Wire Taps: Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants try again today; Saturday doubleheader + more...

They didn’t get to play last night, in what would have been the first game with full capacity open in Nationals Park, but they’ll try again tonight (which may be tough) or tomorrow, but eventually, the Washington Nationals will get to play with no restrictions on the size of the crowd in their home ballpark for the first time since October of 2019. Did manager Davey Martinez think we’d ever get here?

“Yeah, I did, actually. We were hoping that it would come. We’re definitely excited about it. I know the boys will be excited,” Martinez said before last night’s game was postponed due to inclement weather.

Though they’re just now getting to 100% capacity, the Nats’ skipper said the limited amount of fans who’ve been there early this year have made a big difference.

“As you know, even with the limited amount of fans we had here, they play a big part of what we do on the field. Players feed off of that.

“They’ve been loud, the fans that we’ve had here, they’ve been really loud, so we’re excited about more fans attending the game, our fans attending the game, so we’re all excited about it.”

There will be baseball in D.C. in front of big crowds eventually. Will it be tonight?

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman turns part-time role into advantage - (WaPost)
"In limited playing time that's kept him fresh, Ryan Zimmerman has eight homers in 110 plate appearances this season."

Bleary-eyed Nats tried to rest up before postponed opener - (MASN)
"Turns out Martinez will get even more sleep than he thought because tonight’s game was postponed due to steady rain in the region."

Nationals' game against Giants rained out, day-night twinbill Saturday - (Washington Times)
"With the tarp on the field early on Thursday, Giants manager Kapler had to field a few weather-related questions."

Giants-Nationals June 10 game postponed - (MLB.com)
"Washington right-hander Max Scherzer (5-4, 2.22 ERA) and San Francisco right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (5-2, 3.51 ERA), who were slated to start on Thursday, will start Friday."

Rainey rewards Nats' faith with first career save - (MASN)
"So the Nationals manager may not have chosen Rainey to close Wednesday night out of a full pool of available candidates. But he chose him nonetheless."

Nationals Park set to reopen at full capacity, with revised bag policy and new happy hour deal - (WaPost)
"Standing room only sections and the kids’ play area will reopen when the Nationals begin an 11-game homestand Thursday."

District of Champions? D.C.'s Status as a Winning Town Is Complicated - (Washington City Paper)
"During the Washington Nationals’ World Series championship rally on Nov. 2, 2019, Mayor Muriel Bowser stood on a stage on Pennsylvania Avenue NW and leaned in to the microphone with a declaration: 'It is true. We are the District of Champions!'"

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Notable trends for each National League East team - (MLB.com)
"Entering Thursday, they ranked last in baseball with a .145 batting average and .468 OPS with the bases loaded."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Phillies vs. Braves: Two walk-offs in two days equals second place in NL East - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Captain America was not the star of this Phillies’ victory, but that’s not to say the impact of his heroics from the night before did not carry over."

The changes Jacob deGrom made in 2021 - (MLB.com)
"Jacob deGrom is Jacob deGrom, right? The best, most dominant pitcher in the world, same as usual."

Starling Marte logs 4 hits in Marlins' series win - (MLB.com)
"The veteran Marte has embraced a mentorship role with the rookie Chisholm, even sporting a shirt with the Bahamian’s face on it during Wednesday’s batting practice."

Pache has two-homer game for Gwinnett Stripers - (AJC.com)
"Braves center fielder Cristian Pache may be finding his swing in Triple-A."