Nunez exited Friday's game against the Angels due to cramps, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Nunez was able to limp off the field after laying down a sacrifice bunt in the 10th inning, and the Nationals don't seem to be very concerned about his availability going forward. The 23-year-old went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts while filling in for CJ Abrams, who was scratched from the lineup due to back spasms.
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Nationals' CJ Abrams: Battling back spasms
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Abrams was scratched from the lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Angels due to back spasms, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Abrams' injury was enough to keep him from playing Friday, but the team doesn't expect it to lead to an extended absence. Nasim Nunez (cramps) started at shortstop instead and could be in line to do so again if Abrams isn't able to play Saturday.
The Nationals optioned Adon to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
Since rejoining the Nationals bullpen July 30, Adon has given up three earned runs in just 3.1 innings across four appearances. His Triple-A numbers haven't been spectacular either (5.40 ERA, 1.66 WHIP), but there's still a chance he returns to Washington later in the season if the Nats' bullpen depth runs thin.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Solid in no-decision
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Parker didn't factor into the decision in Friday's extra-inning win over the Angels, allowing two unearned runs on eight hits over 6,1 innings. He struck out five.
Both of Anaheim's runs came on a Jo Adell homer in the second inning following an errant pickoff throw that extended the frame. Parker's now gone at least six innings without allowing an earned run in back-to-back starts. The left-hander's ERA is down to 3.83 with a 1.20 WHIP and 92:29 K:BB across 112.2 innings in his rookie season. Parker's currently lined up for a road matchup with the Phillies in his next outing.
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Nationals' CJ Abrams: Scratched Friday
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Abrams was scratched from the Nationals' lineup ahead of Friday's game versus the Angels.
The Nationals haven't yet announced why Abrams was taken out of the lineup, but more clarification should come shortly. In the meantime, Nasim Nunez will fill in at shortstop and bat ninth.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: On bench again
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Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.
Blankenhorn will be withheld from the starting nine for a third consecutive game, though Friday's outing is the first of that stretch against a right-handed pitcher (Jose Soriano). The lefty-hitting Blankenhorn is 3-for-20 (.150) with a 38.1 percent strikeout rate in nine games this season. Harold Ramirez will bat seventh and DH on Friday.
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Nationals' Derek Law: Seeing massive workload
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Law leads all big-league relievers with 72.1 innings pitched so far this season, posting a 2.99 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 60:18 K:BB with six wins, 11 holds and a save in 58 appearances.
The veteran right-hander has worked more than an inning in four of his last five appearances as the Nationals' rotation struggles to provide consistent length, putting additional pressure on the bullpen. Per Mark Zuckerman of MASN, Law is on pace to become the first reliever in Nats history to toss more than 100 innings in a season -- Saul Rivera holds the record with 93 innings in 2007. Law has already set new career highs in innings and wins, and he's closing in on his personal bests in holds (14) and strikeouts (67).
Garcia went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a stolen base Thursday against the Giants.
Garcia's two-out, game-tying three-run blast in the ninth inning was belted off San Francisco closer Camilo Doval and was Garcia's 14th of the season. Garcia added a single earlier in the game, representing his 26th multi-hit effort of the campaign while also collecting his 19th steal. It's been a breakout season for the 24-year-old second baseman, who over 365 at-bats has put together a .290 average with 14 homers, 56 RBI, 43 runs and 19 steals.
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Nationals' DJ Herz: Struggles with command
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Herz did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over 2.2 innings against the Giants. He struck out four.
Herz struggled with his control, tossing just 39 of 74 pitches for strikes while walking a season-high four batters in his shortest outing of the campaign. It was the fourth consecutive game Herz has given up two runs or fewer, though he was able to complete five innings in each of his previous three starts. The promising 23-year-old lefty's total of four strikeouts gives him 63 over 49 innings to go along with a 4.41 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. His next opportunity to take the hill is tentatively scheduled for next week when the Nationals head to Baltimore for a two-game set.
Lipscomb is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.
The righty-hitting Lipscomb had already been excluded from the starting nine in four of the Nationals' last six matchups with right-handed pitchers, but he'll now find himself on the bench Thursday against a lefty (Kyle Harrison). Lipscomb already seems to have lost hold of a regular role at third base to Ildemaro Vargas, and a demotion to the minors could be imminent for the 24-year-old Lipscomb, who is slashing just .152/.211/.182 since he was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on July 6.
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Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Out against lefty
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Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.
The Giants are sending a lefty (Kyle Harrison) to the hill for the second day in a row, so the lefty-hitting Blankenhorn will once again head to the bench. Platoon mate Harold Ramirez will get another turn as the Nationals' designated hitter and will slot sixth in the batting order.
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Nationals' Juan Yepez: Productive in Wednesday's loss
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Yepez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 7-4 loss to the Giants.
The first baseman took Blake Snell deep in the third inning, briefly giving the Nationals a 3-2 lead that quickly evaporated. Yepez hasn't gone consecutive games without a hit since being added to the Nationals' roster in early July, and in 117 plate appearances over that stretch he's slashing .330/.380/.523 with 12 doubles, three homers, two steals, 16 RBI and 17 runs.
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Nationals' Jake Irvin: Stomped by Giants
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Irvin (8-10) took the loss Wednesday, surrendering five runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- and a walk over five innings. He struck out four.
Mike Yastrzemski popped a solo shot off the right-hander in the fourth inning before Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman both took him deep in the fifth. Issues keeping the ball in the yard are nothing new for Irvin -- he's been tagged for multiple homers in four of his last six trips to the mound, and over that stretch he's seen his ERA on the season rise from 2.80 to 3.76. Irvin could have a tough time turning things around in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week in Baltimore.
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: Exiting lineup vs. lefty
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Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
With a lefty (Blake Snell) on the bump for the Giants, the lefty-hitting Blankenhorn will move to the bench after starting in each of the Nationals' previous six games. Harold Ramirez will take over as the Nationals' designated hitter.
