Wire Taps: Washington Nationals drop 2 of 3 to Cincinnati; Milwaukee up next; offensive woes persist...

So were the Washington Nationals’ problems on offense last night a result of a problem with their approach, or a result of Cincinnati Reds’ starter Sonny Gray having a good night in the 3-0 win for the visitors?

“I look at it as a little bit of both,” Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez said.

“Sonny was really good, made good pitches, kept our hitters off-balance, and ... or you can look at it and say we took too many fastballs and got behind in the count. But he threw the ball well.”

Will the on-again-off-again offense ever find consistency this season? We don’t have the answer. But we do have some links.

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Nats' lack of walks doesn't really concern Martinez - (MASN)
"The Nationals entered play Wednesday last in the National League - and next-to-last in the majors - with just 128 walks for the season."

Austin Voth adapts to bullpen role - (MLB.com)
"Voth delivered two scoreless innings, with a pair of hits and a strikeout off 36 pitches (23 strikes). His fastball reached 95.7 mph, above his season average of 94 mph."

Rainey activated off COVID-19 IL, Fedde to be cleared Friday - (MASN)
"It’s not often a team has the ability to change its roster mid-game, but the Nationals and Reds both were afforded the opportunity today for the completion of Wednesday night’s suspended game."

Nationals’ suspended game features Joe Ross, a streaker and an oddly long delay - (WaPost)
"After things got weird Wednesday night, the Nationals and Reds will conclude their game Thursday afternoon."

Stephen Strasburg inconsistent in Nats loss to Reds - (MLB.com)
"Though Strasburg had a stretch of retiring nine consecutive batters, his outing was bookended by scoring woes."

Offensive woes on display again in shutout loss - (MASN)
"The Nationals got a decent performance from their starter, though one that included one or two costly mistakes."

Joe Ross posts strong start in suspended game - (MLB.com)
"Joe Ross’s turnaround start was halted when Wednesday’s game between the Nationals and the Reds at Nationals Park was suspended in the bottom of the fourth following a rain delay that spanned three hours and four minutes."

Suspended game ruins Ross' impressive start against Reds - (MASN)
"Manager Davey Martinez said in his postgame Zoom session with reporters that he hadn’t yet decided who will take over for starter Joe Ross when the game resumes Thursday with the Nats batting in the bottom of the fourth."

Josh Bell, out of slump, proving himself dangerous in Nationals lineup - (Washington Times)
"Bell had been doing that quite a bit to start the season, a side effect of beginning the season batting .133 with 28 strikeouts in 23 games."

Nationals beat Reds, 21 hours later - (WaPost)
"Twenty-one hours after first pitch, the Nationals held on for a 5-3 win in the resumption of a game suspended by rain Wednesday night."

Back of bullpen secures victory of suspended game - (MASN)
"Up five runs entering the eighth, the Nationals appeared to be in a comfortable position to close this game out with ease."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Gerardo Parra Baby Shark song Washington Nationals 2019 World Series - (Democrat and Chronicle)
"Every time Gerardo Parra makes his way to home plate at Frontier Field, two things happen."

What Rocks: Scherzer Keeps on Pitching - (The Georgetowner)
"To Georgetown University students, it was the biggest day of their young lives, but to Max Scherzer it was just another workday."

2021 MLB mock draft 1.0: Kumar Rocker to Red Sox, Pirates go with a catcher at No. 1 in Keith Law's first look – (The Athletic)
"11. Washington Nationals: Sam Bachman, RHP, Miami (Ohio)."

NL EAST UPDATES:

MLB: Phillies manager Joe Girardi done sharing injury info - (Yahoo!Sports)
"That 'manager's decision' comes two days after Girardi admitted to reporters he had spent the last few days being less than truthful about the status of Phillies star Bryce Harper."

Noah Syndergaard shut down for six weeks in awful Mets setback - (NY Post)
"Noah Syndergaard’s rehab from Tommy John surgery has hit a significant snag, leaving his Mets future in question."

Marlins Can’t Help Out Pablo...Again, Lose Another Starter - (Fish Stripes)
"Despite a late comeback attempt, the Marlins offense fluttered with Pablo López on the mound again in a 3-2 Phillies win that forced a series split."

Braves return to NL East play with division still jumbled - (AJC.com)
"Thirteen of the Braves’ next 16 games will take place against National League East opponents, the other three against the defending World Series champion."