Wire Taps: Nationals finally get their streak; Time to lock up Anthony Rendon; Trevor Rosenthal still rehabbing ...

It seemed impossible. Unlikely. Unfathomable. But these Nats are winners of three in a row, folks. That means they’re a mere, uh, NINE, games under .500, so they only need to knock off nine more in a row to get back to respectability. Nice.

Here’s the news from Nats Park:

Nats finally get first three-game win streak of year (MASN)
Today, in competition for lede of the season: "It took two months of agonizing starts and stops, encouraging moments followed by devastating meltdowns, series with contenders and series with also-rans. But this weekend it finally happened: The Nationals won three games in a row."

Nationals post first three-game winning streak by beating Marlins, 9-6 (WaPo)
The Nationals were able to drop a boatload of runs on Caleb Smith en route to their third straight win, with thanks to Howie Kendrick, Brian Dozier, and Juan Soto — though, characteristically, the bullpen had to have its say first.

It’s time for hot-hitting Anthony Rendon and the Nationals to figure out his future (WaPo)
Anthony Rendon will likely get a nod for this year's All-Star Game. The Nats know how vital he is to their team — and instead of folding into the expectation that they should trade him, the Nationals should lock him up for the rest of his career midsummer and give this team a jolt and a cornerstone.

Rosenthal remains on rehab with Harrisburg (MASN)
When Trevor Rosenthal can string together two innings in Harrisburg that are clean and put together a back-to-back, the Nationals will know it's time to call him back up.

Robles sticking with bunt technique despite close shave (MASN)
Despite having seven base hit bunts this season, the Nats would like him to ease up on it and use a protective flap on his helmet. Robles, full of (well, not exactly, but something close to) teen spirit, isn't big on the idea.

Nationals Notes: Strasburg, Scherzer, Anibal, Ross, Knorr (MLBTR)
Today, from videos and subscriber-only links that didn't make it into Wire Taps: If the Nationals don't get things going, Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer could be on the trade block, and Randy Knorr is the next man up for the manager's job if Davey Martinez is fired.

Olney -- Braves embrace the instant impact of Austin Riley, power prodigy (ESPN)
The aforementioned subscriber-only piece about Scherzer/Strasburg.