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Davey Martinez said before the game he wasn’t sure if there would be more moves to come with all the injury issues the club is dealing with in their pitching staff right now, but he was focused on the matchup on Sunday afternoon, and there would be time to suss out the rest afterwards.
”Right now I’m taking care of the seconds,” Martinez explained, “and trying to get through today’s game, and then after the game [GM] Mike [Rizzo] and I will bang heads again, and start figuring things out.”
Once the game ended, Martinez said, the time for headbanging was drawing nigh.
“We bang heads quite a bit,” he joked of the daily interactions with Rizzo “... just typically about four or five times a day, regardless, so we’ll sit back and talk a little bit tonight, we’ll talk tomorrow, we want to make sure we’re on top of everything and we put the best team out there every day.”
Go bang your heads read your links...
NATS BEAT:
Strasburg to IL:
Nationals again left to solve rotation without Strasburg - (MASN)
"The Nationals placed Strasburg on the 10-day injured list this morning with right shoulder inflammation, a transaction loaded with ramifications..."
My col: Nats bet big on their vet aces — and won.
— Thomas Boswell (@ThomasBoswellWP) April 18, 2021
In their mega-dollar years in D.C., Scherzer, Strasburg & Corbin made 92% of their starts. With Strasburg on IL, after missing '20, is that ending? Or will Big Three, as Nats believe, be back --soon?
https://t.co/qUlKvvPVTC
Stephen Strasburg injury concerns Nats - (WaPost)
“With Stephen Strasburg back on the IL, it’s not time for the Nationals to panic. But it may soon be time to worry.”
Davey Martinez on Stephen Strasburg to 10-Day IL: “We shut him down, put him on the IL, he had to get an MRI on the shoulder, he’s got some inflammation on his shoulder, so we want to be smart. There’s going to be no timetable when he comes back...hopefully we get him back soon.”
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) April 18, 2021
Stephen Strasburg's IL stint the latest for an injury-stricken Nationals pitching staff - (Washington Times)
"The Nationals placed Strasburg on the 10-day disabled list Sunday morning, though, adding to the team’s injury issues on its pitching staff."
Stephen Strasburg headed to 10-day injured list - (Washington Times)
"Stephen Strasburg is headed for a stint on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to April 15, the Nationals announced Sunday morning."
Nationals place pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Wander Suero on the injured list - (WaPost)
“Strasburg’s IL stint is dated back to April 15, meaning that, at the earliest, he could return by the end of this week.”
Other Nats Stories:
Paolo Espino solid in spot start, but Nationals drop series finale to Diamondbacks - (Washington Times)
"Waiting to welcome the 34-year-old Espino back to the big leagues was the Diamondbacks’ Josh Rojas, who sent a leadoff home run flying out of Nationals Park."
Trea Turner's multi-homer game a bright spot in Nats loss - (NBC Sports Washington)
"In a 5-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Washington Nationals lineup couldn't get much going. Well, everyone except Trea Turner, that is."
*extremely Dikembe Mutombo voice"
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 18, 2021
Not in my house.#VictorThrowbles // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/LzR1o3BmdL
Lineup goes quiet as Nationals drop series finale (updated) - (MASN)
"With a four-game split against Arizona, the Nats now are 5-8 and awaiting a trip to D.C. from the Cardinals."
Paolo Espino, Nationals drop series finale vs. Diamondbacks - (WaPost)
Paolo Espino allows two runs in place of Stephen Strasburg, but the Nationals fall to the Diamondbacks, 5-2, in the finale of a four-game series.
Paolo Espino steps up in loss to D-backs - (MLB.com)
"Espino, 34, had made a start for the Nats last season, and he continued to impress during Spring Training."
Injuries in 'pen could create chances for Clay, McGowin - (MASN)
"And while the bullpen has been used heavily while the Nats rotation rounds into shape, the injuries sustained by Avilán and possibly Suero create a path for other pitchers to contribute and impress."
NL EAST UPDATES:
Matt Moore struggles in Phillies loss to Cardinals - (MLB.com)
"The Phillies turned to Matt Moore and Chase Anderson this season to stabilize the back of the rotation. But where do they turn if Moore continues to struggle like this?"
Sean Kazmar Jr. Makes First MLB Appearance Since 2008 - (The New York Times)
"Sean Kazmar Jr., who pinch-hit for Atlanta on Saturday, had been in the minors since a brief call-up in 2008."
OF Ronald Acuña Jr. left tonight’s game due to pain in his lower abdominal muscles.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 19, 2021
Mets' Francisco Lindor needs one swing to put him in zone - (New York Daily News)
"Francisco Lindor hasn’t yet shown his new fan base everything he has to offer."
Corey Dickerson changing games with baserunning - (MLB.com)
"Early this season, Corey Dickerson has looked more and more like the player the Marlins signed to a two-year deal in January 2020."