Wire Taps: Washington Nationals lose Starlin Castro; Stephen Strasburg lifted early-early; Luis García debuts; Dakota Bacus debuts...

Davey Martinez wrapped Erick Fedde in towels on the bench in Oriole Park and hugged his 27-year-old starter after the 2014 1st Round pick stepped up, replaced Stephen Strasburg a few batters into last night’s game, and gave the Nationals 5 ¹⁄₃ scoreless in relief in the 15-3 win. What was the hug for? And were the towels for safety/social distancing purposes?

“I just told him, I said, I was very proud of him. He stepped up. And that was huge for him to do what he did. It’s not easy sitting there not knowing what’s going on you know,” Martinez explained.

“Obviously we gave him a little bit of a heads up, but still and all to come out there after the first inning and go out there and do what he does, that was huge, picked us all up today.”

“He just said he was thankful that I was able to give the team that much. And just good job,” Fedde shared.

“I was a sweaty mess, so I don’t think he wanted any part of that hug, but I was thankful for it.”

Go hug someone sweaty. And go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Strasburg Stories:

Stephen Strasburg exits in first inning vs. Orioles - (MLB.com)
"Stephen Strasburg missed his first two starts this season with a nerve issue in his right hand, but the three-time All-Star felt confident heading into Friday night’s outing against the Orioles."

Strasburg departs in first inning with apparent injury - (MASN)
"Stephen Strasburg’s hand doesn’t appear to be OK after all."

Pitcher injuries are piling up, raising a new concern for teams early in MLB’s delayed season - (WaPost)
"The Nationals are just one team dealing with a rash of injured pitchers this season."

Castro Breaks Wrist/García Gets Call:

Infield prospect García called up after Castro breaks wrist - (MASN)
"The Nationals’ second base plans just took a dramatic turn in a direction they probably weren’t expecting to go in August 2020."

Starlin Castro injured list with broken wrist - (MLB.com)
"The Nationals lost more than a game on Friday afternoon, as Starlin Castro suffered a broken right wrist while trying to make a diving play in the seventh inning."

Nationals 2B Starlin Castro breaks wrist, prospect Luis Garcia called up - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Garcia hit well this year at spring training in a limited sample size (25 at-bats) and most often against fringe major-league or purely minor-league competition."

Nats fall to O’s in conclusion of suspended game; Starlin Castro breaks wrist - (WaPost)
"Starlin Castro injured his right wrist on a diving defensive play in the sixth inning. A postgame X-ray revealed a break, leading the team to place its new second baseman on the 10-day injured list."

Bacus Debuts:

Bacus goes six up, six down in Majors debut - (MLB.com)
"Dakota Bacus’s road to the Majors was a long and winding one, spanning eight years across 10 Minor League teams."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

The Racing Presidents are hitting the streets - (wusa9.com)
"The Nationals' Racing Presidents have resorted to sprinting through courtyards like little children."

Baseball America Prospect Report — Aug. 14, 2020 - (Baseball America)
"No. 13 prospect Seth Romero made his big league debut and came away with a mixed outing."

Starlin Castro breaks wrist, Nationals call up prospect - (Yahoo!Sports)
"As mentioned, the young infielder is the Nationals No. 2 prospect. He was signed as an international free agent in 2016 when he was just 16 years old."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Howard exits vs. Mets with apparent blister - (MLB.com)
"Howard left Friday night’s series opener against the Mets in the fourth inning with what might have been a blister on his right middle finger, although no announcement had been made."

deGrom (tight neck) scratched vs. Phils - (MLB.com)
In Jacob deGrom’s words, it is 'frustrating' to miss a start during a year in which, even if fully healthy, he will take the mound only nine or 10 times."

The Miami Marlins can be the story of baseball for all the right reasons - South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The Marlins tried to have a home opener Friday, but that moment feels long gone

Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies injury update - (MLB.com)
"Outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. remains on track for a Monday return from left wrist inflammation."