⚾️⚾️ The Morning Briefing: Happy Independence Day from The Nats Report
The Nationals begin the day early with an 11:05 a.m. start.
Good Morning Washington Nationals Fan and Happy Fourth of July 🇺🇸!
Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, July 4th. My name is Haden Raymer and this is your morning briefing. Today’s top story is today’s early game so let’s quickly preview that!
Be sure to follow The Nats Report on Twitter for all the latest headlines and more.
Leading today’s Morning Briefing: An early morning start for your Washington Nationals
After a 6:05 p.m. start yesterday, the Nationals and Reds turn around and play an early 11:05 p.m. start. Patrick Corbin is facing off against Brett Kennedy, who is making his first big league start since 2018.
The Reds have stacked the lineup with right-handed bats, with only one left-handed hitter.
The Nationals have most of their main guys in the lineup, with Riley Adams taking over catching duties for today, which he would probably have done no matter what since Patrick Corbin is pitching. Hopefully, the Nationals can even the series after…
Nationals lose game one to the Reds
All it took for the Reds was a Tyler Stephenson single in the second and a Joey Votto two-run blast in the fourth to take game one in a 3-2 victory.
The Nationals fought back with a Jeimer Candelario home run, and Keibert Ruiz drove in a run on a single in the sixth, but with runners on the corners and one out, Corey Dickerson and CJ Abrams failed to convert that last run.
Yesterday on In the Clubhouse, Jeremy and I discussed how the Nationals could “win the series” even without truly winning the series. Last night the Nationals did that, holding a really strong offense to three runs. Jake Irvin continues to impress over his last seven starts with a 4.29 ERA. Jordan Weems struck out all four batters he faced. Tommy La Sorsa and Amos Willingham both prevented the game from getting further out of hand. It was just really solid pitching from everyone involved yesterday.
Your Nats Report Player of the Game is Irvin, who turned in a quality start with three strikeouts over six innings pitched.
Poll Question
As we are closing in on the 2023 trading deadline, there has been a lot of chatter about what the Nationals should do with Lane Thomas at this year’s trading deadline. What do you think?
Should the Nationals Trade Lane Thomas for a Pitching Prospect?
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In the Clubhouse is back!
Your season analysis is back with In the Clubhouse with TheNatsReport. You can get analysis on every Nationals series live on Twitch and then listen to it after on your preferred podcast platform. We will also be doing a live show providing analysis on the first round of the draft on Sunday!
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Down on the Farm
The Rochester Red Wings lost game one of the doubleheader 13-4. Alex Call, Travis Blankenhorn, Drew Millas and Jeter Downs all had two hits, with Blankenhorn and Downs both hitting a double. The Red Wings bounced back and won game two 5-4. Jake Alu, Blake Rutherford, and Blankenhorn all had two hits in this contest, including this home run from Rutherford. Expect him in the big leagues after the trade deadline.
“Rutherford skies it towards deep right, Peterson going back… doesn’t even keep on running as it hits off the top of the wall it’s out of here.”
Blake Rutherford clobbers this one for his 4th homer in 12 games with the @RocRedWings.
— Nats Farm (@NatsFarm)
Jul 3, 2023
The Harrisburg Senators won 9-2 against the Altoona Curve. Robert Hassell III hit a home run, James Wood went 1-3 with a double and two walks (and no strikeouts), and Jacob Young went 1-3 with two walks. Trey Lipsvomb also doubled and got walked once. Alemao Hernandez dominated, striking out six over five innings, allowing one run that was unearned.
The Wilmington Blue Rocks lost 11-0 against the Hudson Valley Renegades. The Blue Rocks could only muster four hits against the Renegades. Will Frizzell hit a double, the lone extra base hit for the Blue Rocks.
The FredNats lost 4-2. Jarlin Susana went five innings and allowed six hits and three runs. He struck out five. Armando Cruz went 1-3 with a double and a walk. Roismar Quintana went 2-4.
Around Major League Baseball
- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout left last night’s game with an apparent injury. Trout later told reporters, including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, that he was getting X-rays on his left wrist. “I’m just praying the results come back clean,” Trout said. “It doesn’t feel great. Hopefully, it’s just a sprained wrist.”
- Arizona Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen discussed some of his team’s needs last week, and Houston Astros GM Dana Brown did the same over the weekend in an appearance with Robert Ford on Houston’s Sports Talk 790 AM (audio link). Specifically, Brown called a “versatile” left-handed bat who can play both the infield and outfield an “ideal” addition for his club at this year's trade deadline.
- The New York Mets used a bit more of Steve Cohen’s wallet to bolster their bullpen Monday, taking on the contract of Chris Flexen in order to obtain reliever Trevor Gott from the Seattle Mariners. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed the New York Mets will pick up the roughly $4 million due to Flexen, who immediately was designated for assignment.
- Philadelphia Phillies and former Washington Nationals Bryce Harper will move his family out of Pennsylvania following the conclusion of the MLB season according to USA Today. Nightengale also notes that Harper might be moving to first base after the All-Star break which will allow Kyle Schwarber to move to the DH spot.
