Wire Taps: Washington Nationals swept by LA Dodgers; on the way to San Diego; 2021 All-Stars + more...

Davey Martinez’s club won four in a row earlier this week, then dropped four once that darn injury rat returned to the Nationals’ clubhouse. They finished up their homestand losing four straight to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who left nation’s capital on a nine-game win streak. It’s not exactly how everyone in Washington wanted it to go, as the injuries piled up and proved too much to overcome.

“It was a tough weekend,” Martinez said after Sunday’s loss, “... but all in all we started off really well, we finished 3-4 in the homestand, so we just got to keep playing, we got to keep our heads up. We’re going on a flight, we’re going cross-country, and get ready to play another good team in San Diego, so we just got to keep battling.”

Stay with them as they stay in the fight and try to go 1-0 today. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Sunday:

Nationals prepared to ride injury bug -- no, 'injury rat' -- in critical July stretch - (Washington Times)
"Manager Dave Martinez and head trainer Paul Lessard immediately ran out to Schwarber, and the left fielder — who had clubbed 16 homers in 18 games — hobbled off the field."

Dodgers' sweep shows short-handed Nationals have no margin vs. top teams - (NBC Sports Washington)
"The Nationals' injury woes caught up to them this weekend as they suffered a four-game sweep at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers."

Overmatched Nats suffer four-game sweep to Dodgers - (MASN)
"You can nitpick some of Martinez’s in-game choices, whether twice sending up Jon Lester to pinch-hit (the same number of times Roberts pinch-hit with future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols) or summoning closer Brad Hand from the bullpen with two outs in the seventh and his team trailing by a run."

Nationals drop fourth straight game to Dodgers - (WaPost)
"The Nationals fall, 5-1, to the Dodgers, who completed a four-game sweep at Nationals Park."

All-Stars:

Trea Turner, Juan Soto, Kyle Schwarber named All Stars, Max Scherzer snubbed - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Schwarber and Turner were both selected by MLB players and Soto was chosen by the league after fan and player selections."

Three Nationals selected to first All-Star Game - (Washington Times)
"The Nationals had three players named to their first MLB All-Star Game on Sunday, as Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Juan Soto were selected to the Midsummer Classic."

Washington Nationals’ 2021 All-Stars - (MLB.com)
"Through the midway point of the season, Soto ranks second in on-base percentage (.399) and he is tied for the second-most walks in the National League (50)."

Turner, Soto, Schwarber all earn first All-Star selection - (MASN)
"It’s a bit of a surprising accolade for a lineup that, as a whole, has struggled through the season’s first half but nonetheless has seen some impressive individual performances."

Saturday:

After rain, Dodgers rally to send Nats back under .500 (MASN)
"Non-baseball matters aside, the game itself proved especially frustrating for a Nationals club that saw unlikely cult hero Paolo Espino match future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw for four innings..."

'I got the key!': The story behind the Nationals newest tradition - (Washington Times)
"After Victor Robles launched a home run to left field against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night, he went to the dugout yelling, 'I got the key, I got the key!'"

Nationals' struggles with bases loaded in 2021 - (MLB.com)
"This team has struggled all season in high-leverage situations, owning the third-worst batting average in MLB with the bases loaded entering Saturday (.197)."

Nationals lose third straight game to Dodgers - (WaPost)
"A lengthy delay came with the score tied. The Dodgers had the answers from then on, posting a 5-3 victory at Nationals Park."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Washington Nationals Stat of the Day July 2021 - (MLB.com)
"Juan Soto worked a four-pitch walk off Clayton Kershaw in the bottom of the fourth inning of Saturday's game. That extended his on-base streak to 20 games..."

Top prospect performers for July 4 2021 - (MLB.com)
"Nationals: Israel Pineda, C (No. 15), High-A Wilmington - Pineda went yard twice for his second multihomer game of the season as he drove in three of Wilmington’s four runs on the day."

NL EAST UPDATES:

After lost 2020 season, can Ranger Suarez be Phillies’ bullpen savior? - (nj.com)
"During the Phillies’ bullpen meltdown of 2020, the absence of Ranger Suarez was an often over-looked reason for the failure of the relief core."

Mets' Noah Syndergaard takes next step in throwing program - (NY Post)
"Noah Syndergaard’s rehab is back in motion, as Saturday he continued a throwing program that began in the past week."

Halfway through season, Marlins’ record & run differential don’t match - (Fish Stripes)
"So far, Miami has lost 18 contests by a margin of one run, the second-highest total in the Majors."

Braves promote hot-hitting Orlando Arcia - (AJC.com)
"After weeks of fans wondering when the Braves would turn to the red-hot Orlando Arcia in Triple-A, the team promoted the veteran before Sunday’s series finale against the Marlins."