MLB Player News

Ford is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers.

Ford will get the day off with lefty James Paxton on the bump for Los Angeles. Nick Martini will bat seventh and DH on Friday.

Fraley (hand) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers.

Fraley hasn't started a game since getting hit in the hand by a pitch Tuesday against San Diego. However, he's been utilized as a pinch runner since sustaining the injury but Fraley is ready to go, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, and could enter the game off the bench. Jacob Hurtubise will start in right field and bat ninth Friday.

Parker's next projected start will be pushed back to Monday at Atlanta, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. Parker was initially scheduled to face the Mariners on Sunday.

Parker will have a full week in between starts, getting the series opener against Atlanta instead of Patrick Corbin. On the year, Parker owns a 3.32 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP across 38 innings.

Corbin is listed as the Nationals' probable pitcher for Sunday's game against the Mariners, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Corbin's next start will come five days after he allowed eight runs against the Twins on Tuesday, pushing Mitchell Parker to Monday in order to give the young southpaw an extra day of rest. Corbin has been erratic this season, yielding five or more runs four times but surrendering fewer than three runs on three occasions. He owns a 6.29 ERA overall.

Atlanta optioned Williams to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.

The 27-year-old had his contract selected by Atlanta in mid-April, but he tallied just four plate appearances during his month with the big club. Joey Wendle was signed to a major-league contract Friday and is taking Williams' place on the roster.

Atlanta signed Wendle to a one-year contract Friday.

Wendle was released by the Mets earlier this week after slashing just .222/.243/.250 in 37 plate appearances, but he has quickly caught on with their division rivals. The utility infielder made the All-Star team with the Rays in 2021 but has produced just a .604 OPS in three seasons since then. Wendle will provide depth all over the infield in Atlanta.

Atlanta recalled Kerr from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Friday's game at Pittsburgh.

The left-hander was optioned to Gwinnett following Monday's twin bill against the Padres but will be allowed to quickly rejoin the big club as AJ Smith-Shawver (oblique) lands on the injured list. Kerr's four appearances for Atlanta this season have all come out of the bullpen, but he's pitched well with a 2.89 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 10:0 K:BB across 9.1 innings. He threw 64 pitches over 3.1 frames in his last outing and figures to face some workload limitations since that was his longest outing of the campaign. Kerr could piggyback with Darius Vines, who was called up Monday but has yet to appear in a game for Atlanta.

Atlanta placed Smith-Shawver on the 15-day injured list Friday with a strained left oblique.

Smith-Shawver struck out four over 4.1 scoreless innings in a spot start versus the Cubs on Thursday but evidently suffered an oblique injury in the process. It's not clear at this point how long he might be sidelined, but oblique strains generally require longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Smith-Shawver might head back to Triple-A Gwinnett once he's healthy, though it could depend on Atlanta's rotation needs at the time.

Meneses could be optioned to Triple-A Rochester when Lane Thomas (knee) is ready to come off the injured list, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The 32-year-old has been an everyday player for the Nationals this season between first base and DH, but he's managed just a .234/.299/.299 slash line in 43 games with two homers and 24 RBI. Victor Robles is the more likely candidate to get booted from the 26-man roster to make room for Thomas, but Robles is out of minor-league options and would have to be exposed to waivers, while Meneses could be optioned to Triple-A without any risk of losing him. Jesse Winker would likely become the primary DH in that scenario.

Robles could be placed on waivers when Lane Thomas (knee) is deemed ready to come off the injured list, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Jacob Young has become the everyday center fielder, and while Eddie Rosario and Jesse Winker have been erratic at the plate, they could have trade value later in the season if they heat up at the right time. That leaves Robles, who doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, as the odd man out in the Nationals' outfield. The 27-year-old has done little to justify keeping him on the 40-man roster, batting .087 (2-for-23) when he's been healthy in 2024. If the front office decides his defensive value as a fifth outfielder is worth keeping around, Joey Meneses could be optioned instead.