Good morning, Washington Nationals fans.

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, June 18.

The Nats Report is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to the Morning Briefing! Haden here. Dylan Crews and Daylen Lile earned promotions. Let’s talk about it.

Leading this Morning's Briefing: Nats promote Crews to Triple-A, Lile to Double-A

Last year’s second overall pick Dylan Crews has been promoted to Triple-A Rochester after a hot May and June. In his time in Double-A, Crews slashed .274/.343/.446. According to wRC+, which contextualizes his offensive production to the general league offense, Crews was 21 percent better than the league average with a 121 wRC+.

Breaking News Alerts 🚨

Breaking News: Nationals are promoting Dylan Crews to Triple-A Rochester

Richard • Jun 17, 2024

According to reports it looks like the Washington Nationals are promoting Dylan Crews to Triple-A Rochester. Matt Moscona of ESPN was the first to report the news. Stay tuned to our social media handles for the latest….Read full story →

That level comes after a rough April, where in 12 games he hit .224/.296/.367. Since then he has hit .292/.359/.474 over 39 games. This move puts Crews a call away from the majors as he joins James Wood in Triple-A.

The Nationals will not be in a hurry to call either of their top outfield prospects up though, as the team is just two months away from having the two be eligible for a potential 2025 PPI pick.

To replace Crews in Harrisburg, the organization promoted outfielder Daylen Lile. The young outfielder has solid numbers in High-A Wilmington, slashing .271/.352/.410. Lile, who is Rule 5 eligible this winter, has been considered the fourth outfielder in the Nationals system, behind former top 100 prospect Robert Hassell III and consensus top 10 prospects Wood and Crews.

Harrisburg is more hitter-friendly than Wilmington, giving Lile the perfect opportunity to further raise his stock, either penciling himself into a role for a contending Nats team or as a headlining piece in a trade.

As for the major league club, they begin a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight. The Diamondbacks offense has been among the best of the league despite star outfielder Corbin Carroll having a slow start.

The Diamondbacks have struggled this season because of injuries to the pitching staff, with their preseason big three all on the injured list.

Tonight, Jake Irvin (5-5, 3.00 ERA) will pitch against RHP Slade Cecconi (1-5, 6.70 ERA). First pitch is at 6:45 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on MASN2.

Down in the Minors

The Rochester Red Wings head to Syracuse to play the Mets this week.

The Harrisburg Senators host the Hartford Yard Goats this week.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks will play at home against the Aberdeen IronBirds this week.

The Fredericksburg Nationals host the Delmarva Shorebirds this week.

Featured Story of the Day

A’s DFA J.D. Davis via MLB Trade Rumors

The Nats Report is an independent reader-supported project with free and paid subscriptions, not affiliated with the Washington Nationals.

Those who opt for the paid edition are providing vital assistance to bolster our independent coverage of the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball.