Fantasy News

• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Dealing with Grade 2 MCL sprain

  Rotowire Apr 24, 2024

  Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that Thomas was placed on the 10-day injured list earlier Wednesday with a Grade 2 MCL sprain and is without a timeline for a return, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. Thomas sustained the injury in the fifth inning of Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Dodgers and was diagnosed with the MCL sprain after getting an MRI. The outfielder was walking around without the aid of crutches Wednesday and acknowledged that he expects to avoid surgery, according to Andrew Golden of The Washington Post. A timeline for Thomas' return could come into focus once he resumes baseball activities, but fantasy managers should prepare for the outfielder to be sidelined beyond the minimum 10 days. Martinez said that Joey Gallo will get the first chance at replacing Thomas as Washington's primary right fielder.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Hits IL with MCL sprain

  Rotowire Apr 24, 2024

  The Nationals placed Thomas on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with an MCL sprain of his left knee. Thomas sustained the injury in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Dodgers and will be eligible for activation May 4, but given the nature of the knee issue, he'll likely need more than the minimum 10 days to make a full recovery. The Nationals called up infielder Trey Lipscomb from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move, and he could end up garnering regular starts at third base and serving as Thomas' de facto replacement if Washington is willing to move Nick Senzel off the hot corner and deploys him in the outfield or at designated hitter more frequently. After a breakout 2023 campaign in which he hit .268 with 28 home runs and 20 stolen bases, Thomas had slumped out of the gate with a .184/.250/.253 slash line with two home runs in 22 games, though he remained active on the basepaths (11 steals in 12 attempts).

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Likely headed to injured list

  Rotowire Apr 24, 2024

  Nationals president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo said Wednesday in an interview on 106.7 The Fan that he anticipates Thomas (knee) going on the injured list, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. There's no word yet on the results of the MRI on Thomas' left knee, but it sounds like he's bound for the IL even if the club gets good news. Thomas was injured during Tuesday's loss to the Dodgers while stealing second base in the fifth inning. The 28-year-old has started every game in right field for the Nationals this season. Joey Gallo has seen his playing time slip a bit recently but might get some run in right with Thomas out. Trey Lipscomb is expected to take Thomas' spot on the roster.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Getting MRI on knee

  Rotowire Apr 23, 2024

  Thomas will receive an MRI on his left knee Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.comreports. Thomas injured his knee while swiping a bag in the fifth inning of Tuesday's loss to the Dodgers. Once the results of his imaging come back, a better picture will emerge regarding the severity of his injury, as well as an estimate for how much time -- if any -- the 28-year-old will miss. Thomas is slashing .184/.250/.253 across 96 plate appearances this season.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Exits early Tuesday

  Rotowire Apr 23, 2024

  Thomas was removed from Tuesday's game against the Dodgers with an apparent leg injury, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. Thomas appeared to tweak his left leg while stealing a base in the fifth inning, though he remained in the game briefly before being replaced on defense ahead of the seventh. The Nationals will take a closer look at him in the clubhouse and should offer more information on his status in the near future.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Swipes ninth bag

  Rotowire Apr 20, 2024

  Thomas went 0-for-5 with a stolen base in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Astros. While Thomas' struggles at the plate continued, he did find ways to contribute. In addition to stealing his ninth base of the season -- tied for second in the majors with Ronald Acuna and Brice Turang, one back of Elly De La Cruz -- the 28-year-old made the defensive play of the game, making a running catch in foul territory in the top of the 10th and then throwing out Jose Altuve at the plate as he attempted to tag up and score. Thomas is slashing .183/.236/.256 on the season with two homers, five runs and 10 RBI.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Three-hit day includes home run

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Thomas went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and three RBI during Sunday's 7-6 loss to Oakland. Thomas collected a home run and two singles, with each hit driving in a run for the Nationals as he drove in half of their six runs on the day. Thomas has struggled to start the season with eight hitless efforts among 15 games played and only one hit in his previous 17 at-bats prior to Sunday. However, Sunday marked his second home run, second three-hit effort and fourth multi-hit performance of the season.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Homers in three-hit effort

  Rotowire Apr 9, 2024

  Thomas went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Monday's 8-1 win against the Giants. Thomas increased Washington's lead from two runs to four with his fifth-inning, two-run blast. He added a run-scoring single in the ninth to cap his third straight multi-hit game. Thomas went just 2-for-28 in his first seven contests of the season, but he's turned things around dramatically since, going 7-for-11 with a home run, three RBI, four runs and four stolen bases over his past three contests.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Another multi-steal day

  Rotowire Apr 7, 2024

  Thomas went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three stolen bases during Sunday's game against the Phillies. Thomas continued his tear on the basepaths, logging a trio of pilfers to push him into a three-way tie for the second most steals in MLB. He also seems to be turning the corner at the plate, finishing with two hits for a second straight game after opening the season 2-for-28 at the dish (.071).

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Swipes two bags, plates three

  Rotowire Mar 31, 2024

  Thomas went 1-for-4 with three RBI and two stolen bases in Sunday's loss to the Reds. Thomas notched his first hit of the season with a two-run scoring single in the fifth inning. However, he wasn't done yet, as he promptly stole both second and third before the inning concluded. Thomas had a tough opening weekend, going only 1-for-12 against the Reds, but he'll look to turn things around with two home series against the Pirates and Phillies this week.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Running wild this spring

  Rotowire Mar 12, 2024

  Thomas went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. The 28-year-old is coming off a breakout 2023 that saw him slash .268/.315/468 with 28 homers, 20 steals, 86 RBI and 101 runs in 157 games, but Thomas isn't showing any signs of slowing down in camp. Through 11 Grapefruit League contests he's batting .320 (8-for-25) with one home run and five steals in six attempts. Thomas figures to bat neat the top of the Nationals' lineup again in 2024.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Avoids arbitration with Nationals

  Rotowire Jan 11, 2024

  The Nationals and Thomas avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.45 million contract Thursday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. It was his second year of arbitration eligibility. The 28-year-old had a breakout season for the Nationals in 2023, slashing .268/.315/.468 with 28 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He's poised to be the Nats' everyday right fielder in 2024.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Tallies four hits Sunday

  Rotowire Oct 1, 2023

  Thomas went 4-for-6 with a double and two runs scored in Sunday's 10-9 win over Atlanta. Thomas had been going through a brutal 10-for-81 stretch at the plate coming into Sunday but capped off his breakout season in epic fashion with his first four-hit game of the year. He somehow managed to not drive in a run but did score twice, which brought him up to 101 runs this season. He became just the 10th player in franchise history to reach triple digits in that category. Thomas has certainly found himself a home in D.C. and finishes 2023 slashing an impressive .268/.315/.468 with 28 homers, 86 RBI and 20 steals.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Leaves yard Friday

  Rotowire Sep 30, 2023

  Thomas went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 10-6 win over Atlanta. The home run was Thomas' 28th of the season, giving him an outside chance of joining the 30-homer, 20-steal club if he's able to continue the power binge during the Nationals' final two games. A late-round selection in most fantasy drafts this spring, Thomas has likely been an unsung hero for his managers. He's been a useful asset in each of the five major rotisserie categories, batting .266 and chipping in 99 runs and 86 RBI in addition to his home-run and stolen-base production.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Homer, steal in loss

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2023

  Thomas went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a stolen base and an additional run scored in an 8-5 loss to Atlanta in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader. Thomas earned his first multi-hit effort since Sept. 3 with this performance. Over the 15 prior games, he'd gone a paltry 8-for-62 (.129), albeit with six extra-base hits. The outfielder is up to 27 homers, 85 RBI, 98 runs scored and 20 steals while slashing .270/.319/.472 through 151 contests this season.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Slugs homer No. 25

  Rotowire Sep 16, 2023

  Thomas went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Brewers. His first-inning shot of Wade Miley kicked off a three-run frame for the Nationals, but the offense went cold the rest of the way. Thomas has gone just 3-for-30 since returning from a three-game absence earlier this month due to back issues, but all three hits have gone for extra bases (one double and two home runs). On the season, the breakout star is still slashing .275/.323/.476 with 25 homers, 18 steals, 79 RBI and 94 runs.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Comes up big in return

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  Thomas went 1-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 7-6 extra-innings win over the Dodgers. The outfielder had missed the last three games due to back soreness and was being eased back into action as the DH in this one, but Thomas looked completely healthy as he swiped his 18th bag of the season in the fifth inning after being hit by a pitch, then lofted his 24th homer in the seventh off Bobby Miller. Thomas has left the yard in four straight games sandwiched around his absence, going 8-for-17 over that stretch with eight RBI.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Returns to lineup

  Rotowire Sep 9, 2023

  Thomas (back) is starting as Washington's designated hitter Saturday against the Dodgers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. Thomas was held out of Washington's last three games as a result of back soreness, but he seems to be feeling well enough to play Saturday. The 28-year-old outfielder went 7-for-13 with three homers and five RBI in three games against Miami before getting injured.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Held out again Friday

  Rotowire Sep 8, 2023

  Thomas (back) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. Thomas hasn't played since Sunday because of a lingering back issue. A previous MRI showed no structural damage, but it's not clear when Thomas might be ready to play again. Travis Blankenhorn is holding down right field Friday.

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• Nationals' Lane Thomas: Out again with sore back

  Rotowire Sep 6, 2023

  Thomas (back) is out of the lineup again Wednesday versus the Mets. Thomas missed Tuesday's game due to back discomfort and could be fully held out of action until the Nationals' weekend series against the Dodgers, which begins Friday. The good news is that an MRI showed only inflammation, and he can utilize Thursday's scheduled team off day to further heal. Travis Blankenhorn, Jacob Young and Alex Call are starting across the outfield Wednesday against New York.

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