Winker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Sunday's 11-5 loss to the Phillies.
Winker is in the middle of a lengthy slump, entering the game with one hit in his last 25 at-bats. His only hit during that stretch came in Saturday's game, which combined with Sunday's homer, could mean brighter days ahead for the 30-year-old. Even with the cold spell, Winker is slashing .224/.339/.381 with five homers and five stolen bases.
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Nationals' Eddie Rosario: Goes yard
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Rosario went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Sunday's 11-5 loss to the Phillies.
Rosario clobbered his sixth home run of the campaign -- each of which has come off right-handed pitching -- in the fourth inning off Aaron Nola. Although Rosario is batting .180, he's swiped six bags through 36 games, tying his combined total from the last two seasons.
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Nationals' Trevor Williams: Inefficient against Phillies
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Williams didn't factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over 4.1 innings against Philadelphia. He struck out three.
Williams was pulled at 97 pitches midway through the fourth but was able to keep one of baseball's best offenses in check. He yielded just one extra-base hit and the final run charged against him came after his departure, when Jacob Barnes allowed a walk, a single and a sacrifice fly to the first three batters he faced. After posting a 5.55 ERA last season, Williams boasts a 2.35 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 46.0 innings with a 4-0 record. He's scheduled to face the Mariners during a three-game home series next weekend.
Garcia (heel) will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the Phillies.
After being held out of the lineup for the first two games of the series with a right heel injury, Garcia has gained clearance to return Sunday, albeit only as the DH. It's uncertain when he may return to the field, but the fact that Garcia is still active suggests the team is not concerned about the injury becoming worse with play.
Abrams went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI in Saturday's extra-inning loss to Philadelphia.
Abrams had been in a minor rut coming into Saturday, going 1-for-13 over his previous four games. He broke the skid with his first three-hit performance since April 23 while collecting his first RBI since May 8. Abrams' production has fallen off in May -- he's batting .230 with a 1:14 BB:K this month -- but he's still carrying a solid .271/.330/.494 slash line with seven homers, 21 RBI, 28 runs and eight stolen bases on the season.
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Nationals' Kyle Finnegan: Blows save, takes loss Saturday
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Finnegan (1-3) took the loss and blew a save against the Phillies on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk over 1.2 innings.
Finnegan was called upon to protect a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning and got two outs before serving up a game-tying solo homer to Kody Clemens. The contest went into an extra frame, and after Washington failed to score in the top of the 10th, Finnegan was tagged with the loss when Bryce Harper plated the automatic runner on a sacrifice fly. The blown save was just the second for Finnegan this year, with the other coming all the way back on March 31. The right-hander has been one of the best closers in the league this season with 13 saves along with a 1.89 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB over 19 frames.
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Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Fires second straight quality start
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Gore allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out three batters over 6.1 innings in a no-decision against Philadelphia on Saturday.
Gore carried a one-run lead into the seventh inning but was pulled after Bryson Stott tagged him for a one-out, game-tying solo homer. Despite that disappointing exit, this was a positive overall outing for the lefty hurler, and he's now fired back-to-back quality starts for the first time this season. Gore didn't have the strikeout stuff Saturday that he had his previous time out when he fanned nine Red Sox batters over six frames, but Gore did established a season-high mark with his 6.1 frames. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come at home against Seattle.
Rosario isn't in the Nationals' lineup Saturday against the Phillies.
Rosario will take a seat on the bench as southpaw Cristopher Sanchez gets set to start Saturday's game for Philadelphia. Jesse Winker, Jacob Young and Victor Robles will start across the outfield while Rosario sits.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Remains out Saturday
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Garcia (heel) isn't in the Nationals' lineup Saturday against the Phillies.
Garcia was a late scratch from Friday's lineup due to a heel injury, and he will take another day to recover Saturday. Ildemaro Vargas will fill in at the keystone and bat second.
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Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Not starting Saturday
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Ruiz isn't in the Nationals' lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies.
Ruiz is slashing just .147/.190/.221 through 100 plate appearances on the year, so he will give way to Riley Adams on Saturday as the Nats look for more production at the plate from their catcher.
Irvin (2-4) took the loss Friday against the Phillies, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out two.
Irvin got off to a shaky start, allowing all four of his runs over the first three innings. The 27-year-old right-hander had allowed just four earned runs over his previous three starts (18 innings), striking out 13 while issuing just one walk in that span. Overall, Irvin has a solid 3.91 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 38:9 K:BB over nine starts (50.2 innings) this season. He's currently lined up for a home matchup with the Twins in his next outing.
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Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Rehab window set to open
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Cavalli (elbow) is ready for a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Once Cavalli makes his first start, his 30-day rehab clock will start. One of the Nationals' top pitching prospects, Cavalli underwent Tommy John Surgery in March of 2023 and is finally ready to pitch in-game. Assuming he can avoid any setbacks, he's on track for a June return.
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Nationals' Lane Thomas: Rehab stint coming soon
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Thomas (knee) could start his rehab assignment next week, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Thomas has been making progress since suffering a Grade 2 MCL sprain April 23 and could return to game action as early as next week. Assuming all goes well during his rehab assignment, Thomas could return from the injured list before the end of May.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Scratched due to heel injury
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Garcia was scratched from Friday's lineup in Philadelphia due to a right heel injury, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Garcia also didn't start Wednesday's game versus the White Sox after his heel got caught by a cleat earlier in the series. The infielder expects to return Saturday. Ildemaro Vargas will man the keystone in Garcia's place.
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Nationals' Jacob Young: Not in Friday's lineup
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Young is absent from the lineup for Friday's game in Philadelphia.
Young had started eight of the last nine contests, including six of them from the leadoff spot. He'll get a breather Friday though, as Victor Robles patrols center field for the Nationals.
