Nationals take lessons from eventful road trip
This browser does not support the video element.
TORONTO -- One Little League Classic, one off-day, two countries, three cities and nine road games later, the Nationals headed back to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday for their first game at Nationals Park since Aug. 19.
The Nats went 5-4 on the road trip (6-4 counting the LLC), which concluded with a 7-0 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Wednesday afternoon.
That span included far more than just baseball games, though. There was the memorable experience of playing in front of Little League World Series teams, manager Dave Martinez’s contract extension, a tough season-ending injury to Stone Garrett, the news of Stephen Strasburg’s plans to retire and two Major League callups -- all of that between Williamsport, Pa., New York, Miami and Toronto.
This browser does not support the video element.
“You have to be positive after the road trip we had,” said Martinez. “I just kind of forget about this [final game]. We’re playing well. Today was just one of those days that we ran into a buzzsaw. We’ve got to come back tomorrow and get back on a winning streak tomorrow.”
Looking to rebound at home
The Nationals were shut out for the second time since April 19 on Wednesday. As Washington struggled to produce offense, managing just five hits, left-hander Patrick Corbin gave up six runs on 10 hits and one walk with five strikeouts in five-plus innings. The loss halted the Nats’ pursuit of six consecutive series wins.
This browser does not support the video element.
“It’s tough when you fall behind like that,” Martinez said. “We faced a tough pitcher today. [Chris] Bassitt was good, he mixed it up today, we couldn’t get in a groove, couldn’t get anything going.”
The Nats will host the Marlins when they open the homestand on Thursday. After losing back-to-back games just once on the road trip and twice in all of August, Washington will look for a quick rebound.
“The guys have been engaged,” Martinez said. “What I’m loving is that they’re upbeat, they’re playing for one another, they’re starting to understand how to rebound and get back in, be engaged every day and have that energy.”
This browser does not support the video element.
What’s next for pitching
Washington continued to establish a six-man rotation, which began earlier this month, with the addition of right-hander Joan Adon. Adon tossed 5 1/3 hitless frames on Friday against the Marlins, finishing with three hits allowed, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts in six innings. He will start against Miami again on Thursday.
“So far, so good,” Martinez said of the six-man rotation. “We’re keeping everybody healthy, which is the most important thing. It’s one reason why we’re really doing this. But we’re also getting to see some other guys, like Adon, step up and pitch fairly well for us. I thought it’d be a little different for them, but I’ve talked to every one of them and tried to get a feel of what they thought, and they like it so far.”
This browser does not support the video element.
The Nationals have tabbed Josiah Gray to make his 27th start of the year on Sunday. But his season total reached 137 2/3 frames after a two-inning start on Monday, so the staff will closely watch his bullpen session on Friday. Another alternative could be a bullpen day.
“I’m going to be honest with you, that could change,” Martinez said of the plans to start Gray on Sunday. “… If I see any red flags with anything, we might do something different. But we want to keep him going.”
Familiar face returns home
Third baseman Carter Kieboom, a Nationals first-round pick in 2016, will make his first appearance at Nationals Park since '21. Kieboom missed all of '22 due to Tommy John surgery, and he was called up from Triple-A on Aug. 20, joining the Nats at the Little League Classic.
This browser does not support the video element.
After hitting six home runs in 62 games in 2021, Kieboom already has belted three in his first seven games back with the Nationals. He also has hit safely in five of those contests. When asked how he is feeling at the plate, Kieboom noted his recent success has more to do with the opposite of that.
“'Feeling' is something that I’ve really tried to take out of the equation, because that’s something I used to get caught up in -- I would focus on how I felt,” Kieboom said. “As a baseball player, you don’t feel the same every day. … If I didn’t feel good, I feel like I got myself out before I even got in the box. I really have to stick to my routines. … The calmer I am, the more I can think about the right things and stick with my approach at the end of the day.”