Wire Taps: The 2019 Nationals; Carter Kieboom to AFL; Tanner Roark feels ‘unhittable’

Today is the last day of August, meaning September is coming soon, meaning Victor Robles is coming soon! Get excited.

Here’s the scoop from South Capitol:

Take a good look at these Nationals. You won’t be seeing a lot of them next season. (WaPo)
Sure, the Nats could re-sign Bryce Harper and try to rebuild the machine that failed. Or, they can use the 70-odd million dollars to fill in the gaps with more than sufficient talent, seeing as the big guys will have already spent their money on Harper, Manny Machado, and Clayton Kershaw.

He spent his whole life working toward one goal: the big leagues. Then, it rained. (WaPo)
Not Nats-related, but a big Post feature on a lifelong 4A pitcher who got his shot — and then got it taken away from him before he could even throw a pitch.

Tanner Roark could get used to this: ‘You really just feel unhittable’ (WaPo)
Tanner is hitting his spots. His sinker is moving, his curveball is dancing. It's all clicking lately for him, largely thanks to his recommitment to getting his body in sync and therefore getting his sinker working. If he can hold on to that feeling for 2019, it could make the Nationals' rotation potent once again.

Nationals' Jeremy Hellickson feels good after first bullpen session (WaPo)
Hellickson threw a bullpen in Philly. One caveat? He could only throw fastballs, because he can't snap his wrist to throw a curveball. He might soon, and then the Nats' rotation will suddenly be overcrowded, with Joe Ross and Hellickson returning.

2018 Arizona Fall League rosters revealed (MLB.com)
The Nationals will send Carter Kieboom, but not Victor Robles (unsurprisingly).

NL East's potential impact moves for September (MLB.com)
Victor Robles will almost certainly return to the majors this September, giving the Nats a little more confidence that they will, in fact, be just fine without Bryce Harper if that is the case.

Carter Kieboom highlights eight Nats prospects invited to AFL (MASN)
"Shortstop Carter Kieboom, catcher Tres Barrera, right fielder Daniel Johnson and third baseman Jake Noll are the position players. Right-hander Luis Reyes and left-handers Ben Braymer, Taylor Guilbeau and Jordan Mills are the pitchers invited."

Holland hits reset button, gets a second chance (MASN)
Greg Holland couldn't save a game during his entire tenure with the Cardinals. But with the Nationals, even though he came on to the team destined for mop-up duty, he finally got it done. A change of pace does wonders, and Holland, owner of a 0.93 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in Washington, can attest to that.

The Case for Ryan Zimmerman’s 2019 Player’s Weekend Jersey (The Nats Blog)
If it doesn't say Mr. Walkoff in what may be his walk-off season with the Nats, then we riot.

What's the future? (Sweetspot: Nationals Baseball)
A position-by-position overview — the Nationals don't have anything for 2020 at first, second, third, catcher, or really the bullpen. That's a ways away — but with no clear talent in a lot of places, it might make sense to pull the trigger on the rebuild then. Or they could start early.