plans to start swinging a bat Monday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.06/12
- 15-Day-ILJovani Moran (RP) — Moran (elbow) will make at least one more rehab appearance before being activated, MLB.com reports.06/27
- OutBrendan Rodgers (2B) — Rodgers (shoulder) re-signed Friday with the Red Sox on a two-year, minor-league contract, Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILRoman Anthony (LF) — The Red Sox transferred Anthony (finger/wrist) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.06/28
- 60-Day-ILGarrett Crochet (SP) — Crochet (shoulder/lat) has not yet been cleared to resume a throwing program following a scheduled re-evaluation Monday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.06/22
- 60-Day-ILTrevor Story (SS) — Story (abdomen) has begun jogging and swinging off a tee, MLB.com reports.06/20
- 60-Day-ILPatrick Sandoval (SP) — Sandoval (biceps) went three innings, allowing one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out four Wednesday for Double-A Portland, reports Christopher Smith of MassLive.com.06/17
- 60-Day-ILKutter Crawford (SP) — Interim manager Chad Tracy said Tuesday that Crawford (elbow) is dealing with moderate tightness in his right forearm, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.06/02
- 60-Day-ILTriston Casas (1B) — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters Wednesday that Casas (abdomen/knee) is close to being cleared to swing a bat, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILTanner Houck (SP) — Houck (elbow) has been making throws out to 105 feet three days per week, MLB.com reports.05/15
- 60-Day-ILJohan Oviedo (SP) — Oviedo (elbow) will be reevaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in two weeks to determine his progress, Marcos Grunfeld of ElEmergente.com reports.05/08
Boston's injury situation remains brutal beyond what the sweep obscured. Garrett Crochet (shoulder/lat) has not been cleared to resume a throwing program. Roman Anthony was moved to the 60-day IL Sunday with no timeline on his return and still isn't swinging a bat. Both Marcelo Mayer and Isiah Kiner-Falefa — the top two second-base options — are on the IL with forearm stress reactions. The sweep of the Yankees was a genuinely historic moment and Jarren Duran's walk-off in the 10th inning on Sunday was real. But the roster has real holes. Washington's does too — the Nationals are down multiple starters in their rotation — but their lineup depth makes that a lot more survivable.
Suárez is the argument for Boston, and it's a strong one. But the Nationals have better top-line talent, a legitimate playoff résumé, and a road record that backs up the hype. This game deserves more respect than the moneyline is giving Washington.