Matt's Bats

21 y/o baseball fanatic writing about the Washington @Nationals and baseball on my MLB-affiliated blog since 2012. Always optimistic. Let the kids play!

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

I LOVE BASEBALL

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

If House is in AAA, there's no reason for him to split playing time with Morales and Chaparro. If I were Toboni:
- call up Crews and Morales
- send down House, Wiemer to IL/DFA Vivas
- DFA Granillo or Fernandez

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

neither have options, but i'd expect Toboni to play the waiver wire more now that Waldichuk is a 60-day IL candidate, lack of proven pen depth at AAA, and there are 3 DFA candidate RPs (Granillo, Rutledge, Fernandez) on 40-man

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

Waiver wire LHP for the Nats to consider:
Jared Shuster, dropped by STL. Similar to Waldichuk, can eat innings, 1st-rd pick pedigree. Doesn't miss bats but may be fixable.
Kolby Allard, dropped by CLE. Had a great 2025, struggled to begin '26.

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

Meanwhile, Andrew Alvarez struck out 10 yesterday. Why did we sign this bum?

[Mark Zuckerman @MarkZuckerman]

Miles Mikolas has officially been charged with a Nationals club-record 11 earned runs.

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

The Nationals TV crew has to find out a way to prevent every lefty's pitch from blending into the green-screen advertisement behind home plate. It's minor, but that millisecond of the ball being bright yellow is quite annoying

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

@ajflax it's on the game page on baseball savant! https://t.co/XuBufgdMto

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

Might be premature, but has anyone bought their World Series tickets yet?

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

Per the transactions log:

Wyatt Henseler, the Nats' 2025 9th round pick and the Ivy League's all-time leader in career home runs, has retired. Henseler struggled in limited MiLB play last year.

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

A smart trade for the Nats, who pick up a young reliever who was dominant in AAA last year and solid in the MLB.

George Soriano, who is off to St. Louis, had already been DFAd after Nats claimed Ken Waldichuk. Trevor Williams goes to 60-day IL.

[Nationals Communications @NationalsComms]

Nationals acquire right-handed pitcher Andre Granillo https://t.co/julmvXgGHg

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

The Red Sox claimed INF/OF Mickey Gasper off waivers from the Nationals.

Nats claimed Gasper on 1/20, and designated him for assignment when the Nats claimed Richard Lovelady off waivers on 1/29.

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

I have various front pages of the Washington Post sports section hanging up in my childhood bedroom. The Post's sports section helped inspire me to pursue journalism.
Losing their coverage is, to put it mildly, a devastating loss for our region. Thinking of their staff today.

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

Sorry....who's the minor league physical therapist (under staff section)??

[Nationals Communications @NationalsComms]

Introducing our 2026 Minor League coaches, coordinators and staff!

[Spencer Nusbaum @spencernusbaum_]

If nothing else, I’ve always hoped our work in the Washington Post’s sports section could give readers a meaningful connection to (and understanding of) something bigger than themselves.

I’ve seen today: It has. Forever grateful to be a part of this team. #SaveThePost

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

One final See! You! Later! to @scorebook_bob, who was the voice in the background for my childhood and helped inspire my love for scorekeeping, the Nationals, and baseball itself. Enjoy retirement Bob, we are so grateful for you!

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

Lost game in a lost season, but these are some baffling decisions by the Nats coaching staff

[MLB Jersey Numbers @NumbersMLB]

INF Carter Kieboom will wear number 17. Last worn by DH/RHP Shohei Ohtani in 2023. #Angels

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

Now this is a hell of a Nationals farm flashback... Nats' 3rd round pick in 2017 (!!)

[SleeperSTLCards @SleeperSTL]

29-year-old LHP Nick Raquet, after a dominant year in AA and solid work in Memphis, is getting the call to the bigs.

0.77 ERA, 38 Ks in 35 IP at AA now headed to the St. Louis bullpen.

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

RIP, thank you for showing DC what it means to be a winning team.

[Washington Nationals @Nationals]

The Washington Nationals join Major League Baseball in mourning the passing of Davey Johnson.

Johnson managed the Nationals from 2011-13 and led the team to its first NL East title.

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

Walker Buehler, come on down

[Nationals Communications @NationalsComms]

The Nationals have placed MacKenzie Gore on the 15-day Injured List (retroactive to 8/27) with left shoulder inflammation and recalled Mason Thompson from Triple-A Rochester.

[Matt's Bats @MattsBats]

I think Konnor Pilkington’s pixie dust has run out