Washington Nationals

The Nationals recalled Trey Lipscomb from Triple-A Rochester. (Source: Nationals on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Lipscomb will take the roster spot of Lane Thomas, who was placed on the IL with an MCL sprain. The 23-year-old hit .224, with one home run, four RBI, and four stolen bases in 14 games with the Nationals earlier this season.

The Nationals placed Lane Thomas on the 10-day IL with an MCL sprain. (Source: Nationals on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Thomas suffered the MCL sprain in his left knee while stealing a base Tuesday. Fantasy managers should expect Thomas to likely be out longer than the minimum 10 days. The team recalled Trey Lipscomb from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move.

Patrick Corbin delivered a solid performance, allowing no earned runs on just three hits and three walks while striking out three over 5.1 innings in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Dodgers.

Fantasy Impact: Despite his commendable effort, Corbin's season has been marred by high ERA and WHIP numbers, currently standing at 6.51 and 1.81, respectively. This outing, however, could be a sign of turning things around, especially considering his ability to limit the Dodgers to minimal damage. Fantasy managers should remain cautious.

Victor Robles (hamstring) is traveling with the team and will begin baseball activities. (Source: Andrew Golden on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Robles has been shelved with a left hamstring injury for a few weeks. He is moving in the right direction and his next step would be heading out on a rehab assignment.

Josiah Gray (elbow) was able to play catch from 75 feet. (Source: Andrew Golden on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Gray is rehabbing a flexor strain and is working on ramping up towards returning to the mound. Fantasy managers should expect Gray to need a few rehab outings before returning to the team.

Keibert Ruiz (illness) is starting a rehab assignment at Double-A Harrisburg. (Source: Andrew Golden on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Ruiz is set to play with Harrisburg as he gets back into game shape after losing 20 pounds due to an illness. Fantasy managers should expect Ruiz to rejoin the team soon.

The Nationals placed Robert Garcia on the 15-day IL with an illness. (Source: Nationals on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Garcia is dealing with the flu and will now be forced to miss some time. The team recalled Jacob Barnes from Triple-A Rochester as the corresponding move.

Mitchell Parker earned the win on Sunday against the Astros, allowing three hits over seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.

Fantasy Impact: Parker has earned back-to-back wins in his first two career starts against the Dodgers and Astros in impressive fashion. He is scheduled to face the Marlins next.

Joey Gallo is out of the lineup for the Washington Nationals against the Houston Astros Sunday. (Source: Washington Nationals on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Gallo will take a seat on the bench for Sunday’s contest, with Joey Meneses starting at first base and batting fifth against the Astros for manager Dave Martinez Sunday.

Trevor Williams delivered a solid performance, allowing just one earned run on three hits and zero walks while striking out four over six innings in Saturday's 5-4 win against the Astros.

Fantasy Impact: This outing continues a strong start to the 2024 season for Williams, who now boasts a 2.91 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP through his first four starts. His ability to limit walks and maintain a low BABIP (.263) has been crucial to his success. While his strikeout rate isn't eye-popping, his excellent control and efficiency make him a reliable option in most fantasy formats. Williams's consistent performance, highlighted by a strong 3.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a stellar 2.43 FIP, suggests he could be a steady presence in fantasy rotations, especially in deeper leagues.

CJ Abrams went 2-for-5 in the Nationals' 5-4 victory over the Astros, contributing a home run, a double, two runs scored, and an RBI.

Fantasy Impact: This performance underscores Abrams's growing role as a key offensive contributor for Washington. His consistent hitting, evidenced by a .300 average and six homers in just 17 games, makes him a valuable asset in fantasy lineups, especially in categories like runs scored and RBI. While his walk rate remains modest, his power and ability to drive in runs compensate for any potential on-base percentage concerns. Fantasy managers should consider Abrams a strong play, particularly in leagues that reward extra-base hits and runs scored.

Nick Senzel is back in the lineup for the Washington Nationals against the Houston Astros Saturday. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Senzel returns after receiving Friday night off for rest purposes, starting at third base and batting ninth for manager Dave Martinez against the Astros Saturday.

MacKenzie Gore endured a challenging outing, surrendering three earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four over four innings in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Astros.

Fantasy Impact: This performance slightly elevated his ERA to 3.60 and WHIP to 1.35 for the season. Despite the setback, Gore's high strikeout rate of 12.2 K/9 and a solid 4.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio continue to make him a valuable asset in fantasy leagues, particularly in categories that reward strikeouts. However, his elevated .408 BABIP suggests he's been somewhat unlucky with balls in play, which might hint at potential improvement or normalization as the season progresses. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his next few starts to see if he can reduce the hits allowed and regain his earlier form.

Ildemaro Vargas will start at third base for the Nationals Friday. (Source: Nationals on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Vargas will give Nick Senzel a day of rest. The 32-year-old is hitting .286 with three RBI in 10 games this season.

Joey Meneses will get the start for the Nationals at first base Friday. (Source: Nationals on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Meneses will spell Joey Gallo for Friday’s matchup with the Astros. The 31-year-old is hitting .196 with five RBI in 14 games this season.

Kyle Finnegan notched a save in a pristine inning as the Nationals edged out the Dodgers 2-0 on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: He threw 13 pitches, striking out one without allowing any hits or walks. This performance should reassure fantasy managers after a somewhat turbulent start to the season, marked by a 3.24 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP over nine appearances.

Jake Irvin delivered a stellar performance on Wednesday, allowing no earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six over six innings in a 2-0 victory over the Dodgers.

Fantasy Impact: This outing was a significant improvement for Irvin, whose season had been marked by a somewhat bloated 4.24 ERA and a single win prior to this game. His ability to navigate through the Dodgers' lineup with efficiency, evidenced by a low WHIP of 1.00 and a solid strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.33, suggests potential for more consistent outings ahead. Fantasy managers should consider the quality of this start against a tough opponent and keep an eye on Irvin's next outings, as he could be turning a corner towards more reliable fantasy production.

Luis Garcia went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and a walk in the Nationals' 2-0 win over the Dodgers.

Fantasy Impact: Despite not driving in any runs or scoring, Garcia's ability to get on base and steal twice was crucial in a tightly contested game. His performance this season has been solid, maintaining a .294 batting average through 16 games. The increase in stolen bases could hint at a more aggressive baserunning approach, which would enhance his fantasy value, especially in categories leagues. Garcia's consistent contact and emerging speed game make him a player to watch or pick up if available in fantasy leagues.

Jesse Winker went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, one run scored, and two RBI in the Nationals' 6-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Fantasy Impact: Winker's performance this season has been impressive, maintaining a high .373 batting average and a robust .474 wOBA through 16 games. His consistent hitting, coupled with a solid approach at the plate that has yielded more walks than strikeouts, gives him potential to contribute for fantasy lineups in deeper formats.

Stone Garrett (ankle) is set to start a rehab assignment Saturday with Double-A Harrisburg. (Source: Mark Zuckerman on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Garrett has yet to play this season after undergoing ankle surgery in August 2023. The 28-year-old will likely have a lengthy rehab assignment ahead of him before the Nationals return him to the active roster.