Washington Nationals

Patrick Corbin delivered a quality start on Friday, allowing just one earned run on seven hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings as the Nationals topped the Red Sox 5-1.

Fantasy Impact: This performance was a refreshing change of pace for Corbin, whose season has been marred by a bloated 5.91 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP across eight starts. Despite the high ERA and WHIP, his outing against the Red Sox showed signs of potential stability, possibly hinting at a turnaround. However, fantasy managers should remain cautious. Corbin's high BABIP of .384 suggests he's been somewhat unlucky this season, but his low strikeout rate of 6.1 K/9 limits his upside in fantasy formats that reward strikeouts heavily. His performance in this game could be a stepping stone, but he'll need to string together more outings like this to regain trust in fantasy circles.

Matt Barnes declined his outright assignment to Triple-A and is a free agent. (Source: Bobby Blanco on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Barnes went unclaimed on waivers after he was designated for assignment by the Nationals. He will look to sign a deal with a new team.

Mitchell Parker delivered a decent outing, allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three over 5.2 innings in Wednesday's 7-6 loss to the Orioles.

Fantasy Impact: Despite a solid performance, Parker's effort wasn't enough to secure a win for the Nationals, as the bullpen couldn't hold the line. With this latest start, Parker maintains a strong 2.67 ERA and 1.07 WHIP for the season, indicators of his reliable presence in the rotation. His strikeout numbers weren't flashy this game, but his consistent control and ability to limit damage keep him as a viable option in most fantasy formats. Moving forward, fantasy managers should continue to view Parker as a steady, if not spectacular, contributor to their pitching staffs.

Eddie Rosario went 2-for-4 in the Nationals' 7-6 loss to the Orioles, including a home run, two runs scored, one RBI, a walk, and two strikeouts.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the Nationals' defeat, Rosario's performance was a bright spot, showcasing his power with a crucial home run. However, his season-long struggles are evident with a meager .143 batting average and a high strikeout rate of 24.7%. While this game might provide a glimmer of hope to fantasy managers, Rosario's overall poor performance this season suggests caution in expecting consistent production. His low BABIP (.153) hints at some bad luck, but not enough to significantly alter his fantasy outlook unless he shows sustained improvement.

Trevor Williams delivered a masterful performance, allowing no earned runs on just two hits while striking out eight over five innings in Tuesday's 3-0 victory over the Orioles.

Fantasy Impact: This outing continues a strong season for Williams, who now boasts a 1.96 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP through eight starts. Given his consistent performance and ability to suppress hits and walks to this point, Williams's fantasy stock is on the rise.

Kyle Finnegan notched a save in the Nationals' 3-0 victory over the Orioles on Tuesday.

Fantasy Impact: Finnegan delivered a clean inning, striking out one without allowing any hits or walks. This performance underscores Finnegan's role as a reliable closer for Washington. His season ERA now impressively stands at 1.76, coupled with a WHIP of 0.85, signaling strong ongoing contributions in these categories.

Lane Thomas took batting practice on Tuesday. (Source: Mark Zuckerman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It is the first time Thomas has taken BP since suffering a left MCL sprain. He continues to progress and could begin a rehab assignment soon.

The Nationals have activated Victor Robles (hamstring) from the IL. (Source: Mark Zuckerman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Robles landed on the injured list in early February. Considering he was limited to just four games prior to the injury, he may be eased back into the everyday lineup.

The Nationals have optioned Alex Call to Triple-A Rochester. (Source: Mark Zuckerman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Call played well in his limited time with the Nationals, posting a .313 batting average in seven games. Victor Robles was activated from the injured list in a corresponding move.

The Nationals have activated Robert Garcia (illness) from the IL. (Source: Mark Zuckerman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Garcia was out of action due to a bout with the flu. The 27-year-old will rejoin the Nationals’ bullpen and Matt Barnes was designated for assignment as the corresponding move.

Luis Garcia is not expected to miss much time after jamming his wrist Sunday. (Source: Mark Zuckerman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Garcia suffered the injury while sliding into second base and was removed in the eighth inning Sunday. With the Nationals off yesterday, Garcia could be given Tuesday off to ensure he does not have any setbacks.

CJ Abrams went 1-for-5 with one run on Sunday against the Blue Jays.

Fantasy Impact: Abrams continues a strong start to the season for the Nationals, hitting .283 with seven home runs and eight steals.

Jacob Young is back in the Nationals lineup on Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: Young returns after sitting out one game on Saturday. He is hitting .311 with 12 stolen bases so far this season.

Jake Irvin delivered a solid performance in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays, tossing five innings while allowing five hits, four unearned runs and one walk, and striking out four.

Fantasy Impact: Despite his commendable effort, Irvin was saddled with the loss, a testament more to the Nationals' lackluster run support than to his own pitching prowess. His season ERA now improves to an impressive 3.72, complemented by a 1.19 WHIP and a 3.33 FIP, indicating strong underlying metrics. Irvin's ability to maintain a high strikeout-to-walk ratio and a decent K/9 rate should keep him relevant in fantasy circles, especially in leagues that value pitching metrics beyond the basic win-loss record. His performance today, though not reflected in the win column, should reassure fantasy managers of his potential as a reliable starter moving forward.

Josiah Gray (elbow) threw about 35 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday. (Source: Bobby Blanco on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Gray took to the mound for the first time since being diagnosed with a right flexor strain. He is scheduled for bullpen sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Keibert Ruiz is in the Nationals lineup on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: Ruiz is back behind the plate after getting the day off on Wednesday. He is hitting .143 with two home runs in what has been a slow start so far this season.

Riley Adams is not in the Nationals lineup on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: Adams is hitting .218 so far this season. Keibert Ruiz is back behind the plate for Washington.

Ildemaro Vargas is in the Nationals lineup on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: Vargas gets the start at third base for Washington. He is hitting .321 with five RBI so far this season.

Trey Lipscomb is out of the Nationals lineup on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: Lipscomb is hitting .267 so far this season at the plate. Ildemaro Vargas is starting at third base for Washington.

MacKenzie Gore took the loss Tuesday, surrendering two earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out seven over five innings against the Rangers.

Fantasy Impact: Despite a solid strikeout rate in this outing, Gore's performance wasn't enough to steer the Nationals clear of a 7-1 defeat. His season ERA slightly rose to 3.19, and his WHIP stands at 1.35, reflecting some challenges with base runners. The high BABIP of .392 suggests he's had some bad luck on balls in play, which might regress positively. However, fantasy managers should be cautious, as his inability to pitch deep into games could limit his win potential and overall value.