Wire Taps: Washington Nationals romp in Citi Field; Juan Soto & Asdrúbal Cabrera hit some bombs + more Nats links...

Sure there were plenty of fun things going on in last night’s 16-4 win for the Nationals, but a Davey Martinez dugout piggyback ride for Asdrúbal Cabrera after Cabrera’s second homer of the game in Citi Field? I mean, tell me what was better than that? Really? Alright, Juan Soto’s blast to center, sure, but the Martinez piggyback was kind of awesome too. Amirite? Soto? Yeah, we get it. But piggyback ride? Piggyback ride!? Piggyback ride?!?!

“[Hitting coach Kevin Long] gave one before me and they asked me to do one, so I said, well, next guy that hits a home run, I’ll do it,” Martinez explained after the game.

“It happened to be Cabby, and that was his second one. It ain’t easy, especially with that mask on. I’ll tell you.”

Cabrera’s take on the dugout celebration?

“When I get to the dugout they told me, hey, jump to Davey, so it was fun,” Cabrera said.

Was he impressed with his manager’s strength?

“He is strong,” Cabrera said, “because I weigh 230, so I don’t know if he’s going to be fine tomorrow, but he’s fine tonight.”

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Soto's epic HR highlights Nats' barrage at Citi - (MLB.com)
"In a game with highlights up and down the lineup, switch-hitting veteran Asdrúbal Cabrera led Washington with two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs against his former team."

Fastball velocity a tick off, but Corbin's slider lethal again - (MASN)
"The left-hander used his slower slider early in counts, and then turned the velocity up later in at-bats to baffle the Mets lineup."

Notes: Harris close; prospects on taxi squad - (MLB.com)
"Will Harris has dealt with groin injuries over his career, but none had been as bad as the discomfort that sent him to the 10-day injured list last month."

Nats enjoy life on the road again, trounce Mets - (MASN)
"Life on the road in 2020 is nothing like life on the road in 2019. With one exception: The Nationals are still winning."

Nationals are off to season’s most dangerous spot: the road - (NBC Sports Washington)
"The Nationals ventured to their chartered train Sunday for a first: They were leaving Nationals Park to play a regular-season game elsewhere in 2020."

Nationals get a needed change of scenery, blast the Mets to end three-game skid - (WaPost)
"In the fifth inning alone, the Nationals scored seven runs on eight hits. All nine batters in the order reached base. Shortstop Trea Turner did so twice."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Sources -- MLB has preliminary talks about bubble-type format for playoffs - (ESPN)
"Major League Baseball has had preliminary discussions about holding its postseason in a bubble-type format after the coronavirus outbreaks on the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins that wreaked havoc on the regular-season schedule..."

We have a new No. 1 atop Power Rankings - (MLB.com)
"Biggest drop: The Blue Jays and the Nationals both dropped six spots -- Toronto from No. 19 to No. 25, and Washington from No. 11 to No. 17."

Nationals in distress after 4-7 start - (106.7 The Fan)
"Pocket Aces - After proving they could lead a team to a World Series title, Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg have shown they can just as easily crater the Nats' season with their absence."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Phillies weighing options on Spencer Howard’s next start - (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
"For weeks, we wondered when Spencer Howard would make his first big-league start."

Matz hit hard vs. Nats: 'I've got to be better' - (MLB.com)
"The Mets, for the first time in a long time, have a bona fide rotation problem. 'I’ve got to be better,' Matz said, focusing the issue on himself.'"

Inbox: Who will be in Marlins' 2025 rotation? - (MLB.com)
"Keep in mind, there is nothing typical about this season, so don’t assume that the Trade Deadline will be like it has been in the past."

Braves option Newcomb; 'pen a possibility? - (MLB.com)
"Instead of giving up on Sean Newcomb, the Braves could benefit from transitioning him back to the bullpen, where he finally found consistent success last year."