Game Details

New York Yankees (77 -54) vs. Washington Nationals (59-72)
Pitching Matchup: LHP Nestor Cortes (7-10, 4.00) vs. LHP Mitchell Parker (7-7, 4.26)
Date: Monday, August 26, 2024 | 6:45 p.m. EDT | Game: 132 | Home Game: 64
Records: Home Record: 30-33| Monthly Record: 10-12
Location: Nationals Park | Washington D.C.

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Last Game Out

Yesterday, the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves, 5-1, and improved to 59 - 72. With yesterday's win over the Braves, the Washington Nationals take the series for the first time since 2017 (10-9).

LHP DJ Herz had another impressive outing. He pitched 5.0 innings, giving up no runs and only one hit and striking out eight Braves, and now has an ERA of 3.84. However, he was not credited with the win, as Jacob Barnes was. Herz pitched 92 pitches, with 58 of them being strikes.

RHP Kyle Finnegan got his 32nd save of the season by pitching 1.1 innings, giving up only one hit and striking out two.

CJ Abrams had two RBI this afternoon, raising his RBI total to 62 on the season. Abrams finished the day 2-5.

Welcome to D.C., Dylan Crews

Today, the Washington Nationals announced that they have called up OF Dylan Crews. The №3 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLBPipeline.com, Crews hit .270 with 21 doubles, six triples, 13 home runs, 68 RBI, 36 walks, 25 stolen bases, and 60 runs scored in 100 games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester this season. He ranks among Nationals full-season Minor Leaguers in extra-base hits (2nd, 40), triples (2nd, 6), slugging percentage (3rd, .451), OPS (3rd, .793), RBI (3rd, 68), doubles (T3rd, 21), home runs (4th, 13), average (4th, .270) and stolen bases (T4th, 25).

According to Baseball America, Crews is the №4 prospect in baseball, the “Best Defensive Outfielder” in the International League, and the “Best Hitter for Average” in Washington’s Minor League system. He was promoted to Triple-A Rochester on June 18 and represented the Nationals in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game in July.

Crews joins the Washington Nationals after hitting .309 (21-for-68) with a .385 on-base percentage (5 BB, 4 HBP) and a .529 slugging percentage (2B, 3B, 4 HR) in 16 games since Aug. 3. He reached base safely in all 16 games and has hit safely in 13 of the 16.

Into the WOODs we go

Since July 27, James Wood has been one of the hottest hitters in Major League Baseball. His .461 on-base percentage leads the National League and ranks third, trailing only Aaron Judge and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Wood's power has also been impressive. His .573 slugging percentage during this period is eighth-best in the NL. He's hit six doubles, three triples, and three home runs, including 19 hits on batted balls exceeding 105 miles per hour.

This surge has significantly improved Wood's overall numbers. Before July 27, he was hitting just .200/.273/.288. Now, he's batting .284/.379/.443.

The Nationals Are Stealing the Show!

The Washington Nationals have been the most aggressive base-stealing team in Major League Baseball this season. With 178 stolen bases, they've left the Cincinnati Reds (177) and Milwaukee Brewers (162) in their dust.

Current Nationals Jacob Young and CJ Abrams are among the league's top base stealers. Young ranks fourth in the National League with 30 stolen bases, while Abrams is close behind in sixth with 27. Interestingly, former National Lane Thomas still holds the fifth-highest total of stolen bases in the NL this season with 28.

Ruiz Is On Fire!

Catcher Keibert Ruiz has been scorching hot at the plate. In his last ten starts, he's hit safely in nine of them, collecting 11 hits in 41 at-bats. His power has been on display, with two doubles, three home runs, and seven RBIs.

Since July 6, Ruiz has been one of the top-hitting catchers in the National League. He ranks second in home runs, third in RBIs, and third in extra-base hits. His slugging percentage of .485 during this span is among the best in the league.

Ruiz's plate discipline has also been impressive. He has an incredibly low strikeout rate of 9.7% for the season, which ranks third in Major League Baseball. In fact, he hasn't struck out in his last 59 plate appearances!

I want to turn on the CJ please, its hot outside.

CJ Abrams continues to impress as one of the top young players in Major League Baseball. His .249 batting average and .762 OPS are highlighted by 62 RBIs, 18 home runs, 119 hits, and an impressive 27 stolen bases.

In Sunday's game against the Braves, Abrams showcased his skills with a 2-for-5 performance that included two RBIs and a stolen base. His speed and power have been on full display this season, as he ranks second in both triples and stolen bases among NL shortstops. Additionally, he's fourth in RBIs at his position.

On the Mound for the Nationals: LHP Mitchell Parker

The Washington Nationals will send LHP Mitchell Parker to the mound in his first-ever career start against the New York Yankees. Parker has been a dominant force at Nationals Park. In 67.0 innings pitched, he's allowed only 21 earned runs, resulting in a stellar 2.82 ERA. That ranks fifth-lowest among left-handed pitchers in the majors this season.

Mitchell Parker turned in a stellar performance against the Rockies. In his start on August 21, he matched his career-high with seven innings pitched, striking out six batters while allowing just one earned run.

Parker has been consistently effective in recent outings. Over his last five starts, he's allowed two runs or fewer, posting a 3.95 ERA and striking out 23 batters in 27.1 innings pitched.

Opponents have struggled to hit Parker at home. They're batting just .228 against him, the 10th-lowest average among all pitchers. Parker's ability to keep hitters off balance has been evident, as he's allowed three or fewer earned runs in nine of his 11 starts. Parker has a 5-2 record at Nationals Park.

During August, Parker had a record of 2-1 with an ERA of 4.03 and appeared in and started in four games.

Washington Nationals by the Numbers:

The Washington Nationals have the following records:

Day: 29 - 32 | Night: 30-40 | Extra Innings: 5-9
A.L. Teams: 19-21 | N.L. Teams: 40-51 | A.L. East: 6-7
vs. LHSP: 17-20 | vs. RHSP: 42-52
Home Series: 9-9-2 | Road Series: 8-13-1 |
Series Opener: 18-24 | Series Opener at Home: 7-13
Walk-off Wins: 3 | Comeback Wins: 32
White Script Nationals: 8-13 | White Pullover: 4-4 | City Connect: 12-6 | Blue Jersey: 10-18 | Road Gray: 23-30 | 42: 1-0

Opposition Research: New York Yankees

The Bronx Bombers

The New York Yankees are hot heading into their three-game series in Washington. After a successful homestand, they've won four of their last five series and seven of their last nine. Their recent surge has propelled them to the top of the American League standings, boasting a 77-54 record.

The Yankees' strong play is reflected in their +128 run differential, the best in Major League Baseball. Their consistent performance on the road will be crucial as they look to maintain their lead in the AL East.

On the mound for the New York Yankees: LHP Nestor Cortes

Nestor Cortes continued his strong pitching form. In his recent outing against Cleveland, he tossed seven scoreless innings, earning his seventh win. This marked the fifth time he's pitched at least seven innings this year without allowing an earned run.

Cortes has been consistently effective throughout the season. His 4.00 ERA in 26 starts demonstrates his ability to limit runs. He's also shown excellent control, striking out 137 batters while walking only 29.

Tonight's game will be Cortes' first career start against the Washington Nationals; however, as a starter, he has a 3-3 record with a 3.26 ERA (60.2IP, 22ER) and 51K in 11 career Interleague games. Additionally, Cortes has allowed three runs or fewer in ten of those 11 starts and two runs or fewer in six starts.

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