Young went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Sunday against the Angels.
Young's eighth-inning homer off fellow rookie Jack Kochanowicz broke up a scoreless outing by the young righty. He followed that up with an infield single then later scored as the Nats made a last-ditch albeit futile effort at a comeback in the ninth. It was the 24th multi-hit effort for Young this season and raised his average to .250 with two homers, 24 RBI, 62 runs and 27 steals in 33 attempts across 340 at-bats.
Tena (thumb) had X-rays come back negative after leaving Sunday's game against the Angels and is dealing with a fingernail issue, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
The 23-year-old made his second straight start at third base Sunday but exited during the fourth inning when he was struck in the right hand by a hard grounder. Tena has avoided a serious injury and should be considered day-to-day.
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Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Walks six in 10th loss
Rotowire
Gore (7-10) was saddled with the loss Sunday, allowing five runs (zero earned) on five hits and six walks over four innings against the Angels. He struck out two.
Gore produced a bit of a weird line as it was just the second time all year he failed to allow an earned run, thanks to a fielding error by Jose Tena that directly allowed one run to score and helped set up four more. That's where Gore took over, walking four of a season-high six batters in the fateful fourth that culminated with a bases-clearing double by Kevin Pillar. Gore was removed after the inning and saddled with his 10th loss of the season. Gore was coming off his first win in nearly two months following his last start and will look to rebound in his next slated matchup against the Phillies in the City of Brotherly Love.
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Nationals' Jose Tena: Exits early with thumb injury
Rotowire
Tena was removed in the fourth inning of Sunday's game against the Angels due to an apparent right thumb injury, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. He went hitless in his lone at-bat before departing.
Making a second straight start at third base after he went 2-for-4 with two RBI in his Nationals debut Saturday, Tena's day was cut short when he took a hard grounder off his throwing hand. The play went down as an error, and Tena was immediately lifted from the game in favor of Ildemaro Vargas while his thumb was bleeding profusely. The Nationals should have an update on Tena's condition later Sunday.
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Nationals' CJ Abrams: Sitting again, as expected
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Abrams (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Abrams sat out the past two games due to back spasms and said Saturday he was hoping return for Tuesday's matchup with the Orioles, so his absence from the lineup Sunday isn't surprising. The 23-year-old will have Monday's team off day to aid in his recovery ahead of Tuesday's series opener. Nasim Nunez will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Abrams' place.
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Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Sitting in second straight
Rotowire
Vargas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
After making five consecutive starts, Vargas now finds himself on the bench for the second day in a row, with both absences coming against right-handed pitching. Though the Nationals optioned Vargas' main competition for playing time at third base, Trey Lipscomb, to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, the club called up Jose Tena in a corresponding move. Tena will get his second straight start at the hot corner Sunday and looks like he'll be given a look as an everyday player while Vargas shifts to a utility role.
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Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Taking breather Sunday
Rotowire
Ruiz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Ruiz has gone 1-for-11 with a walk and two RBI in the past three games, and he'll head to the bench for Sunday's series finale. Riley Adams will bat eighth and catch for lefty MacKenzie Gore.
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Nationals' Jose Tena: Plays hero in team debut
Rotowire
Tena went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Angels.
Picked up as part of the package the Nationals got from the Guardians for Lane Thomas, Tena was promoted from Triple-A Rochester earlier in the day and was immediately plugged into the starting lineup at third base. The move paid off when the 23-year-old walked it off in the bottom of the 10th inning with an RBI single to left-center field that likely would have gone for extra bases had there been any need for Tena to keep advancing. He has a .284/.342/.478 slash line through 100 games at Triple-A this season with 18 homers and 15 steals, and with Trey Lipscomb having flopped in his latest audition, Tena figures to get a long look, either as the regular starter at the hot corner or in a super-utility role.
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Nationals' Patrick Corbin: Shaky in no-decision
Rotowire
Corbin came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Angels, giving up four runs on eight hits and three walks over four-plus innings. He struck out two.
The 35-year-old lefty remains arguably the worst regular starter in MLB. Corbin has a rough 7.25 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB through seven starts and 36 innings since the beginning of July, and his 5.98 ERA on the season is the highest in the majors among qualified pitchers. Should Cade Cavalli (elbow) make it back before the end of the season, it'll likely be Corbin who gets bumped from the rotation to make room for him, but until then the Nationals don't seem to have any better options. Corbin lines up to make his next trip to the mound on the road next weekend in Philadelphia.
Nunez (lower body) is starting at shortstop and batting ninth in Saturday's contest against the Angels, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Nunez left Friday's game due to cramps, finishing the contest 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He won't miss any time, however, and he'll face off against Halos right-hander Griffin Canning in Saturday's tilt.
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Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas: Absent from lineup
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Vargas is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Vargas will begin Saturday's contest in the dugout after going 0-for-4 with one strikeout in Friday's 3-2 win over the Halos. Jose Tena will make his Nationals debut at third base while Nasim Nunez returns to the lineup at shortstop.
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Nationals' Jose Tena: Making Washington debut Saturday
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Tena is starting at third base and batting sixth in Saturday's game against the Angels, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Tena was recalled from Triple-A Rochester earlier Saturday, and he will make his first start for the big club since being acquired from the Guardians on July 29. In the minors this season, Tena is batting .287 with an .824 OPS, 18 home runs and 68 RBI over 448 plate appearances.
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Nationals' CJ Abrams: Out of lineup Saturday
Rotowire
Abrams (back) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Abrams told reporters Saturday that he first felt his back issues flare up Thursday during rain delays, which led to his removal from Friday's lineup, per Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com. With the Nationals scheduled for an off day Monday, Abrams will be held out for the weekend series against the Angels and aim to return Tuesday for the series opener against the Orioles. The 23-year-old has struggled from the plate since the All-Star break and is slashing .165/.212/.266 with nine runs scored, two home runs and 11 RBI across 83 plate appearances.
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Nationals' Trey Lipscomb: Sent down to Rochester
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The Nationals optioned Lipscomb to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
After being recalled by the Nationals on July 6, Lipscomb slowly saw his playing time dwindle as he struggled to a .152/.211/.182 slash line with a 23.6 percent strikeout rate across 71 plate appearances. With Ildemaro Vargas establishing a regular role at the hot corner, Lipscomb will go back down to Rochester, where he will have an everyday role at third base. Jose Tena was recalled from Rochester in a corresponding move.
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Nationals' Jordan Weems: Reinstated from IL
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The Nationals reinstated Weems (lower leg) from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Weems landed on the IL on July 26 due to shin splints in his right leg. He didn't end up needing a rehab stint, and the 31-year-old right-hander will return to the Nationals' bullpen for their weekend series against the Angels. Right-hander Joan Adon was optioned to Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move.
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Nationals' Jose Tena: Recalled by Washington
Rotowire
The Nationals recalled Tena from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Tena was part of the package the Nationals received when they traded Lane Thomas to the Guardians on July 29. In Triple-A this season, Tena is slashing .287/.344/.480 with 15 stolen bases, 60 runs scored, 18 home runs and 68 RBI across 448 plate appearances. To make room for Tena on the 26-man roster, the Nationals optioned Trey Lipscomb to Rochester.
