The Washington Nationals dropped the first two games of their nine-game, three-city road trip to the Philadelphia Phillies in the last two nights in Citizens Bank Park.
After tonight's series finale in Philly, they have a day off on Thursday before heading to Seattle this weekend and Los Angeles next week. At some point in the next week they're going to get reinforcements.
First-year skipper Matt Wiliams talked about what they'll be looking for with their September call-ups during an appearance on the MLB Network Radio show "First Pitch" this morning when he spoke to hosts Jim Memolo and Todd Hollandsworth.
"We've got a few guys that have been here during the course of the season," Williams said. "We've had so many injuries that we've had to bring guys from the minor leagues up already. So they've got a little taste of it. A little experience.
"So we'll look to do that again. We're going try to get some speed. A little bit of power. Some defensive prowess. And of course some guys in the bullpen that can come up and help us and allow us to match up a little bit if we want to and now worry about burning everybody in the bullpen every night."
"We'll look to reward some guys that have played well for us and can help us win games down the stretch. As far as how many, we don't exactly yet. But there will be a few guys here to help us and that will be good. It will give some guys potentially some rest down the stretch and some guys here that can do some things to win us a ballgame."
Steven Souza, Tyler Moore, Michael Taylor, Jeff Kobernus, Eury Perez, Sandy Leon, Jhonatan Solano, Blake Treinen, Aaron Barrett, Matt Grace, Taylor Hill, Ryan Mattheus? Anyone else on your radar?
Which of these guys get the call? Guess away...
While you're waiting for tonight's game, which starts at 7:35, that's 7:35, not 7:00 or 7:05, but 7:35...
Here are all the links we could find that were fit to link for some lunchtime reading to get you call caught up on anything you may have missed this morning...
Links and lots of them... starting... RIGHT NOW!!!!:
• THE BIG STORY!!!:
• "Right-handed pitchers Neil Holland and Derek Self, left-handed pitchers Felipe Rivero and Matt Grace, catchers Spencer Kieboom and Pedro Severino and infielder Tony Renda form the Nationals’ contingent." - "Seven Nationals minor leaguers to play in Arizona Fall League" - James Wagner, Washington Post
#Nationals (Mesa Solar Sox): LHP M. Grace, RHP N. Holland, LHP F. Rivero, C S. Kieboom, IF T. Renda, RHP D. Self & C P. Severino,
— Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) August 26, 2014
• NATS BEAT:
• "Left-handed pitcher Felipe Rivero, the Nats' No. 17 prospect, and catcher Pedro Severino (No. 12) are among the AFL-bound prospects." - "Severino, Rivero among Nats' AFL-bound prospects" - Erik Bacharach, nationals.com: News
• "Off the bat, it looked like a groundout to the shortstop. Not the most routine of groundouts, but a play Ian Desmond figured to make." - "Nationals lose to Phillies by inches" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
Reminder! Tonight's #Nats - #Phillies game time has been changed to 7:35 pm Nats pregame show on 106.7 & NatsXtra on MASN will begin at 7 pm
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 27, 2014
• "Among those 10 hits in the past 16 at-bats, Frandsen has two pinch-hit knocks. His recent string of starts have helped him heat up at the plate." - "Kevin Frandsen’s impact" - James Wagner, Washington Post
Final: #Nats fall to the Phillies, 4-3. It’ll be Doug Fister vs. Kyle Kendrick tomorrow night at 7:35 p.m. ET.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 27, 2014
• "Ian Desmond's throw was high, but first-base umpire Gary Cederstrom ruled that Kevin Frandsen held the bag with his right foot." - "Phillies score go-ahead run after winning second challenge of the game" - Kevin Roberts and Erik Bacharach, nationals.com: News
• "Manager Matt Williams told reporters in Philadelphia that LaRoche has been dealing with back tightness for three or four days." - "Nationals Pastime: LaRoche out with tight back, Wednesday time change, Roark's innings and more" - Josh Land, MASNSports.com
• "Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa has spent much of this season in the batting cages, trying to simulate pitches at game speed." - "Nationals’ Danny Espinosa staying ready despite diminished role" - Jason Butt, The Washington Post
• "Gonzalez couldn’t quite match Hamels, who carried a shutout into the seventh but departed after giving up two runs that inning followed by a leadoff homer to Asdrubal Cabrera in the eighth." - "Gio Gonzalez finds progress in his latest start" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "The loss marks the first time the Nats have dropped a series since Aug. 8-10, when they lost two out of three to Atlanta." - "Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies - August 26, 2014" - Erik Bacharach, MLB.com WSH Recap
• "'I’m a big believer in hard work pays off,' Roark said, taking a swig of orange Gatorade. 'Luck rolls on your side when you work hard.'" - "Tanner Roark not slowing down, may force difficult postseason decision" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post
• "After Monday night's outing, Tanner Roark moved further past his previous high for innings in a single season." - "Nationals plan to let Roark keep pitching" - Erik Bacharach, nationals.com: News
MW on Roark's IP: "It is uncharted. We'll have to monitor that as we go...we can't deny Tanner the opportunity to go out there and compete"
— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) August 27, 2014
• "In a game that was seemingly filled with close, questionable calls, the Phillies got the benefit of the doubt on a few key ones, and they escaped with a hard-fought 4-3 win." - "Nationals Pastime: Hearing from Williams, Frandsen, Desmond and Gonzalez after Nats' 4-3 loss" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
I took you deep, now I stare you down! #Nats' 2B Asdrubal Cabrera is all business on the bench after game-t... https://t.co/R708D8qXJ3
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) August 27, 2014
• "Frandsen has more or less willed himself into an eight-year big league career." - "Frandsen, Nationals come up a little short in 4-3 loss to Phillies" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
• "How good has Cabrera been for the Nationals since his acquisition on July 31?" - "Instant analysis: Phillies 4, Nats 3" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "Fister said he knew the cancer had to be removed from his neck for about a month. He wasn't scared." - "Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies - August 27, 2014" - Jamal Collier, MLB.com Preview
Williams says LaRoche has been dealing with a tight back for the last few days and will be back in the lineup tonight. #Nationals
— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) August 27, 2014
• "Gonzalez finished six innings, allowing six hits, three runs, all earned, two homers and one walk with four strikeouts. He tossed 87 pitches, 62 for strikes." - "A pair of left-handers battle in Philly (Phillies win 4-3)" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Your Daily Message from the Dalai Lama on Twitter (@DalaiLama):
It would help if there were greater understanding that anger never helps to solve a problem.
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) January 28, 2014
• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
• "If all goes well in the coming days, it appears he will return from the disabled list to pitch Monday against the Washington Nationals." - "Signs point to Ryu returning Monday - Los Angeles - Dodgers Report" - Mark Saxon, ESPN Los Angeles
• "After a passable, but somewhat underwhelming, rookie year, Rendon has emerged as one of the Washington Nationals best players." - "The Growth of Anthony Rendon" - Chris Cwik, FanGraphs Fantasy Baseball
RotoGraphs: The Growth of Anthony Rendon http://t.co/Dzoor5pi9E
— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) August 27, 2014
• "Walters has smacked six homers in 13 games with the Indians since being acquired from the Washington Nationals for Asdrubal Cabrera in late July." - "Zach Walters takes aim at light tower, powers Cleveland Indians past White Sox: DMan's Report, Game 130, Tuesday" - Dennis Manoloff, cleveland.com
• "While Hamels did not directly voice displeasure with his manager, it sure sounded like he was not pleased." - "Cole Hamels upset with Ryne Sandberg?" - Stephen Gross, The Morning Call
• "'It's been unbelievable. The fun we've been having in the clubhouse, you know, the electricity from the fans. It's just been, you know -- words cannot describe it.'" - Gio Gonzalez - "Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez talks roster, says career is 'a journey'" - Dave Owens, WUSA9
• "Darin Ruf started for the third time in 10 games; he smashed a Gonzalez fastball for a solo home run in the sixth." - "Galvis, Ruf homer as Phillies top Nats again" - Matt Gelb, Philadelphia Inquirer
Make that 100 career saves as a Phil for #58. #PhotoOfTheGame pic.twitter.com/h0yxGzAP0e
— Phillies (@Phillies) August 27, 2014
• NATS MINORS:
• Class-A Auburn: "The Jammers cranked out two runs in a key seventh inning, and the Doubledays fell 4-1 to snap a three-game winning streak in front of 2,251 fans at Falcon Park." - "Jammers snap Doubledays streak" - Evan Weston, Auburn Doubledays News
VIDEO: Auburn Doubeldays' Read gets thrown out at the plate, Cathcart gets ejected http://t.co/PTK01chxRp
— Jeremy Houghtaling (@CitizenHough) August 27, 2014
• Low-A Hagerstown: Suns 4, Tourists 5 - Nick Pivetta - 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K - Hagerstown Suns Scoreboard
• High-A Potomac: "The P-Nats' magic number to clinch a second-half ...Northern Division Championship is now down to three games because the Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta Braves) also lost tonight." - "Potomac Nationals Game Recap @ Wilmington Blue Rocks.8.26.14" - Potomac Nationals News
• Double-A Harrisburg: "The Harrisburg Senators almost erased a four-run deficit but fell short in a 6-4 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Tuesday night." - "Senators' Comeback Comes Up Short" - Perry Mattern, Harrisburg Senators News
• Triple-A Syracuse: "The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, lost 5-4 to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Tuesday night from Coca-Cola Park." - "Jeff Kobernus collected three hits as the Syracuse Chiefs fell to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• "In the past several days, four players and one manager in the Washington Nationals’ organization earned awards for their spectacular performances on the diamond." - "Washington Nationals: Minor Leaguers Receive End of Year Honors" - Brian Skinnell, District Sports Page
• NATSTOWN:
• "Get To Know A Nat 2014: Matt Thornton" - Nationals 101
AUDIO: #Nats Nightly w/ an ornery Doghouse tonight after the #Nats' 4-3 loss to the #Phillies in Citizens Bank Park: http://t.co/NYrCUcmXWO
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) August 27, 2014
• "It's safe to say at this point that this year's Nationals are pretty good at baseball. They've been a thrill to watch, especially the last couple of weeks." - "Keeping score enriches the experience of baseball" - Nationals Buzz: Rachel Levitin, MASNSports.com
• "Gonzalez settled down to get five of the next six batters out, but in the sixth he hung a fastball to Darin Ruf to add another run to the Phillies’ lead." - "Nats Fail To Come Back, Drop Series In Philly" - Erin Flynn, The Nats Blog
• "Somehow this turned into a LaRoche post" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Marlins: "Jarred Cosart didn't simply pound the strike zone during Monday night's late start against the Angels. He beat it into submission." - "Miami Marlins: Jarred Cosart took up residence in strike zone to top Angels late Monday" - Juan C. Rodriguez, Sun Sentinel
• Braves: "Braves' righty Julio Teheran, who will make his fifth start of August on Wednesday, began the month providing some sleepless nights for fans, allowing 11 earned runs over two starts." - "Atlanta Braves at New York Mets - August 27, 2014" - Jake Kring-Schreifels, MLB.com Preview
RECAP: @Awood45 hurls 7 quality innings, @JUP_8TL notches 3 hits in #Braves' loss to Mets. http://t.co/zlqwGhCdBF pic.twitter.com/TTcinOy8a1
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 27, 2014
• Mets: "According to reports, multiple teams were interested in the veteran pitcher, but those organizations refuse to pay his hefty salary." - "Mets trade rumors: Royals, Angels and Dodgers losing interest in Bartolo Colon" - Joseph Wolkin, Amazin' Avenue