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Young is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Giants.
Young was hit on the right hand by a pitch in Thursday's win over the Pirates, but he remained in that contest and it's not the reason he's out of Friday's lineup, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports. Joey Wiemer is starting in center field Friday, but Young should be available off the bench.
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Nationals' Orlando Ribalta: Optioned after notching save
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The Nationals optioned Ribalta to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
The transaction comes one day after Ribalta recorded his first career save in Thursday's extra-inning win over the Pirates. Ribalta is clearing out to make room on the roster for Richard Lovelady, who was acquired via trade Thursday.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Two hits in Thursday's win
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Lile went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Thursday's extra-inning win over the Pirates.
After opening the campaign with a seven-game hit streak, Lile cooled off in early April, but he may be heating up again. The 23-year-old outfielder has three multi-hit performances in the last five games, pushing his slash line on the season back up to .277/.310/.337. Lile is still looking for his first homer of 2026 through 19 contests, but he has banged out five doubles while adding one steal, six RBI and 11 runs.
Nationals' Orlando Ribalta: Earns first career save
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Ribalta earned the save Thursday against the Pirates, allowing one hit and striking out one in a scoreless 10th inning.
The right-hander worked around the automatic runner as well as a leadoff single, striking out Bryan Reynolds and then inducing a game-ending double play from Jake Mangum. Despite the admirable performance, Ribalta was the sixth pitcher to come out of the bullpen, and the Nationals didn't have many other options in the 10th. Still, the 28-year-old has quality stuff with a mid-90s fastball and a changeup that produced a 40.4 percent whiff rate in 2025, and if he continues to improve his control he could emerge as a high-leverage option. After walking 21 batters in 33.1 innings across three levels last year, Ribalta has issued only one free pass in 7.1 innings between Triple-A and the majors to begin 2026.
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Nationals' Clayton Beeter: Blows save but earns win
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Beeter (1-0) earned the win but blew the save Thursday against the Pirates, allowing one run on one hit and two walks while striking out one in the ninth inning.
Given a 7-6 lead, Beeter struggled to find the plate and tossed just 19 of 32 pitches for strikes, allowing the game-tying run on a bases-loaded infield single by Brandon Lowe. It was the second blown save of the season for the 27-year-old right-hander, but Beeter was able to wiggle out of the jam with no further damage, and the Nationals bailed him out by taking the lead in the top of the 10th. Beeter will need to clean up his control issues if he's going to remain in the ninth-inning picture, as he has more walks (eight) than strikeouts (seven) in 9.1 innings so far on the season.
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Nationals' Foster Griffin: Tagged for four in no-decision
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Griffin took a no-decision Thursday against the Pirates, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out seven in 5.1 innings.
It was smooth sailing for Griffin through four innings, but he ran into some trouble in the fifth after being handed a 4-0 lead. The 30-year-old allowed four runs of his own in the bottom of the frame, the biggest swing being a three-run home run from Marcell Ozuna. That blast snapped a streak of three straight starts in which the lefty had allowed two runs or fewer. On the bright side, Griffin has 19 strikeouts through 20.2 innings to begin the season, showing a little more dominance than anticipated. His next scheduled start will come against Atlanta, fourth in MLB with 24 home runs, early next week.
The Nationals transferred Waldichuk (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.
The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Richard Lovelady. Waldichuk is likely headed for Tommy John surgery, though he will receive a second opinion before a final decision is made.
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Nationals' Richard Lovelady: Traded to Nationals
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The Nationals acquired Lovelady from the Mets on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations.
Lovelady has gone back and forth between the two organizations multiple times since January. The southpaw holds a 3.68 ERA and 6:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings this season. He does not have minor-league options remaining, so Lovelady will go directly onto the Nationals' active roster.
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Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Excluded from lineup Thursday
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Ruiz is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh.
Ruiz and Drew Millas have had a fairly even timeshare at catcher this season, and it will be Millas behind the dish for Thursday's matinee. The switch-hitting Ruiz has slashed a mere .182/.200/.333 in the early going this season.
Nationals' Jake Irvin: Five solid innings in second loss
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Irvin (1-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Pirates, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out five.
It was a bit of a hard-luck loss for Irvin, who yielded just four singles but did struggle with his control. The right-hander tossed five innings for the third time in four starts to begin the year, though he's yet to give up fewer than two runs in any of them. Irvin has a lackluster 6.16 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 21:11 K:BB over his first 19 innings, so he'll remain difficult to trust in fantasy lineups against Atlanta next week.
Vivas will start at second base and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Pirates.
Vivas will stick in the lineup for a fourth straight game, this time shifting over to the keystone after manning third base in each of the previous three contests. While the left-handed hitter's playing time against left-handed pitching is likely to remain limited, he might have earned himself more frequent opportunities versus righties after getting on base at a .406 clip in 33 plate appearances against them so far in 2026.
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Nationals' Nasim Nunez: Sitting Wednesday
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Nunez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.
Jorbit Vivas will fill in at second base for Nunez, who will head to the bench after a stretch of four consecutive starts. Nunez is batting just .212 with one extra-base hit over 58 plate appearances this year, but he's provided value for fantasy managers who have rostered him primarily for his speed (seven steals in eight attempts).
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Nationals' Jose Tena: Playing time trending down
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Tena is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.
Tena has started in just one of the Nationals' last six games, sitting on three occasions against left-handed starters and twice against righties. The 25-year-old has posted a modest .665 OPS over 28 plate appearances on the season and may have to settle for more of a part-time role if Washington elects to open up playing time for Jorbit Vivas (.814 OPS in 40 plate appearances).
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Nationals' Jacob Young: On bench Wednesday
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Young is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates.
Joey Wiemer will receive the start in center field for Washington, but Young could be a candidate to replace Wiemer once right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski is working in bulk relief for Pittsburgh after left-handed opener Mason Montgomery exits the contest. Before striking out twice as part of an 0-for-4 night in Tuesday's 5-4 win, Young had recorded at least one hit in each of his previous five starts, including three extra-base knocks (one home run, two doubles).
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