Good Morning, Washington Nationals Fans,

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, April 10.

Welcome to the Morning Briefing! Haden here. Eid Mubarak for those who celebrate. Let’s talk about Josiah Gray heading to the injured list and yesterday’s game!

Leading this Morning’s Briefing: Josiah Gray heads to the injured list with a flexor strain

Well, this is one of the worst possible outcomes for the Nationals this season. No matter the record, having healthy, productive seasons from Josiah Gray, MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams, and other key pieces in 2025 was the most important part of the 2024 season. With Gray heading to the injured list with a flexor strain, that is thrown into question. While Gray was not particularly impressive in either of his starts he was quite the opposite with a 20.5 percent strikeout rate and an 11.4 percent walk rate, he was integral to the 2024 Nationals roster.

While the Nationals have accumulated some great depth in the upper minors at every other position, the rotation is thin. Jackson Rutledge, Thaddeus Ward, and last night’s starter Joan Adon are the big three options to replace Gray if he misses more than a couple of months. The Nationals desperately need good health from the rest of the rotation, otherwise, they will be flirting with a historically bad rotation.

A bad rotation has ripple effects on the roster. The Nats run a risk of the bullpen being overused. While the Nationals have one of the better bullpens that general manager Mike Rizzo has built, if Davey Martinez is tasked with getting 800 innings out of them this season, their arms will be cooked.

That is the reason why I was concerned about the loss of Mason Thompson to start the year, and why I was confused about why the Nationals went with Matt Barnes over Adon in the bullpen. While neither are elite arms, they give Martinez a clear multi-inning weapon to bridge the team to end the game or the closer.

But hey, Adon looked solid last night, getting through four innings and allowing just one run. Jordan Weems allowed two runs after that, but one was unearned thanks to a Lane Thomas throwing error.

CJ Abrams was back in the lineup and didn’t miss a beat, taking a left-on-left fastball 423 feet. Overall we went 2-4 with three RBIs and a punchout. Jesse Winker went 2-3 with a double. Jacob Young went 2-4 with three stolen bases. As Sarah Langs pointed out this was the fourth game this season in which a National stole three bases. The rest of the league has three.

Earlier this morning, the Nationals announced that Adon would be optioned and catcher Drew Millas would take his place on the roster.

The Nationals round out this leg of the West Coast road trip at 3:45 pm, with the game televised on MASN2. They will have the day off tomorrow and then head to Oakland.

Orioles call up Jackson Holliday

On the last day to still have a shot at a PPI pick, the Orioles called up young Jackson Holliday to be their everyday second baseman. He replaces Tony Kemp, who went hitless in ten plate appearances. Holliday hit .333/.482/.595 in ten games at Triple-A.

It is a bummer the Nationals have not done the same with one of their top prospects, James Wood. Wood has hit .360/.500/.560 in seven games in Triple-A Rochester, including five doubles. The biggest leap has been his strikeout rate, which is down to 15.6 percent so far. Eddie Rosario has a .449 OPS. While Rosario is likely to improve, just let the kid play.

Down in the Minors

Triple A: The Rochester Red Wings

The Rochester Red Wings lost 6-5 on the road against the Buffalo Bisons yesterday. Wood went 2-5 with two doubles. Carter Kieboom went 1-2 with two walks. Juan Yepez and Darren Baker both went 2-4.  Joe La Sorsa struck out three of the four batters he faced.

Double A: Harrisburg Senators

The Harrisburg Senators lost 8-7 to the Altoona Curve. Robert Hassell III went 2-4 with a double, Nick Senzel went 2-2 with a double and a walk, and Dermis Garcia went 2-5 with two bombs. And of course, Dylan Crews showed signs of life with a 4-5 game, including a home run. He will be alright.

High A: Wilmington Blue Rocks

The Wilmington Blue Rocks lost 4-0 at the Aberdeen IronBirds. The only silver lining is that Daylen Lile went 3-4.

Single A: Fredericksburg Nationals

The Fredericksburg Nationals won 15-4 at the Lynchburg Hillcats. Elijah Green got two hits, including a double. Cristhian Vaquero doubled and Gavin Dugas doubled twice. Brenner Cox notched three hits. Liam Sullivan threw 4.1 innings, striking out nine Hillcats, while allowing two earned runs and walking two.

Featured Stories of the Day

Red Sox extend their young CF Rafaela via MLB Trade Rumors

Red Sox shortstop Story out rest of the season via MLB Trade Rumors

Mets DFA Teheran after signing him to $2.5M deal last week via ML Trade Rumors

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