The Morning Briefing: September 17

Good morning, Washington Nationals fans.

Here are the latest headlines and analyses around the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball for today, September 17.

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Welcome to the Morning Briefing!

Leading this Morning's Briefing: Nats Struggle in Extras Yet Again

With last night's tenth-inning loss, the Nats are 5-11 in extra innings this season, 20-32 since the Manfred Man rule went into effect beginning with the 2020 campaign, and 28-48 in Davey Martinez's tenure. That is a 60-win pace over a full season, and it is just abundantly clear that the Nats struggle to execute in extra innings, whether it is so much as moving the ghost runner to third (let alone driving them in), keeping Kyle Finnegan on ice for a save situation that never arises, or (especially on the road) immediately allowing the other team's ghost runner to score. At some point, there has to be a change in strategy, because what they've been doing has largely not been working for seven seasons.

Last Game Out

The wet fart of an extra inning performance obscured a gem of a performance by Jake Irvin, who pitched into the eighth inning and departed with a man on third and the Nats clinging to a 1-0 lead. Derek Law came in to replace Irvin and, as he has done oh so many times this year, promptly allowed the inherited runner to score and tie the game. Whomp whomp. Still, it was an encouraging performance from Irvin, who in his next start will eclipse 180 innings for the year. If you had "Jake Irvin will post 32 times and be the Nats' best pitcher this season" on your bingo card back in March, raise your hand.

Nationals Headline of the Day: Abrams Out Again

CJ Abrams was held out of the lineup for a fourth straight game with a shoulder impingement issue, and although Davey Martinez said he was available to pinch-hit it seems he was not, because there would seem to be few more obvious opportunities than a tenth-inning plate appearance in a 1-1 game that instead went to Ildemaro Vargas. If he doesn't play today, it's fair to wonder if the Nats should just shut him down for the final two-plus weeks of the season.

Down on the Farm

Alex Clemmey will take the hill this evening in Fredericksburg against Kannapolis to try and clinch the Carolina League championship series, and the Rochester Red Wings will open their final series of the AAA season against Iowa.

Featured Baseball Story of the Day

Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com predicts the All-MLB team with the season winding down. Shortstop appears to be the tightest race, as he selected three players (including a tie) for the two teams: Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson, and Francisco Lindor.

Former National of the Day

With a little luck, Nasim Nuñez could have the career of former Nats utility infielder Wilmer Difo, who twice played in over 120 games for Washington but never hit enough to stick as a regular. Difo was a Nat from 2015 through 2020 and is currently in the White Sox organization. As a National, Difo hit .247/.309/.348 in 373 games, appearing at shortstop, second base, third base, and all three outfield spots.

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