The Washington Nationals are gearing up for the final stretch of Spring Training with a couple of exhibition games against the Orioles. These matchups, set for Sunday and Monday, are the last tune-ups before Opening Day, now just 11 days away. With only six Grapefruit League games left, plus Thursday’s Spring Breakout game, time is of the essence for the Nationals to finalize their roster.
Manager Blake Butera is starting to shape his lineup, hinting at what we might see on March 26 at Wrigley Field. However, the Nationals are dealing with some roster challenges. Jacob Young is still on the mend from a wrist contusion he suffered in early February, courtesy of a fastball from teammate Bryce Montes de Oca during live batting practice.
This injury has opened the door for Joey Wiemer, who’s been given a chance to shine. Unfortunately, Wiemer’s performance has been less than stellar, with just two hits in 25 at-bats, translating to a .080 batting average. To add to his woes, he had a mishap in the outfield, allowing a 2-run homer when a ball bounced off his head.
With Young’s return looking doubtful, Wiemer and Robert Hassell III are likely to snag the final outfield spots, despite Christian Franklin’s impressive showing. Meanwhile, the battle for the №5 spot in the starting rotation is heating up between Jake Irvin and Josiah Gray.
The competition for the backup catcher role is also tight, with Drew Millas and Harry Ford vying for the position. Andres Chaparro seems poised to secure the final 1B/DH bench spot over Abimelec Ortiz, while Jose Tena appears to be a lock for the last bench position.
The bullpen remains crowded, with 15 arms competing for just eight spots.
Recently, left-handers Mitchell Parker and Andrew Alvarez were sent down to Triple-A Rochester. Manager Butera emphasized high expectations for them, urging them to dominate at the Triple-A level to earn their way back.
Yohandy Morales, who shone as the MVP of Winter Ball in Puerto Rico, was also cut and will start the season in Rochester. Despite his winter success, he couldn’t carry that momentum into Spring Training. The cold, snowy weather in Rochester feels like a stark contrast to his recent achievements.
Wiemer might be the unexpected addition to the roster, but with President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni at the helm, surprises could still be in store.
The Nationals have put up a solid 11-6 record with three ties in their first 20 games, not to mention a 5-1 victory over Venezuela’s WBC team. While Spring Training records don’t always predict regular-season success, it’s been a promising start.
With only 20 games completed, no batter has more than 32 plate appearances, and no pitcher has logged more than nine innings. As starters begin to play deeper into games, we’ll get a clearer picture of their form. While some stats look concerning, it’s essential to focus on the process, not just the numbers, as the team fine-tunes its strategy for the upcoming season.